by Frank James, revised with an Obama campaign clarification.
Preparations are underway in Chicago's Grant Park and the surrounding area for Sen. Barack Obama's big Election Night event, which looks like it will be a celebration if he wins or the world's largest consolation session if he doesn't.
Chicago Tribune reporter Dan Mihalopoulos has a posting up on the Tribune's Clout Street blog with details.
Mayor Richard Daley put the tab at $2 million today for Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama's Grant Park rally on election night.
Obama's campaign is footing the bill.
Noting the city's budget shortfall and planned layoffs of city workers, Daley said, "In this financial crisis, the city of Chicago could not afford $2 million on this."
Daley said he would have preferred that the event were held indoors at the United Center, but he yielded to the Obama campaign's wishes.
"Could you see me saying no to Sen. Obama?" Daley told reporters today. "Give me a break. I'm not that dumb."
Daley said he plans to attend the event.
City emergency officials will outline details at a news conference today.
"Yeah, it's costly but they raised quite a bit of money in the campaign," Daley said.
Based on that last comment from the mayor, the Obama campaign might want to triple check that final bill from the city.
For the record, the Obama campaign says it considered the United Center for its Election Night gathering but that it was booked by Celine Dion "so it was not an option" according to a spokesman.
There's a little irony in it being Dion who thwarted the Obama campaign from using the United Center. The Canadian superstar's "You and I" was the official Clinton campaign song.
Comments
What a waste of money - He should take that 2Mil and help the poor. What a hypocrite.
Posted by: jpv | October 23, 2008 4:13 PM
How about $150K on clothing?
KT
Posted by: KennyT | October 23, 2008 4:35 PM
Most of those costs are for security and public safety. no more whining people. seriously, it's not like he's pourding champaigne for 200,000 people. police and ambulance standbyes are expensive.
Posted by: G Man | October 23, 2008 4:38 PM
Listen I am undecided in this election but why is it a travesty when Palin spends $150,000 on clothes but perfectly ok when Obama spends $2 mill on an election night party. I am leaning towards Barack or maybe 3rd party but even I admit that the press coverage of this election has been an absolute embarassment. I have never seen such a disparity in the coverage of 2 candidates who both have done nothing but slam the other guy. There is no such thing as journalism anymore it is all entertainment now. I may still vote Obama but I dislike the treatment a war hero like McCain has gotten from the majority of the media and from a lot of Obama supporters. Listen I am not voting McCain due to my belief that he isnt up to handle the economic crisis we are in, but I have immense respect for the man for what he went htrough as a POW. Whenever Obama attacks McCain it is perfectly fine but whenver McCain attacks Obama it is called dishonorable. I am Dem leaning independant but that doesnt mean I have to be blind. The people who glom onto 1 candidate and defend everything he does (right or wrong) and villify the other guy for the same thing are exactly why we are so divided as a country. I got news for you. Kieth Oblerman is just as much of an idiot as Rush Limbaugh. I would tell both campaigns to slow with attacks. I dont care that Obama served on a board with Ayers and I hated the Obama ads taht showed McCain as too old. When your own VP tells you that your ads are a disgrace (as Biden did to Obama) that should tell you something. Both guys are just as guilty of going mostly negative. I also cant help but get the feel that Obama bought this election and has set a disasterous precedent where big money has run wild in presidential elections form now on. He has single handedly destroyed any sense of campain finance reform that we had. Had McCain done this the media would be all over him. Ahh what do to when you dont really like either candidate? Any advice on what to do when neither guy sparks your interest?
Posted by: Jimmy | October 23, 2008 4:43 PM
Yeah Jimmy, vote for the young one who doesn't bring the risk of President Palin with him.
Obama's "party" is him being true to the city of Chicago. Most candidates make the host city pay for policy, security, and trash pickup - which is very expensive and cities can't afford these days. It isn't exhorbitant. A couple hundred thousand people are going to show up to celebrate. If obama didn't pay, it would not be a safe event, or the city's taxpayers would be stuck with the bill. Neither would be fair. once again, obama is doing the RIGHT thing *bush didn't do this for his rally, he chose to spend every cent on attack ads instead).
bravo to obama.
Posted by: G MAN | October 23, 2008 5:30 PM
Jimmy - you miss the point. McCain couldn't have done what obama did. Obama took a risk. if mccain thought he could raise what obama did he would have done it and bragged that he didn't have to take taxpayer $$$.
Posted by: G MAn | October 23, 2008 5:35 PM
When people are swooning with amazement at the Obama dollars, it seems there's a forgetting that it started with little people's money, $25 here and there one million times. Recently the big people's money got into it and so us little ones can take a rest. The campaign quit asking for $25 and started asking $100 and sometimes $190 as low end. Then I retired because it looked like he had enough money to run next time too. Which they can do, carry over. What the money means in his case is that a whole lot of people are invested in his candidacy, not just a few political pacs or a slew of the hyper wealthy. That is what is different. Jillions of us own a piece of the Obama rock. Let it be so.
Posted by: Gaias Child | October 23, 2008 6:02 PM
Obama will have to give a speech somewhere on election night. Why not in a public venue -- a beautiful public venue -- accessible to all?!? Obama's willingness to break out of political traditions is what gives us hope. Hope = priceless!
Posted by: Theresa Parrish | October 23, 2008 6:13 PM
Having money doesn't give you substance...and assuming a win is always the kiss of death. You'll find that this race is closer than your brainwashing media is telling you. Obama appears to be counting his chickens before they have a chance to come home and roost. Shazam!
Posted by: Superpower | October 23, 2008 6:17 PM
I can absolutely guarantee you that if Obama's election night gathering was held in some hotel ballroom with limited capacity and tight "invited guests only" security, the streets of Chicago outside said hotel and probably all over the Loop would be teeming with supporters, causing massive traffic and safety problems. Thousands are planning to come BY THE BUSLOAD from all over the country. And they deserve to be there. Their "small donations" and endless phone banking and canvassing will be what ultimately brings Sen. Obama's victory. "Bottom up" Democracy is not exclusive, minute, and contained. It is expansive, joyous, and inclusive. And requires a very large space when a celebration is in order.
Posted by: Politicola | October 23, 2008 6:27 PM
Regardless where the ralley is held will be the same politicians standing behind him lLike all Chicago rallies -
Posted by: George | October 23, 2008 8:09 PM
Mr. Obama hasn't won yet. I'm still waiting for the pollsters to call me. McCain all the way. Sarah Palin is gutsy and will make a great vp!
Posted by: Cathy Adams | October 24, 2008 12:50 AM
He's bringing 2 million dollars into the local economy. It's not like he's burning the money people. That money goes to hire cops, firefighters, EMTs, city infrastructure, and yes, perhaps even a few PLUMBERS.
Posted by: Joe | October 24, 2008 9:45 AM
Yeah, Joe is right. Obama is giving 2 million dollars to the local chicago economy. He's hiring all sorts of people for this event. It's like he's hosting it for Chicago. It's not pork barrel spending because it's his own campaign's money. I'm from Chicago, so I think that's pretty cool.
Posted by: Matticus | October 25, 2008 2:34 PM
I think it's obvious that "Jimmy" is not undecided. And to call Obama's campaign dirty compared to McCain's is ludicrous. Obama made record money from individual supporters and he is now giving back. I donated a few times, probably totalling around $100, not a ton but I got a ticket to the rally. Seems fair to me. And wouldn't it be "unamerican" to take away the money he earned, cause that sounds like scary socialism to me, haha!
Posted by: Josh | November 3, 2008 5:43 PM
I see nothing wrong with him putting out that money he will need alot of security because there are so many haters in this world i am sure mccain has spent plenty also.Lets pray for safety for us all in the u.s.a and pray that we wake up wednesday morning with obama as our new president.
Posted by: martha | November 3, 2008 7:09 PM