President Barack Obama sought to help U.S. Senate candidate Alexi Giannoulias on two fronts Thursday, raising much-needed campaign cash and reassuring voters that the Democrat is a trusted ally who can be counted on to help advance a progressive agenda.
The nearly $1 million fundraising event at the Palmer House Hilton highlighted a quick visit by Obama back home to Chicago that also included a tour of a Southeast Side Ford plant and a 49th birthday dinner Wednesday night with friends including Oprah Winfrey.
Speaking Thursday afternoon to more than 400 donors, Obama and Giannoulias each sought to label November's mid-term elections as a stark choice for the public between the economic policies of the previous Bush administration and efforts by the Democratic White House — admittedly not always popular — to reverse the recession.
"Alexi is my friend. I know his character. I know how much he loves this country. I know how committed he is to public service for all the right reasons," the president said. "I appreciate his strong sense of advocacy for ordinary Americans. He's not doing this to help the lobbyists. He's not doing it to help special interests."
Though Obama and Giannoulias have a long history, their relationship had been strained over the Senate contest. In 2004, Giannoulias helped introduce Obama to the city's Greek community and donors when Obama won the U.S. Senate seat Giannoulias is now seeking. Two years later, Obama repaid the favor by endorsing Giannoulias for state treasurer over the Democratic organization-backed candidate. But last year, the White House was actively trying to recruit a sure-win Senate candidate despite Giannoulias' early entry into the contest.
Obama's fundraising appearance came at a critical time for Giannoulias. The treasurer's political viability had been questioned until his Republican Senate opponent, five-term North Shore U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk, stumbled badly when it came out that he had embellished and misstated his Naval Reserve record and personal history. Even with those problems, Kirk entered the final months of the campaign with nearly $4 million to spend while Giannoulias had about $1 million.
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