NRIs raise $3m at Hillary dinner

“I know how difficult the job of President is. I understand it’s likely that India will have a woman President, perhaps in the next month or so,” she said.

Without directly referring to the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal, she promised to ensure that neither the United States nor its friends remain dependent on the vagaries of foreign oil. She also referred to her work as s co-chairwoman of the Senate’s India caucus. “It is important in this new era in which we live that the relationship and partnership between India and America strengthen and deepen,” she said.

Clinton touched upon several issues in her address, including health care—an issue for which she has come under attack in the past—and on furthering Indo-US relations, which she said would be top of her agenda if elected.

“Together, we have a lot of work to do. I will work very hard to be a good steward of those contributions,” the former first lady told the gathering.

Clinton reminisced about her trip to India with husband and then president Bill Clinton, talking about visiting the Taj Mahal in 1996. The New York senator also touched on the issue of microfinance in India, which she said had helped countless women sustain their families.

The fundraiser, organised by hotelier Sant Singh Chatwal at the Sheraton in Manhattan, saw some 1,000 people converge from all over the country to shell out $2,350 per plate, and wait over two hours for Clinton to come and deliver a 15-minute speech.

Chatwal, in an interview to The Indian Express, said the sum raised would be closer to three million dollars, once audited. The event came less than a week before the end of the fund-raising period for this quarter.

Guests for the evening included several local Democratic leaders such as Congressmen Joseph Crowley and Gary Ackerman and the Hindujas.

The fundraiser comes close on the heels of a attack against her by Democratic contender Senator Barack Obama. The latter’s strategists had reportedly called her a Democrat from Punjab, pointing out that she supported outsourcing of jobs to India.

Obama, however, apologised later and said it was “stupid” and “caustic”.

Author and spiritual guru Deepak Chopra told The New York Sun: “I thought that was ridiculous.” “We are American citizens, right? He’s a minority. He should know better.”