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Clinton raises funds, meets clergy in Philly

Hillary Clinton took a break from Iowa on Wednesday evening to attend a fund-raiser at the Navy Yard in South Philadelphia.

Hillary Clinton took a break from Iowa on Wednesday evening to attend a fund-raiser at the Navy Yard in South Philadelphia.

The Democratic presidential hopeful arrived shortly after 7:30 p.m. at the headquarters of the financial firm Franklin Square Capital Partners.

Roughly 200 people streamed into the recently built office. Entire families were among the crowd, which included Philadelphia Councilman Kenyatta Johnson and his wife, political consultant Dawn Chavous, and the city's acting fire commissioner, Derrick Sawyer.

Musician Jon Bon Jovi was expected to play an acoustic set for donors - $1,000 for individual "friends," $2,700 for "families" who snapped photos with the candidate, and $27,000 for bundlers.

Her appearance came just days before the Iowa caucuses, in which Clinton is locked in a statistical dead heat with Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders.

According to her campaign, she also used the Philadelphia stop to meet with nearly 50 black clergy at the historic Mother Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church.

Clinton's campaign did not include the Philadelphia fund-raiser on its public schedule, but news outlets reported the event last week.

That's how Bill Sikora, a 19-year-old from Marlton, heard about Clinton's arrival. He showed up with a friend to try to get a poster of the former first lady autographed.

But his motive, he said, is driven by profit more than allegiance.

"I'm a huge Trump supporter," Sikora said. "He's the man. He's not about pleasing anyone."

bmccrone@philly.com

215-854-2267 @brianxmccrone