On Monday, President Barack Obama will be in Dallas to raise money for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.
The Dallas County Democratic Party provided few details on the dinner other to say it will be a $15,000-per-plate affair at the home of attorney Russell Budd.
Budd is a partner in the law firm Baron & Budd. His late law partner Fred Baron was national campaign treasurer for John Edwards in 2008.
Few of this year’s candidates for Congress or statewide office said they plan to attend. Only lieutenant governor nominee Linda Chavez-Thompson expressed interest.
Katy Bacon, spokesperson for the Bill White campaign, said he doesn’t plan to attend.
“He will be in Midland, Abilene and Johnson County that day,” she said.
But she said he’s not avoiding the president.
“He has talked to him by phone from time to time,” she said.
She said that with just 90 days left until the election, White needs to get out and meet as many Texans as possible. She said the campaign is on track and that White out-raised Gov. Rick Perry three reporting periods in a row and currently has $3 million more cash on hand than the incumbent.
“When I heard President Obama would be visiting Dallas the week of August 9th, I immediately thought that he intended to come to my fundraiser on Wednesday, Aug. 11,” joked openly gay Dallas County District Clerk Gary Fitzsimmons. “Regrettably that has turned out not to be the case.”
Fitzsimmons said Texas Democrats have historically been very generous donors to congressional campaigns around the country and that the president is doing everything he can to ensure Democratic candidates are competitive in the fall.
“It is a shame, however, that the president will not be having a public event in North Texas this time around,” he said. “President Obama is enormously popular here in Dallas County.”
Congressional candidates were not invited to the events. Lainey Melnick, a Democrat running against Republican incumbent Lamar Smith in Austin, said she wanted to attend but was told she would have to pay $30,000 a couple.
Erin Moore, president of Stonewall Democrats of Dallas, said she expected Republicans to have something to say about Obama’s visit. But she said that Dallas is still “blue” and supports him.
“He’s not coming to stump,” she said. “They’re down here raising money and we’re a big ATM. Fifteen thousand dollars a plate is worth a stop in Dallas.”
Moore said White and other top Democrats know Dallas’ big donors already and that attending a fundraising event for the national Senate candidates wouldn’t be a good use of campaign time.
barocka obama will you ever come back to dallas to do a speech if and when you ever do i will try to be on the front row i love your presidency very much you are doing a very good job you are doing the best you can do i lkke the way you are tryimg to help all of us pore folks struggling like these losing there jobs there homes and our seniors disabled buy trying to get a work tax bill for the working people plus a second 250.00 stemious rebate for all seniiors disabled i dont care what people thank about you as a president i thank you are a very good president after four years i hope to see you as president for another four years remember if you ever decide to come to dallas to do a speech i will try to be on the front row love you your family and all of your white house staff god blless all of you the end
Sandra- I was delighted to read your response here in the Dallas Voice. It’s my favorite Dallas area specific publication by a long shot. Let me be clear, I will not rest until all the fine people of this Great Nation have all the punctuation they need to leave a comment after a news article.
Would that be the same Fred Baron who secretly sent money to John Edwards mistress to keep her mouth shut about having Edwards kid?
The sarcastic, uneducated and fake comment by the commenter using the name Sandra says a lot about the person who wrote it.
OK, I admitz it. That Sandra wuz really me. I just luve mi boss so much, but I doan have anything else to du but right promos for him.
“It is a shame, however, that the president will not be having a public event in North Texas this time around,” he said. “President Obama is enormously popular here in Dallas County.”
Gay and you lie, your going straight to hell Fitz!!!!
So does that mean Gary can’t rely on your vote?
Such ironic imperfection. The commenter who thinks he is GOD doesn’t know when to use the words you’re and your.