As deadline looms for quarterly finance reporting, Mrs. Obama attends big-ticket events...First Lady Obama hits the road on Friday, traveling up the Eastern seaboard for one last fundraising push for President Obama's 2012 campaign, ahead of the FEC's midnight deadline for quarterly finance reporting. Mrs. Obama will attend one luncheon and three different receptions sprinkled between Maine and Rhode Island, as well as participate in a roundtable event with military spouses, as part of her Joining Forces initiative. (Above: Mrs. Obama joined the President in New York city last week for a DNC fundraiser)
Mrs. Obama's trip follows on President Obama's three-state western swing at the beginning of the week, and is part of the effort to attract one million donors for this quarter.
The First Lady will begi
n her day in Maine, attending an 11:30 luncheon and 1:00 reception at the home of Bobby Monks in Cape Elizabeth. Monks is a millionaire real estate developer and business entrepreneur, who became Chair of the Obama for Maine Steering Committee in 2007, then served on the Administration's Housing and Urban Development Transition team. He is a member of DNC's National Finance Committee. Tickets are between $2,500-$35,800. (Above: The President and Monks)After, the First Lady will attend a 3:00 PM reception at the Ocean Gateway terminal at the Portland Jetport in Portland, Maine. Tickets range from $100 to $5,000 (full details on ticket prices for both events below).
In the evening, in Providence, Rhode Island, Mrs. Obama will attend a 7:00 fundraising reception at the Eastside home of former Providence mayor Joseph R. Paolino. The suggested donation begins at $1,000. Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Chafee will attend. He endorsed Candidate Obama in 2008, but told The Providence Journal that he is not yet ready to make a formal endorsement for 2012.
"They want more than I can afford," Chafee quipped, when asked how much he will be donating to the President's re-election effort.
On Wednesday, Mrs. Obama sent e-mails to supporters asking for donations, and touted the Dinner with Barack II sweepstakes.
In between the fundraising events, Mrs. Obama will participate in a 5:30 PM roundtable conversation with military spouses at the Rhode Island Army National Guard Facility in Cranston, RI. The military spouses represent all five military services and a variety of commands at the nearby Naval Station in Newport Rhode Island, including the Naval War College and the Navy Senior Enlisted Academy, according to the White House. The event is part of Mrs. Obama's Joining Forces initiative to support military families.
Maine fundraisers
11:30 AM: Mrs. Obama will deliver remarks at a Democratic National Committee luncheon and reception in Cape Elizabeth,. Tickets are $2,500.00 /guest for the luncheon, $5,000 for photo line reception and luncheon, $15,000 for Host Committee, which includes Co-chair reception, photo line reception and luncheon; and $35,800 for Event Chair designation, which includes the same package of perks.
1:00 PM: Mrs. Obama will deliver remarks at "Obama Victory Fund 2012 — Afternoon Reception with the First Lady," at the Ocean Gateway terminal at the newly refurbished Portland Jetport. Tickets range from $100 to $250 to $500 for "preferred section" to $5,000 for Co-host.
Rhode Island fundraiser
7:00 PM: Mrs. Obama will deliver remarks at a Democratic National Committee reception in Providence, at the East Side home of former Providence Mayor Joseph R. Paolino Jr.. Suggested donations start at $1,000.
*Monks photo courtesy Bobby Monks