President Obama still has a significant fundraising advantage over Mitt Romney, but the money gap has been rapidly shrinking — to the point that some political insiders are speculating that Obama may be the first sitting President to be out-fundraised by his opponent. Gone are the days when Obama obliterated fundraising records to the tune of $770 million in 2008 compared to Sen. John McCain’s respectable but outclassed $238 million.
Romney-supporting groups like Americans for Prosperity and American Crossroads are raising money heavily as well, and while it’s unclear which side will ultimately win the fundraising battle, there’s no question that the GOP has significantly leveled the playing field this election cycle.
Governor Romney’s event Wednesday evening at The Club in Birmingham will certainly help the his cause as the Romney campaign raked in $2.2 million. Tickets for the event started at $1,000 while dinner tickets started at $25,000.
Notable Alabama politicians in attendance included Congressmen Brooks, Rogers, Roby and Bachus, Senator Sessions, Governors Bentley and Riley, Speaker Hubbard, Lt. Gov. Ivey, Senate Majority Leader Waggoner [there were probably others I didn’t see] and a who’s who of the Alabama business community.
Birmingham resident Kate Anderson — who has quickly built the state’s go-to political fundraising shop — put on a another top-notch fundraiser coming behind her other recent fundraising successes for the House and Senate GOP caucuses.
I was on hand to work the event and snapped a few blurry pictures with my cell phone which you can see below.
Here’s a small portion of the Romney motorcade pulling into The Club:
I walked to the back of the room in The Club to snap the below picture of Governor Romney on stage speaking at the private reception which was attended by somewhere around 350 people. The reception was followed by a private $25,000 per plate dinner downstairs.
And here’s a blurry picture of Governor Romney working the rope line after his speech:
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