Obama’s Sestak Fundraiser at ‘about a Third of Its Capacity’
By Thomas A. Shakely
National Review Online
September 21, 2010
President Obama was in Philadelphia yesterday to inject Joe Sestak’s Senate campaign with a much-needed cash infusion. Pat Toomey, the Republican candidate, has led Sestak in the polls by between six to ten points according to most polls over the past few months.
Two things about the Obama fundraiser:
First, from the Allentown Morning Call, which was allowed to attend:
The reception was held at the Philadelphia Convention Center in a hall that was filled to about a third of its capacity. Jonathon Dworkin, spokesman for Sestak, said about 1,000 tickets were sold in total for the reception and a more intimate dinner afterward. Tickets went from $50 to $250 for the reception and $1,000 to $2,400 for the dinner.
They only sold 1,000 total tickets when they went for as low as $50? That’s striking.
Second, the Sestak campaign sent out an SOS-style e-mail over the weekend letting everyone know they still had time to register:
“We just got word from the White House that the RSVP deadline has been extended to Monday, September 20 at noon!”
The event began at 3pm. So, one could attend for $50, and could essentially register at the door — in the heart of Philadelphia, the Democrat epicenter in battleground Pennsylvania. And they only sold 1,000 tickets?
The city and surrounding Delaware Valley are home to some 6 million.
Talk about an enthusiasm deficit…
