President Obama Raised $2.4 Million During NYC Visit

obama birthday.jpg
Barack Obama went on a whirlwind fundraising tour of New York yesterday, making stops in the East Village and Midtown (and causing road closings and traffic issues along the way).

Despite a clutch of Occupy Wall Street protesters on a #DinnerWithBarack action, the president raked in $2.4 million over the course of yesterday's fundraising.

Obama's trip started at the home of businessman Jack Rosen on the Upper East Side, where 30 donors were present (at a price of $10,000 each).

At the Gotham Bar and Grill on 12th Street, donors spent $25,800 for a chance to rub elbows with Obama. NYPD barricades prevented passersby from coming within a block of the restaurant, where Obama reportedly told donors that "It's time for us to refocus and make sure that we understand that 'change we can believe in' was never going to be change overnight."

He continued, "Rather it's gonna be a slow, steady progression during which this aircraft carrier that we call United States of America slowly shifts in a direction that promises more opportunity."

The president's final stop was at the Sheraton in Midtown, where about 100 OWS protesters assembled outside to demonstrate (and where journalists who were on the scene have say that the NYPD interfered with their ability to do their jobs).

[rgray@villagevoice.com] [@_rosiegray]

Go to Runnin' Scared for more Voice news coverage.

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