HONOLULU, Aug. 13, 2008

Obama Raises $1.3 Million In Hawaii

Democrat Interrupts Vacation To Attend Sold-Out Fundraiser

  • Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill. walks down Kailua Beach with his daughter Malia, 10, during his vacation to Hawaii, Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2008, in Kailua, Hawaii.

    Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill. walks down Kailua Beach with his daughter Malia, 10, during his vacation to Hawaii, Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2008, in Kailua, Hawaii.  (AP Photo/Marco Garcia)

(CBS/AP)  Hawaiian vacations aren't usually money makers, but Barack Obama's has been, as his home state supporters contributed $1.3 million to his campaign at a sold-out fundraiser Tuesday.

Obama interrupted his weeklong family getaway for the event at the Kahala Hotel & Resort, where 500 people donated at least $2,300 apiece to his presidential campaign to hear him speak. Posted at the entrance was a photo collage of Obama's youth in Hawaii, featuring his poofy teenage hairdo and his jump shot on the high school basketball team.

Donors who gave $10,000 or more were included in a VIP reception where they got to mingle and pose for pictures with Obama and his wife, Michelle. The pair didn't get too buttoned-up on their vacation and went uncharacteristically casual for a high-dollar fundraiser, him in a short-sleeve shirt and her in a sun dress.

Obama joked that his wife married him only when she found out he was from Hawaii. He said he's been yearning to get back to Hawaii ever since he began running for president a year and a half ago.

"I kept on telling my staff, I'm worried about Hawaii," he said. "It's going to be really embarrassing if we don't pull it out. I think I need to spend two or three days campaigning. They said no."

He thanked Hawaiians for campaigning for him in his absence.

Earlier on Tuesday, Obama played basketball with his Chicago buddies and some high school classmates, reports CBS News' Maria Gavrilovic. Also on hand was former high school dean, Paula Kurashige, who Obama said helped him get into college.

Obama spent the rest of his afternoon on the beach with his family and friends.


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Add a Comment See all 17 Comments
by obama8years August 13, 2008 11:09 PM EDT
I wonder How Many Foreigners Donated to Obama. Hamas has already caught caught donating 30k to Obama. Google it , true story.

There is no city or state run by a majority of black politicians that haven''t run their city or state into major problems.

They get in and think they should enact all kinds of social programs and the business run out due to the taxes...then they have nothing.

NY is taxed the most and is now a SOCIAL SERVICE (welfare) state.

Michigan jacked taxes and the auto dissappeared and Bush was blamed...

RIGHT
Reply to this comment
by trishab57 August 13, 2008 10:44 PM EDT
Let McCane go to Hawaii and he''ll be thrown to the sharks. LOL!
Reply to this comment
by wellhell3 August 13, 2008 10:11 PM EDT
WellHell3...that''''s JUST from Hawaii you idoit!


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Posted by hasher471 at 11:22 AM : Aug 13, 2008

Yeah, what a bunch of cheap asssed losers...the Mainland has already ponied up $100 million!
Reply to this comment
by wellhell3 August 13, 2008 10:10 PM EDT
Awwwww shucks! Just $1.3 million! Whatta loser!
Posted by WellHell3

At least he didn''''t have to flip flop on an issue to get that money from the oil industry


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Posted by Zerato at 04:56 PM : Aug 13, 2008

Awwwww, nawwwwww, Obscamma had already done that when he voted for *** Cheney''s energy bill and was paid royallty for it...just like he was by the telecoms when he supported FISA...

Too bad Obscamma won''t support drilling, he might get some more!
Reply to this comment
by zerato-2009 August 13, 2008 7:56 PM EDT
Awwwww shucks! Just $1.3 million! Whatta loser!
Posted by WellHell3

At least he didn''t have to flip flop on an issue to get that money from the oil industry
Reply to this comment
by acarponzo August 13, 2008 6:40 PM EDT
Politics by nature is polarizing! That''s why we go to the polls. There is a new instant poll at http://BOP-O-RAMA.com that lets you get your BOPS in on the issues.

News Flash!

Obama''s BOPS to 150,000 on the http://www.BOP-O-METERR.com. McCain''s BOPS hover around 125,000.
Reply to this comment
by dante805 August 13, 2008 4:21 PM EDT
Oh no. He is not an elitist. I guess that Harvard Lawyer education is finally paying off. Check out his donors at the FEC - all radicals, hollywood producers, actors, and Attorneys - tons of attorneys. Scary.
Reply to this comment
by bigwhtpony August 13, 2008 2:50 PM EDT
It is THEIR votes that have put this great country
Into the toilet. Posted by hasher471 at 11:26 AM : Aug 13, 2008

Actually, it''s candyassed, bedwetting libs like you that are putting this great country in the toilet.
Reply to this comment
by bigwhtpony August 13, 2008 2:48 PM EDT
(CBS/AP) Presidential hopeful B. Hussain Ubama said today that he will not allow a repeat of history to occur in Georgia. ''General Sherman was the last time, and I will not allow this to happen again.'' Then, the candidate lit up a Kool and blew smoke rings.

Reply to this comment
by hasher471 August 13, 2008 2:26 PM EDT
It is hilarious and sad at the same time.
The same people that are dis%u2019sing Obama
And supporting McCain
Are the SAME people that voted for Bush..TWICE.

It is THEIR votes that have put this great country
Into the toilet.

These people should be put on %u2018voting probation%u2019!
Reply to this comment
by hasher471 August 13, 2008 2:22 PM EDT
WellHell3...that''s JUST from Hawaii you idoit!
Reply to this comment
by wellhell3 August 13, 2008 2:20 PM EDT
Awwwww shucks! Just $1.3 million! Whatta loser!
Reply to this comment
by urnot August 13, 2008 2:14 PM EDT
There is something to be said for loyalty- & committment to your party- like marriage- through the good times and bad--
Posted by usais11 at 09:58 AM : Aug 13, 2008
--------

The republican Party has lost its principles and is only about power and money now. Fiscal resposibility? LMAO Foreign Policy expertise? Iraq, Iran, China, Burma, ... LMAO. Personal responsibility and integrity? Corruption up the azz and indictments of two Senators in one year.

Yes, your commitment to party- Sounds just like the commies and Nazis. Especially how you condemn and slander those who have chosen to leave.

Reply to this comment
by hasher471 August 13, 2008 2:12 PM EDT
Obama Raises $1.3 Million In Hawaii

Baracks gonna need it to fight all the McCain lobbyist and big business money.
Reply to this comment
by dooney8 August 13, 2008 2:08 PM EDT
I''m surprised he would take a vacation so close to the election. He must think he has it in the bag. He should stop listening to the media so much.
Reply to this comment
by usais11 August 13, 2008 1:51 PM EDT
"No time for on the job training...McCain will bring a lifetime of experience...Obama will bring a speech that he gave in 2002". -Hillary Clinton
Reply to this comment
by usais11 August 13, 2008 12:58 PM EDT
Yes, at $2300.00 a ticket.. it isn''t a stadium of people. On a differatn note-

Did anyone stop to think about the ones that claim to have defected from being a Republican to Democratic and what really believe in?

All of them are anti- Israel, maybe even anti- USA..
Most of them are as dumb as wood. Probably, some of them have seedy histories. One or two are actually are easily influenced by cult behaviour.

This nonsense about defecting the right kind of Repubicans to the Democratic side is a disturbing thought.

They were never true Republicans in the first place.

There is something to be said for loyalty- & committment to your party- like marriage- through the good times and bad--

Reply to this comment
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