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Obama Taps NBA Millionaires for Campaign Cash

Raises $2.1 million at Florida bash

February 24, 2012

President Obama held a fundraiser at Vince Carter’s Florida mansion Thursday evening, raking in more than $2.1 million for his campaign and the Democratic Party, the Orlando Sentinel reports.

President Barack Obama came to the Isleworth mansion of NBA player Vince Carter on Thursday night to talk with basketball stars and a handful of others who could afford the $30,000 ticket about his campaign theme of fairness in America. ...

The diners—plus a few stars who couldn't attend, such as the Miami Heat's LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh—paid $30,000 apiece. The first $5,000 of each check went to Obama's re-election campaign, Obama for America, and the rest to the Democratic National Committee. Early estimates indicated the dinner would raise at least $1.2 million, but officials later estimated it brought in $2.1 million.

Thursday's dinner was Obama's third high-dollar Florida fundraiser of the day, including one at the swanky Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables and a $10,000-a-ticket gathering at the Miami home of veteran fundraiser Chris Korge. He was accompanied by Nelson, who's running for re-election, and Wasserman Schultz, the chair of the DNC.

"One of the great things about America and one of the great things about professional sports is we've all got cousins, uncles, family members, who are still struggling. And we are reminded we have a lot more work to do," the president is reported to have said.

Published under: Democratic Donors