Sep 22, 2008 10:56 pm US/Central
$1 Million Dinner Party For Obama In Chicago
Alexi Giannoulias Hosts 1 Of 2 Fundraisers For Democratic Nominee Monday Night
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
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Democratic presidential candidate Illinois Senator Barack Obama (File)
Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images
Sen. Barack Obama was in Chicago Monday night for a pair of fundraisers, and while it's no secret Chicago has a history of corruption and shady politics, Sen. John McCain is highlighting Obama's ties to the so-called machine, in a hard-hitting new ad.
CBS 2 Chief Correspondent Jay Levine reports a hot new restaurant just west of the Loop drew a small, well-heeled crowd Monday night of mostly Greek-Americans, mostly from out of town.
Asked before the dinner began what they thought they would get to eat for $28,500, one attendee said, "I don't know. I think it's more the people you meet, right?"
What they do know is they were invited to the event by one of the hottest up-and-coming Greek-American politicians in America - Illinois State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias.
Obama himself was at another fundraiser in the Loop when guests at the later one arrived. The prior was a much more modest affair, with seats going for $1,500 a head for the event at the Standard Club.
On the same day the Democratic presidential nominee was hoping to raise more than $2 million in Chicago, McCain's campaign released a blistering campaign ad attacking Obama's roots and relationships in the city.
The Republican National Committee defended the advertisement as nothing but the truth.
"Barack Obama says that he was born out of Chicago politics. His political godfather got him his first appointment in Chicago. His economic advisor is the mayor's brother here in Chicago," said Mike Duncan of the RNC.
"If you ask someone to raise $30,000, it's not something that is very easy, but it is a group that is very excited about Barack," Giannoulias said.
Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who was specifically mentioned in the ad, shrugged it off.
"It's politics, they run ads," Blagojevich said. "I hope the picture's good."
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