BEIJING, June 27 (Xinhuanet) -- Looking to drum up financial support for his wife's presidential campaign, Bill Clinton has sent out a mass e-mail to supporters seeking donations and vowing that she won't tolerate "swift boat" tactics against her.

    "I hope you enjoyed the 'Sopranos'spoof Hillary and I did last week," the former president begins. "Campaigns should be fun, but they are also serious business, especially now . . .

    "Hillary can be a great president, but she needs your support to win. And she needs it now as we come down to the wire in the last critical days of this quarter."

    Calling Hillary "the best candidate for president, Bill goes on to say: "She's also the best candidate to beat the Republican machine. You know Hillary will never let a swift boat-style attack go unanswered."

    The reference is to the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth and their widely publicized criticism of 2004 presidential candidate John Kerry and his Vietnam War experiences. Kerry was slow to respond to the group's allegations.

    "When I met her more than 35 years ago, I thought Hillary had the best combination of mind and heart I'd ever seen, and I still do," Clinton continues. "But it's going to take every dollar to make sure that Americans get to know the real Hillary, like I do."

    He concludes: "Hillary needs your help today to bring change to America . . . Help put Hillary in the White House. Together, we can make it happen."

    (Agencies)