The limousine ride from the White House took five minutes, delivering President Obama to the hotel at 5:49 p.m. Waiting for him were about two dozen donors who had paid a minimum of $60,000 each for a private "roundtable" that included presidential comments followed by a Q&A.By 6:48 p.m., Obama was back at the White House, headed toward the Oval Office. The estimated haul: at least $1.5 million, to be divided among his reelection campaign, the Democratic National Committee and several state parties.
Not a bad rate of return for an hour, especially considering who paid for his time and the limo ride.
Campaign officials will not discuss specific figures, but presidential schedules, statements and published reports show that Obama has raised at least $20 million this year by venturing no farther than 1.4 miles from the White House. Most of the forays have been to caucus with deep-pocketed contributors at nearby hotels.
Expand that radius by just a few miles and there's millions more in the form of similarly brief but profitable visits -- to private homes. On Jan. 31, after a fundraiser with about 50 donors at $35,800 per person; (estimated take: at least $1.8 million), Obama headed to after-dinner remarks and questions from about 70 guests. Obama took in an estimated $2.5 million.
At the home of gay activists, he secured about $1.4 million. Former DNC chairman and likely 2013 Virginia gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe hosted Obama at his McLean residence in April, with Bill Clinton as a featured guest. About 500 people paid $1,000 each for the reception. Eighty dinner guests wrote checks for at least $20,000.
Sounds like the One Percent to me! What does OWS think about that?
Like Romney's fundraising events, most of Obama's interactions with the big donors are not open to the news media. Attendees at the Obama sessions say they usually begin with the president
"He was very candid about what he was up against," said a architect and developer who specializes in affordable housing. Questions from donors covered a variety of issues, including taxes and the treatment of prisoners at Guantanamo Bay. Exchanges can occasionally get edgy or awkward.
"You had your turn -- now it's my turn," Obama said, cutting off a donor at the Jefferson this year, according to one attendee.
Oh, my! A temper?
Contributors said the president's remarks rarely surprise. In a world of iPhones and tweets, the risks of going off-message are too high. Obama probably learned that the hard way in 2008, when he
With the flood of independent money in the race, the president has invested unprecedented energy in the cash chase. A study by U.S. Naval Academy political science professor found that through July 18, Obama held 183 fundraisers for his reelection committee and the DNC. That's more than George W. Bush's and Clinton's combined during the last two years of their first terms.
Lies, I tell you. LIES!!!
Obama campaign officials disputed Doherty's calculus, saying that Bush and Republicans counted multiple events at a single site as a single fundraiser.
Everybody knows Democrats count better!