Fewer than 100 people attended the opening session of the two-day "Founders Summit" for Organizing for Action, the 501(c)(4) restructuring of what was formerly the Obama reelection campaign.
Reporters had access to the opening session, which featured speeches by founders Jim Messina and David Plouffe, but not the ensuing private sessions. The Washington Post noted the low attendance Wednesday morning:
Fewer than 100 people attended Wednesday’s opening session of a two-day summit at the St. Regis, an upscale hotel just two blocks from the White House. Many of the Democratic Party’s biggest benefactors did not attend.
Attendees included a few donors, but were mostly volunteers and former White House and campaign staffers. They heard opening speeches by Messina and other founders, including longtime Obama adviser David Plouffe, and then held private strategy sessions. Obama is scheduled to address the group at a dinner Wednesday, with more strategy sessions planned for Thursday.
President Obama will speak Wednesday night at a dinner for the event, which cost $50,000 to attend.
Although many major Democratic donors are sitting out the event, a number of ringers will still be there. Among those expected to attend are Andy Spahn (the political consultant for DreamWorks Animation CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg) and Texas businessman Henry Munoz, according to Bloomberg. Munoz is one of the lead fundraisers behind the Futuro Fund, which raised $32 million for Obama's reelection.