City officials in Springfield, Ill. are now asking President Obama to help them cover the costs of his August 2008 fundraiser in their city. NBC Chicago reports that then-Senator Obama’s campaign event to announce Joe Biden as his running mate cost the city of Springfield more than $55,000 in police overtime pay for the extra security the Obama team requested:
"What they refused to pay was the $55,000 associated with police overtime for extra security," said city Budget Director William McCarty.
Springfield city officials claim they contacted both the DNC and the Obama campaign to help cover the costs. The Obama campaign reportedly refused to send any financial assistance to Springfield:
Since 2009, McCarty says city officials have tried to determine who was responsible for the overdue debt.
"They contacted the DNC. They contacted the Obama campaign," he said, but no one wanted to pay. "That’s when the finger pointing began because the Obama campaign said we are a private organization, we are not responsible for the security."
