Obama Headlines Reid's $2M Vegas Fundraiser

By Kevin Spak, Newser Staff

Posted May 27, 2009 10:36 AM CDT

(Newser) – President Obama jetted to Las Vegas yesterday for a glitzy fundraiser for Harry Reid, the Washington Post reports. Aides estimate the shindig, which cost revelers between $50 and $2,400, pulled in $2 million for Reid’s contentious reelection battle. Though Obama and Reid haven’t always seen eye-to-eye, Obama is counting on Reid to shepherd his ambitious agenda through the Senate.

The fundraiser, which also starred Sheryl Crow and Bette Midler, will boost Reid’s war chest by 40%. It also might mollify critics outraged by Obama’s February remark that TARP recipients “can’t go take a trip to Las Vegas…on the taxpayers’ dime.” Among those peeved: Republican Gov. Jim Gibbons, who refused to meet with Obama.

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President Barack Obama leaves the stage at a fundraising event for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas, Nev., Tuesday, May 26, 2009. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

President Obama stands with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., at a fundraising event at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas, Nev., Tuesday, May 26, 2009. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

President Barack Obama is greeted by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., as he arrives in Las Vegas, Tuesday, May 26, 2009. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

President Barack Obama is embraced by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., as he arrives in Las Vegas, Tuesday, May 26, 2009. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

President Obama waits off stage as he is introduced by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., at a fundraising event at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas, Nev., Tuesday, May 26, 2009. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

President Barack Obama stands with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., at a fundraising event at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas, Nev., Tuesday, May 26, 2009. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

President Barack Obama speaks at a fundraising event for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas, Nev., Tuesday, May 26, 2009. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

President Obama speaks at a fundraising event for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas, Nev., Tuesday, May 26, 2009. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

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If the governor has a specific point that he'd like to make to the President of the United States, he's landing in a few hours in Las Vegas, and apparently has been invited to make that case - Robert Gibbs, on Jim Gibbons'
issues with Obama

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