Just Sarah Palin's name pushes McCain's Chicago fundraiser over $4 million

More evidence the Sarah Palin effect continues to benefit her Republican presidential campaign with Sen. John McCain.

The two of them split up in Kansas City for the day today, with Palin flying to Cincinnati for more study, and McCain moving on to Democrat Barack Obama's hometown of Chicago to raise some money in his opponent's political backyard.

Our Swamp pal Rick Pearson reports that while McCain will blow through the Windy City only briefly this evening, it looks like it'll be well worth his while.

Local organizers of McCain's fundraising event at the downtown Chicago Hilton say they expect to net at least $4 million for the Arizona senator's campaign tonight, actually for the Republican National Committee. Event fees range from $1,000 for the general reception, $5,000 for a smaller reception and photo with the candidate, and $25,000 for an intimate dinner with him.

The event is described by local McCain supporters as one of a handful of regional big-bucks fundraisers for the Republican contender.

State Rep Jim Durkin of Westchester, who's heading McCain's....

...Illinois money efforts, said ticket sales surged as soon as McCain named Alaska Gov. Palin as his GOP running mate just over a week ago, and continued through her rousing speech to delegates at last week's Republican National Convention in St. Paul.

"Since he named Palin, this has taken on a life of its own," Durkin said. He added that he noticed an increase in female business executives buying tickets for the fundraiser, even though they won't get a chance to see or hear her tonight.

Also today came encouraging news for the McCain campaign: The convention bounces of both candidates appear to have effectively canceled each other out, keeping the race virtually tied.

But one new poll especially showed dramatic movement of white women away from Obama and toward the McCain-Palin ticket in recent days, a shift of some 20 points, according to the new ABC News/Washington Post survey.

McCain and Palin will meet up in Ohio for some more joint campaigning in that historically crucial state for Republicans tomorrow before Palin makes a quick flight home -- well, not really all that quickly over that distance -- to see her 19-year-old Army son, Track, off for duty in Iraq.

She'll also undergo several interrogations by ABC News' Charles Gibson for broadcast later this week, her first interview as the GOP's first female vice presidential candidate since the Republican Party was founded in 1854.

(UPDATE: The Times' Maeve Reston reports from the fundraiser that McCain spent more time talking about Palin's biography than his own. “Gov. Palin has taken on her party," he said, "and the special interests in Alaska. I have stood up against my party when I’ve had to. And Sen. Obama has never once stood up to his party. You know that very well.”

Then, perhaps providing an inkling of some longterm plans, McCain added, "I’m proud of the experience and the talent that she brings to our ticket and she will bring to presidency and vice presidency of the United States of America.”) 

-- Andrew Malcolm

Photo credit: Getty Images

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Comments

[Maria Kirchner]

I cannot believe that women are this gullable!!! A shift of 20 points,really.The republicans are using Palin's popularity to steal this election.I'm a 55 year old white woman who has checked up on Palin and after reading all the FACTS cannot believe that women across America are falling for all her garbage of lies.I sure hope that you women WAKE UP!!

[Haniel]

Hee hee heee....just mentioning Palin sends Obama's fundraisers over the 10 MILLION mark, So hey, as a democrat, I LOVE Sarah Palin! All the way to the BANK!

Next year, everyone will be saying "sarah who?"

You heard it here first

[truth13]

If people realized that John McCain, the "terrorist fighter" is really John McCain, the "terrorists' friend", then they may not be so glad to vote for him. Check out this website which evidences McCain's praising, and walking hand in hand with someone who has strong ties to terrorists.
http://www.newspiritualbible.com/index14

[Maxine]

Sarah Palin as a mother

It is possible that Sarah Palin's down syndrome son was tranquilized at the RNC since it is a known fact that Down syndrome babies are extra sensitive to noise and crowds and normally would cry when exposed to anything as big as that convention.

[Bing]

I am an independent voter and I will be voting for the McCain-Palin ticket. I believe that they will bring change. The McCain-Palin ticket has the experience and know how in moving this country in the right directtion. All of my friends and my neighbors will do the same. We are the grassroots of America.

[greg]

Maxine said "

Sarah Palin as a mother

It is possible that Sarah Palin's down syndrome son was tranquilized at the RNC since it is a known fact that Down syndrome babies are extra sensitive to noise and crowds and normally would cry when exposed to anything as big as that convention."

This is too funny. I'm sure if McCain wins (which he will) you will have some conspiracy theory for that as well. You should seriously get a psychological exam if these are the thought processes you use. Maxine, you are an idiot.

[kaye]

We are blessed to have McCain- Palin. Thankfully, two people with INTEGRITY! I'm always ashamed to admit that Obama as my senator. Obama is a do-nothing, LOSER, and IDIOT !! Look at all the ammunition the Republicans had for their TV commericals !! Biden and Hillary trashing your lazy lump of garbage on taped video !! Look too, at the support Liebermann gave to the ONLYpresidential candidate worth consideration .... McCain. The very BEST of the RNC was Rudy's speech !! Yes, Obama does NADA NADA!! Get used to it ..... McCain will be President. None of us are going to work hard and make good salaries to have it taken away to pay for all you dumb lazy people. If Obama wants socialism ...... have him move to Germany. Their unemployment is at 28%. Kinda mirrors what the unemployment rate is in Chicago with all the welfare moms milking the system.

[Steve-o]

I tell-ya folks, there are some nutty people on the internets these days.

[Jay]

Readers of the LA Times are so bitter. This once great paper many moons ago is now a sour pill.

(But, Jay, this isn't a newspaper. It's online, called a blog. See, no paper at all. Also free.)

[Haydon]

Hang on a minute. I thought the republicans accepted the 80 million dollars in state money for their general election campaign. What is all this about 4 million dollar fundraiser? They aren't allowed to do that are they? If you take the publics money you have to take the restrictions that go with it!

[Isidro]

Well at least it is comforting to see that some women are realizing that Obama's absolute lack of executive experience and courting with terrorists like Bill Ayers and Hate-filled "Christians" like Jeremiah Wright would be detrimental to America if Obama is elected to the Executive office.

[Jon Do]

This is an interesting trend. A story on the ABC site says that Obama fundraising strategists are now wondering if breaking the federal funds promise was a mistake, since the current campaign funds are reported to be $200 million for McCain and $65 million for Obama. It looks like Obama may have been outmaneuvered on yet another front!

[Vic D.]

Sarah Palin is misleading the public about the Bridge to Nowhere and earmarks and lobbyist. She also billed taxpayers to stay in her own home, and billed taxpayers into paying for her husband and kids to accompany her on may of her business trips.

Don't listen to those two Republicans (McCain & Palin) when they say their ideologies are different then the other Republicans, and that they will run the country different than how the present Republicans have ran the country.

[Stephanie]

To the "grassroots" guy who's voting for McCain - being white doesn't make you grassroots. There are plenty of other "grassroots" voters that have a different color than yours who will be voting for Obama/Biden. Grassroots is how you mobilize - not how you vote! Thanks for reinforcing the notion that the McCain voters are political tools just like Sarah Palin who vote as their told, not as the issues and facts dictate. It makes me sick that the state of Alaska has paid for Sarah Palin to be a mother and lug her kids around. If politics is personal, then personal should be politics and then the the fact that her 17 year old daughter is knocked up because her "abstinence only" education stance failed in her own family should be up for grabs! Note: If it doesn't work in her own home, how the heck is it supposed to work across America? Had she been a Democrat it would have been hailed as the Democrats causing a breakdown in family values. Funny how the Republican supporters only see what they want to see- perhaps they should look to the facts, before they further contribute to deterioration of this country they claim to love so much!!

[swb]

Sarah Palin as a mother

It is possible that Sarah Palin's down syndrome son was tranquilized at the RNC since it is a known fact that Down syndrome babies are extra sensitive to noise and crowds and normally would cry when exposed to anything as big as that convention.

Posted by: Maxine | September 08, 2008 at 09:44 PM

THIS COMMENT IS VILE AND INEXCUSABLE. IF YOU ARE A DEMOCRAT, YOU HAVE DEBASED THE PARTY AND HAVE ONLY PROVIDED MORE FODDER FOR THE RNC. SHAME ON YOU.

[HLule]

"I am an independent voter and I will be voting for the McCain-Palin ticket. I believe that they will bring change. The McCain-Palin ticket has the experience and know how in moving this country in the right directtion. All of my friends and my neighbors will do the same. We are the grassroots of America."

Bing, Bing!
Boy, boy just like a republican who claims to be an independent and who claims all his neighbors will vote the same as him, and that may be true since you people can not independently for yourselves...

[HLule]

" Well at least it is comforting to see that some women are realizing that Obama's absolute lack of executive experience and courting with terrorists like Bill Ayers and Hate-filled "Christians" like Jeremiah Wright would be detrimental to America if Obama is elected to the Executive office."

Isidro, Isidro!
You talk about lack of executive experience by Obama, but does McCain have or has had any? I do not see the point to your statement to Obama's lack of experience. The only candidate who the Republicans claim to have executive is VP pick Palin which does not amount for zit zipo. Two years as a Governor of the least populous states in the nation, two years- are you kidding!

[Chuck Cardiff]

"the Republicans are using Palin's popularity to steal this election." I wasn't aware the election was Obama's personal property. Thanks for clarifying that.

[v racer]

Masine is confused. Isn't Obama's daughter the one that I read was using drugs? Over the top? Yes, sorta like all those lib rantings on the Internet. I had no idea how ignorant libs actually were until I started reading their desperate postings. It's no wonder that they chose this affirmative action candidate who, like most, is unqualified for the job. Goodbye Obama!