President Obama swings west for campaign cash
Los Angeles (CNN) – President Obama is tapping his California ATM with a combination of star-studded concerts and intimate high-dollar dinners.
He's expected to raise nearly $9.5 million dollars for the Obama Victory Fund over two days.
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The West Coast swing kicked off with a star-studded concert at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles, featuring performances by Jennifer Hudson, Stevie Wonder, Katy Perry, Jon Bon Jovi, and Earth Wind & Fire.
The president did not attend the concert but made remarks to nearly 6,000 supporters, with tickets starting at $250.
“My understanding is it was an incredible show. These guys - and everybody here are just incredible professionals. They're such great friends, and they just perform flawlessly night after night. I can't always say the same,” he said, presumably poking fun of his own performance at last week’s debate.
Obama continued to criticize his opponent, Mitt Romney for his $5 trillion in tax cuts and plan to reduce spending.
“Obviously, the Governor knows his $5 trillion isn’t too popular, so a few weeks before this election he’s trying to pretend it doesn’t exist, because that’s a lot easier than trying to explain how he’d pay for it without asking middle-class families to pick up the tab,” the president said. “When he was asked what he'd actually do to cut spending, he said he'd go after public television. For all you Mom's and kids out there, someone is finally cracking down on Big Bird. Elmo has made a run for border. Romney plans to let Wall Street run wild, but bringing hammer down on Sesame Street.”
Obama also met privately with a dozen so-called high-dollar donors, along with former President Bill Clinton, and attended a dinner with 150 guests at $20,000 per person.
On Monday, the president heads to San Francisco, where he'll attend three fundraisers:
– A $40,000-per-person event at the Intercontinental Hotel,
– A $20,000-per-ticket dinner at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium,
– And another concert featuring John Legend and Michael Franti that's expected to draw about 6,000 people, with tickets starting at $200.
In a separate event at a private residence on Monday in Los Angeles, President Clinton is expected to raise an additional $160,000.
Campaign officials say this big fundraising push will help them compete in key battleground states where polls still show a tight race.
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Unfortunately, Elmo will probably be deported back to the United States.
All the help he gets, will be well appreciated! Just last week a very famous mexican
band (mana) endorsed our president! A concert in Vegas that Gathered 12,000 people! Yes, we the hispanic community are very proud to stand behind our president! Yes we can! Hispanics 4 Obama all the way! Si se puede!
60% of the voting public say that George Bush is the worst president of their life time. Vote for Romney will make Bush look good. Now that is a true nightmare.
The sweet smell of desperation........
Its too bad political campaigns were turned into competition for money. Thanks to U.S. Supreme Court and its right wing nuts.
People are starving all around the world and here are poletitions paying 20,000.00 a plate for dinner shame on you.
Nice . . . .that's who I want as president . . . someone who spends his time watching football, hanging out with the View, playing golf, and courting Hollywood when the world is in crisis.
Go to the party and in 4 years you all have a chance to vote for your next president Hugo Chavez
Yes, thanks Mr. President... about 70,000 of us here in Afghanistan, a national debt piling up faster than ants at a picnic and it's good to see how you're spending your time, and probably alot of my tax dollars...
I got full confidence that the president will get re elected mitt romney is a liar with multiples personalities.
Okay, so let me get this straight. You lead this news brief with "Obama Campaigns with Katy Perry" and yet, when I click on the link to read the article all I can find si a miniscule mention of her along with a cast of others at a fund raiser. This is your big story? This is why you suck CNN. Half baked news at best.
oh boy,,,somebody is gonna complain about that one....
Why have this mocked election, we all know Pres.Obama will win, just like Chavez did.
I ask, what else is new?! This is about the only arena where the Performer Wannabe-in-Chief feels most comfortable. No hard ball questions, no pesky press, no middle class or poorer voters, where he can attack Mr. Romney behind his back.etc., etc., etc.
Oh well... Again, what else is new?! After cooking the unemployment numbers, in order to justify them in November, HE may start paying attention to the ship of state.
American voters, don't hold your breath, though...
If he worked more, and campaigned less, maybe he would have had time to prep for the debate.
might as well throw out all her songs since she is an obamanite with no respect for America.
Governor Mitt has changed positions so much you will have a hard time figuring out what he stands for . He and his wife are so obsessed with being president they will do anything to be elected. Barack needs the cash to expose Mitt's lies
I am voying for obama because he is the better candidate. What he. Has done with the cards staked against him is outstanding. If you r middle clas or working poor you have no buisness voting for romney. This race is about racisim & that's garbage. You should vote based on facts not colr
You mean the Katy Perry, whose boyfriend murdered somebody last week?? haha sounds like the president is hanging with some classless people!
Who pays for his security when he's out fundraising?
Who's out of touch with the middle class? More Hollywood glitz, Obama would rather pal around with the entertainment industry, and rich people. Obama care nothing for middle class. Vote Romney a champion for the middle class.
I think the President should be preparing for the next debate instead of attending fundraisers that 95% of Americans couldn't afford to attend.
Oh well. I guess I should vote for Obama since Jennifer Hudson, Stevie Wonder, Katy Perry, Jon Bon Jovi, and Earth Wind & Fire are so informed on the workings in the federal government and have all the solutions to mankind. Geez......
President Obama swings west for campaign cash
Ahhh... The 1%... "MY" good buddies !!!
FORWARD
"I" will fight for the middle class !!!
It's nice to see that the President doesn't discriminate based on ability to support his campaign.... you only need a minimum of $20,000 to have dinner with him. Last time I checked, the middle class wouldn't be able to attend these events. Way to focus on the people he says he cares so much about.