Obama Land

by Mary F. Patel

With Wall Street crashing earlier in the week, Democrats are looking at presidential nominee Barack Obama as a last bastion of hope. Obama's appearance next week at a Philly fundraiser hosted by a consortium of the city's politically connected VIPs should be a major draw despite the ticket price — $2,300 a person for a premium ticket and $1,000 for the standard. The event will take place Oct. 10 at the Sheraton City Center in the late afternoon.

Those planning to attend include honorary co-chairs Mayor Michael Nutter, Gov. Ed Rendell, U.S. Sen. Bob Casey and an eclectic range of co-chairs, featuring Mark Alderman, Charles Breslin, David L. Cohen, Stephen Cozen, Holly Kinser, Malcolm Lazin, Bob Toll and Dan Wofford.

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It should be noted that Casey has been on board with Obama since the beginning, while Rendell was a strong backer of Hillary Clinton.

Breslin, a government consultant close to Rendell who is heavily involved with organizing the fundraiser, says the hosts have had great success with former Clinton supporters. He credits the governor.

"It is because of Gov. Rendell that all the Hillary supporters have stepped up to this event," says Breslin.

For the really well-heeled and -connected, Rendell and his former chief of staff, David Cohen, are hosting a dinner party at Cohen's house following the fundraiser. Guests can either purchase a $10,000 ticket or raise $50,000 for the Obama campaign.

Also taking advantage of Obama's appearance next week will be politically active gays and lesbians, who will be hosting their own fundraising confab at the Sheraton at the same time (this may prove challenging for Obama, Rendell, Casey and Nutter, who will be expected to be in two places at once). Co-chairs include Lazin, Marty Sellers, Abbe Fletman and Stephen Glassman and Obama campaign LGBTQ finance chairs Kevin Jennings and Joan Garry. Tickets for this event aren't too cheap, either: $1,000, $2,300 and $5,000.

Will there be any Republican protesters at either Obamafunction? Last week, several activists gathered at the Irish Pub to get their message out about Republican vice presidential contender Sarah Palin. Speaking of which, Palin and top-of-the-ticket Republican John McCain will be in town the following day, at the Park Hyatt at the Bellevue hotel, for their own high-end soiree.

This may not be as good for local Republicans as it sounds. Local GOP candidates have been having a hard time getting their message heard above the din of presidential politics.

Take, for example, the case of Wally Zimolong, who is running for a state House seat in the 182nd District against Democratic incumbent Babette Josephs. Struggling to gain attention, Zimolong managed to get an interview on CN8's Comcast Newsmakers this week to dish on the district and how he can make a difference. But since the show, hosted by Carla Showell-Lee, is a public service message, Zimolong couldn't speak too negatively about Josephs — he could only get in a comment about how voters "have lost faith in their elected officials."

Zimolong, an attorney in private practice, lives in the Italian Market section of the district. He says crime is a problem and that locking up thugs is one of his top priorities.

In other news, the Democratic City Committee was busy last Monday with three dignitaries from Kosovo who dropped in for a crash course in grass-roots Democratic politics.

City Committee official Lou Farinella advised the trio — United Nations Minority Affairs Officer Bashkim Ibishi and Kosovo parliament members Enis Kervan and Müfera Sinik — on all things Democratic.

"We talked about the role of committee people and how we get the vote out," says Farinella. "They also wanted to know what percentage of the Muslim vote Obama would receive and I told them that information would be difficult to determine."

(rcpatel@aol.com)