Not too long ago, if you went to HillaryClinton.com, you found the 2008 presidential nomination race in high gear with Clinton winning more primaries and delegates than any other female candidate in American history. What a difference a year makes. Click through now and it happens to be sweepstakes mania. Yep, give a few bucks and earn a chance to win a trip to the American Idol finale.

Why is she doing this? (Technically, it’s not her, but rather her presidential campaign committee’¦ as Secretary of State; she is prohibited by federal law to personally solicit contributions). At the end of her bid, Clinton’s campaign was severely in debt. Even after writing off the $13 million that she lent it herself, her campaign still owes millions to outside vendors.

Thank god, she has James Carville. He’s been inundating my inbox with pleas for the cause:

I won’t spend a lot of time trying to convince you to help Hillary. I know what she means to you, and I’m sure you know how important it is for her to have her campaign pay off all its obligations.

Last year, I shrugged off the email from her mom and the offer of an autographed children’s book, but a day palling around with Bill in New York was enough to get me to take action with my hard-earned fifty bucks.

With a contribution today (again, technically, a donation isn’t required to enter, but if you choose to play, can’t you muster up $5 or $10 for our lady!) one of these exclusive prizes could be yours:

1. Spend a day with President Clinton. Head to New York City to attend several interesting events with President Clinton followed by your own special New York City weekend.

2. Attend the American Idol season finale. You and a guest will watch live as the American Idol judges make their final comments and decisions on this year’s most anticipated season finale!

3. How about a spending a weekend in DC? We’ll fly you to our nation’s capital for a politically filled weekend to see the nation’s capitol and spend time with James Carville and Paul Begala – two of this city’s best political gurus.

I gave before I found this article in the New York Times providing additional insight into the breakdown of her campaign’s debts:

And in addition to the personal loan, the same weekend filing showed that she still owed millions of dollars to dozens of vendors as of Nov. 30. She did manage to chip away at that debt in November, reducing by roughly $1.1 million the $7.5 million she owed at the end of October. The single biggest debt as of November’s end was $5.4 million, to the firm of Mark Penn, her former chief strategist.

His firm billed her $5.4 million? Doesn’t that sound excessive for ‘œservices’ rendered? Since she lost, Penn should be willing to write off some of that debt as well. Until this happens though, someone gets to break bread with James Carville before heading off to the Smithsonian.

If you’re interested, act fast as all contributions aka entries must be received by April 23, 2009. Go Hillary!