Super PAC backing Hillary Clinton plans L.A. fundraiser

A super PAC that is pushing Hillary Rodham Clinton to run for president in 2016 is planning to hold a fundraiser in Los Angeles in November, days before she comes to the area to accept a set of awards.

“Ready for Hillary” is to hold its event on Nov. 6 at the Exchange in downtown Los Angeles, with the goal of drawing 500 people and raising at least $12,000, said Michael Trujillo, an unpaid senior advisor who worked on Clinton’s unsuccessful White House bid in 2008.

The goal, he said, is the largest pro-Clinton small-donor fundraising effort for the super PAC, which is forbidden by law from coordinating with a candidate.

“Basically, we’re trying to give her a virtual hug without giving her a real hug,” Trujillo said.

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Attendees are being asked to donate at least $20.16. The steering committee for the gathering features staffers who worked on President Obama’s reelection campaign and Clinton’s 2008 run, fundraisers for Eric Garcetti’s successful L.A. mayoral campaign, several top aides to elected officials at City Hall, top aides to unsuccessful mayoral hopeful Wendy Greuel, and two of former Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa’s children. “Special guests,” including elected officials, are expected to be announced in coming weeks, Trujillo said.

The fundraiser comes two days before Clinton is scheduled to speak at a Nov. 8 gala for the International Medical Corps that is expected to be attended by several hundred people who are donating as much as $100,000 each to the nonprofit.

Hollywood titans and major Democratic fundraisers Jeffrey Katzenberg and Steven Spielberg and their wives are among the hosts of the benefit. Katzenberg is expected to be a key donor for a different independent effort that hopes to boost Clinton’s bid for the White House if she decides to run. That entity, Priorities USA, was crucial to President Obama’s campaign.

On Nov. 9, Clinton is to be honored at USC by the Mexican American Leadership Initiative, which aims to foster relations between the two nations.

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Later in the day, Clinton is scheduled to head to San Francisco to keynote the Realtors Conference and Expo, and then join daughter Chelsea at an event benefiting their family foundation.

The events follow Clinton’s pattern since stepping down as secretary of State in February -- delivering paid speeches and receiving a host of awards. However, she has also begun to dip back into politics, offering public support to longtime Clinton confidantes running in contests in New York City and Virginia.

Though Clinton has largely coy about her intentions, on Friday she gave the strongest indication yet that she is considering a 2016 run.

“I am not going to begin to think seriously about it until sometime next year,” Clinton said during a speech to the Long Island Assn. in New York, according to Newsday. “I will think about it because it’s something on a lot of people’s minds. And it’s on my mind as well.”

But in the speech, she criticized the fascination with who will next run for president, said it was crucial to focus on the current state of affairs and blamed Republicans for the partial shutdown of the federal government.

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seema.mehta@latimes.com

Twitter: @latseema