PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - One of this area’s most prolific political fund raisers has died. Bill Batoff dies at the age of 76.

Intense and determined, Bill Batoff raised money to help the political careers of Mayors Frank Rizzo, Bill Green, Wilson Goode, Ed Rendell, Senator Arlen Specter; Governors Bob Casey, and Ed Rendell, and Governor Tom Ridge.

Nationally, he was close to President Jimmy Carter and was in Little Rock the night Bill Clinton declared victory.

Most recently, he helped raise money for Congressman Pat Meehan. In his generation, the Philadelphia businessman was the go-to-guy for big fundraisers. He was during the eighties the gold standard for fundraising.

He understood politics, and loved the flavor of it, especially in Philadelphia.

Reported By Special Contributor Larry Kane, KYW Newsradio.