A fundraiser organised by Indian Americans in Manhattan on Sunday raised around $3 million for Democratic Presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton--the highest sum raised at a single meet for a political cause by the community.

Clinton radiated optimism at the meet, declaring she would take office come 2009, following the Presidential election in 2008.

“I know how difficult the job of President is. I understand it's likely that India will have a woman President, perhaps in the next month or so,” she said.

Without directly referring to the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal, she promised to ensure that neither the United States nor its friends remain dependent on the vagaries of foreign oil. She also referred to her work as s co-chairwoman of the Senate's India caucus. “It is important in this new era in which we live that the relationship and partnership between India and America strengthen and deepen,” she said.

Clinton touched upon several issues in her address, including health care—an issue for which she has come under attack in the past—and on furthering Indo-US relations, which she said would be top of her agenda if elected.

“Together, we have a lot of work to do. I will work very hard to be a good steward of those contributions,” the former first lady told the gathering.

Clinton reminisced about her trip to India with husband and then president Bill Clinton, talking about visiting the Taj Mahal in 1996. The New York senator also touched on the issue of microfinance in India, which she said had helped countless women sustain their families.

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