Biden prospecting for Democratic donors in D.C. while Obama raises $1.5 million in NYC

WASHINGTON–While President Obama is in New York City collecting $1.5 million for the Democratic National Committee at a fund-raiser Tuesday, Vice President Biden is prospecting here with about 75 big wallet Democrat donors.

The Biden event is at a private home here and the guest list was put together by the DNC and its grass-and net–roots arm, Organizing for America. The guests include Maryland Lieutenant Governor Anthony Brown and former-mayor Sharon Pratt Kelly. This is not a fund-raiser where people pay to attend; rather Biden is prospecting to get people jazzed up about fund-raising for the Obama/Biden 2012 ticket.

This is all part of the 2012 money chase. On Monday, I revealed that the Obama 2012 launch is in April with a big fund-raising drive at the start: “I’ve also learned that when President Obama hits Chicago for a Democratic National Committee event April 14, it will be one of a series of gatherings around the country in April — at Democrats’ best donor cities — kicking off the Obama 2012 campaign.” In that same column, I also had the scoop that the Obama 2012 national headquarters will be in Chicago’s Prudential Building.

In New York, Obama will raise $1.5 million from 50 people at a fund-raiser at Marcus Samuelsson’s Red Rooster restaurant (with a $30,800 per-person ask). Obama will also appear before about 250 folks–activists, volunteers, lower dollar donors–at a no-charge “thank you reception” s at the Studio Museum of Harlem.