WASHINGTON–President Obama makes his first major fund-raising pitch for his 2012 re-election on Monday night when he meets with about 50 backers—some involved in his 2008 campaign and others who are considered potential major supporters.
Obama meets with the group at the St. Regis Hotel at 7:30 p.m. est at an event organized by the Democratic National Committee, which is the political arm of the Obama operation for now since “official” Obama re-election papers have yet to be filed with the Federal Election Commission. No money for the 2012 re-elect can be collected until Obama files with the FEC. Any pledges obtained at the DNC reception Monday night–it is a DNC event–goes to the DNC. But since the main purpose of the DNC at this stage is to support Obama’s programs and re-election–it is a difference without a major distinction.
The Obama re-elect game plan calls for the Obama team–to be headquartered in Chicago– to initially focus on massive money raising. Whether the pitch on Monday is to raise money for the DNC — to join one of their top “finance” councils–or to get folks jazzed about 2012, the goal is the same, to re-elect Obama.
Obama 2012 Campaign manager Jim Messina has been criss crossing the nation in recent weeks in what is called in the fund-raising business “prospecting” meetings. He’s helping to organize the leadership of Obama’s 2012 massive fund-raising effort, along with DNC finance director Rufus Gifford, who will be the Obama 2012 finance director.
Penny Pritzker, the 2008 finance chair will not be reprising her role in 2012, I reported earlier, though she will be active in helping the effort.
Obama headlined a fund-raiser in Boston on March 8 to benefit the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee–where the goal was to raise $1 million–and in Miami on March 4 to benefit mainly the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fl.)
Because Obama will not be delivering “formal” remarks, a pool reporter will not allowed to be present.
