President Obama's 2012 machine is revving up early, and his campaign is using all its assets to pull in wealthy donors—while also courting the small Internet donors that fueled his grass-roots machine in 2008. The Washington Post takes a long look at the fundraising push, which has included everything from cocktail parties to one-on-ones with Valerie Jarrett to $44 bar get-togethers, depending on what group of donors is being pursued. And the campaign team isn't done yet: Future fundraisers will be even more creative, like the food tasting with the White House chef that's in the works.
Obama has attended 28 fundraisers across the nation in recent weeks, and he'll likely keep—or pick up—the pace over the next few months. So far, events have been targeted toward specific groups, many of which are frustrated with some of Obama's policies. But while high-level donors snag sit-downs with top aides, lower-level donors are tempted with the chance to score dinner with the president and VP, all for a $5 donation; officials say there are many more small donors now than there were by this stage last time around. Obama is also looking for more bundlers, who pull together donations from wealthy backers; a new initiative called Gen44 is curating up-and-coming bundlers. Click for more on how Obama is also courting "fat cats." (More Obama 2012 stories.)
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