Money woes

$$$$ . . .

Told ya so: Sneed's tip Hillary Clinton's campaign was mired in a major cash crunch -- which could ultimately have the coroner knocking on her door -- was substantiated by the Federal Election Commission filings of nearly $9 million in outstanding campaign debt at month's end.

- Whew! The approximately $3,500 debt Hillary's campaign owed to Maine South High School in Park Ridge, her alma mater, was just paid.

HMMM . . .

Please note: In the wake of the Eliot Spitzer prostitute scandal, there has been "no" request filed for a "CLIENT 9" license plate at the Illinois secretary of state's office -- unlike New York.

- Post Script: Although the Chicagoan listed as Client 10 in the federal Spitzer proceedings was not identified, there were whispers the culprit may have been a judge.

TIPSVILLE . . .

Rumble is President Bush's big bucks donors have been holding back the cash from GOP presidential contender John McCain because they want him to pick conservative Mitt Romney as his veepmate.

- Rove 'em: Former Bush strategist Karl Rove is behind the pressure and was the biggest Romney presidential backer.

- Race 'em "Even if McCain loses with Romney as his vice president, the race sets up Romney to run as president again -- and if he wins, then Rove's got himself another president," according to a McCain source.

THE DI FILE . . .

Princess Diana's butler, Paul Burrell -- who has become rich by leaking her secrets -- was once called "Diana's rock."

- Turn of the screw: But Burrell has now been called a "porous rock" by a British justice dissing the Princess Diana murder plot -- because Burrell cashed in on Diana's past.

DEEP DEPP . . .

Depp data: Precautions have been taken to prevent actor Johnny Depp from being accosted by uproarious fan congestion near the set of his latest movie, "Public Enemies," which is now being filmed in Chicago.

- To wit: To keep the Depp machine out of fan depth, film makers aren't allowing him to go into crowds like he did on location in Wisconsin and Indiana recently.

- The flipside: Although they are trying to keep shooting locations top secret, Sneed is told a shoot 'em up scene was shot last week at Surf Street and Pine Grove Avenue in the Lake View neighborhood and a police motorcade transporting Depp, who plays legendary gangster John Dillinger, was filmed at 35th and King Drive Monday night.

THE COUPLE SHUFFLE . . .

Now comes word Washington's happily mismatched couple, James Carville and Mary Matalin, who hails from Illinois, are moving -- along with their eight cats and five dogs -- back to Louisiana where "Ragin Cajun" Carville can rage appropriately, according to U.S. News & World Report.

I SPY . . .

Actor Stephen Dorff lunching on chicken pot pie and macaroni and cheese at Lux Bar Wednesday . . . Former NFL star and "Dancing with the Stars" champ Emmitt Smith and another former NFL star, Marshall Faulk, dining separately at Morton's The Steakhouse in Rosemont Sunday . . . ditto ex-NFLer Barry Sanders Saturday at the eatery.

TIPS & TWADDLE . . .

A former Brit royal secretary claims she was advised the royal family had a habit of eavesdropping via the plumbing; actress/new mama Jennifer Lopez has dyed her hair blond for the summer; and President George Bush loves blueberries. And how was your day?

SNEEDLINGS . . .

Today's birthdays: Emmylou Harris, 61, and Linda Hunt, 63.

Photo: Hillary Clinton ; Photo: Mitt Romney Photo: Karl Rove Photo: Johnny Depp Photo: Emmitt Smith Photo: Jennifer Lopez ;