By Brian M. Rosenthal, The Seattle Times –
SEATTLE — President Barack Obama dropped in to Seattle Tuesday for a pair of high-priced campaign fundraisers to bolster his re-election campaign against Republican Mitt Romney.
Both events, which were not open to the public, were held at the Hunts Point home of Costco co-founder Jim Sinegal and his wife, Janet.
Obama arrived at Boeing Field about 5:40 p.m. on Air Force One. He planned to spend the night in Seattle before leaving Wednesday morning.
This is Obama’s sixth visit to Seattle since being elected president.
At the Sinegal home, he was expected to speak with two dozen business leaders at a $35,800-per-person roundtable before delivering remarks to 200 people at a $5,000-per-person dinner.
The events should raise about $1.75 million for the Obama campaign and affiliated committees, according to Democratic Party officials.
Among the politicians on hand at the fundraiser were Gov. Chris Gregoire; Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jay Inslee and his wife, Trudi; state Sens. Ed Murray of Seattle and Derek Kilmer of Gig Harbor; state House Speaker Frank Chopp; U.S. Rep. Adam Smith, and former Seattle Mayor Norm Rice.
When Obama arrived at Boeing Field he was greeted by a dozen community and business leaders and local party volunteers, but no major state or Seattle politicians. He then approached a crowd of several dozen onlookers, shaking a few hands before speeding off for Hunts Point.
The trip is part of a three-day West Coast swing that was expected to bring in more than $6 million for Obama’s re-election effort.
It comes as Obama is lagging behind Romney in fundraising. Last week, Romney reported more than $106 million raised in June between his own campaign and various committees — $35 million more than the $71 million Obama raised.
Obama was still leading in cash on hand, however.
The president has pulled in nearly $6 million from Washington state donors, while Romney has gotten about $2 million.
A SurveyUSA/KING5 poll released last week found Obama is leading Romney among state voters, 46 percent to 37 percent. The president led by 14 points in a May SurveyUSA/KING5 poll.
The last time Obama visited the Puget Sound, in May, he attended a $35,800-per-couple event at a Madrona home and a larger, less expensive fundraiser at the Paramount Theatre.
That visit was closely watched since it came the day after Obama announced his support for gay marriage. The president’s Tuesday visit included no such news.
Obama is to leave Seattle on Wednesday morning for New Orleans, where he’ll attend two fundraisers and speak at the National Urban League conference.
