Hillary Clinton’s Nashville fundraiser hauls in $500,000

Hillary Clinton’s private fundraiser last week at the Nashville home of businessman Bill Freeman hauled in more than $500,000 for the former secretary of state’s presidential campaign, according to the host.

Freeman, calling the event on Friday a “huge success,” said the fundraiser was expected to bring in $200,000 for Clinton, but that it instead more than doubled that projection, netting slightly more than $500,000 overall.

Freeman, Tennessee’s top fundraiser for Democrats and one of Nashville's mayoral candidates in the past election, said around 200 people attended the Clinton fundraiser at his Forest Hills home.

He said guests were a “who’s who” of Tennessee Democrats, including Nashville Mayor Megan Barry and Rep. Jim Cooper, D-Nashville. Both took turns introducing Clinton at a campaign event earlier in the evening at Nashville’s Fisk University. Actor Ted Danson and actress and Democratic activist Ashley Judd, both who have homes in the Nashville area, also attended the Clinton fundraiser.

Freeman said Clinton talked for about 15 or 20 minutes with the group of Nashville donors. Each attendee got a photo with the candidate.

Co-hosts of the event were tasked with raising at least $27,000 for the Clinton campaign, while hosts had to raise at least $50,000.

“The people of Tennessee just really responded to her, and it was a great success,” Freeman said of the fundraising number. “It was just a great night. She couldn’t have been more generous with her time.”

In her speech to her donors, Freeman said Clinton “fired up the troops,” discussed pieces of her platform as well as what she wants to accomplish as president. “It was just a very positive message,” Freeman said.

Clinton, the overwhelming favorite to capture the Democratic Party’s nomination next year, made her first campaign swing through Tennessee on Friday, with stops in Memphis and Nashville. Tennessee’s Democratic and Republican primaries are set for “Super Tuesday,” March 1.

Republicans will be favored to win Tennessee in the general election next November regardless of each party’s nomination. Nevertheless, Clinton concluded her speech at the Fisk University event by vowing to return to Nashville “to see if we can’t turn Tennessee blue.”