Billionaires Alice Walton, George Soros and Marc Benioff are helping to finance a super-political action committee encouraging former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to run for president, according to a report filed yesterday with the Federal Election Commission.

Each gave $25,000 to Ready for Hillary PAC, organized a year ago to provide Clinton outside support if she chooses to seek the 2016 Democratic presidential nomination.

The super-PAC earlier reported raising about $4 million last year from 30,000 donors, most of them giving small amounts, such as $20.16. Walton, Soros and Benioff were among 33 people or companies that gave $25,000 in the second half of 2013, the FEC report shows. New Yorkers who chipped in to help their former senator include Roger Altman, the chairman and founder of New York-based Evercore Partners Inc.

The super-PAC can’t coordinate with Clinton if she becomes a candidate. It can, however, sell her campaign its data -- almost 2 million supporters have signed up for the group so far -- or mobilize voters and advertise for her on its own. The group, based in Arlington, Virginia, is limiting contributions to $25,000 even though it is permitted to accept donations in unlimited amounts.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-02-01/walton-benioff-join-billionaires-backing-clinton-in-2016.html