Indian Americans Raise $2 Million At Clinton Event

Senator Clinton raked in about $2 million at an "Indian Americans for Hillary" event in Midtown Manhattan.

The event, which drew about 1,000 people, was billed as the largest event of its kind for the Indian-American community, a group that Mrs. Clinton has aggressively courted.

The former first lady recalled her first visit to India in 1996 and drew applause when she cited her work as 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 in a ballroom at the Sheraton.

She also noted that India was poised to have its first female president in the next few weeks — another big applause line.

The event comes shortly after Mrs. Clinton's leading Democratic opponent, Senator Obama, apologized for an internal campaign memo that was critical of Mrs. Clinton's close ties to the Indian-American community.

Last night, author and spiritual guru Deepak Chopra told The New York Sun that Mr. Obama "should know better."

"I thought that was ridiculous," Mr. Chopra said of the memo. "We are American citizens, right? He's a minority. He should know better."

Mr. Chopra said that while Mr. Obama was a "wonderful candidate," Mrs. Clinton has a "much bigger chance of winning."

The event comes less than a week before the end of the fund-raising period for this quarter. Earlier yesterday, Mrs. Clinton had another fund-raiser at the Long Island home of Cablevision owner Charles Dolan.

President Clinton is in California raising money on her behalf. The Clinton campaign said last night's event raised $1 million, but others put the number at $2 million or higher.

In addition to Mr. Chopra, the event was dotted with high-profile physicians, bankers, and Bollywood executives.