President Obama Visits San Antonio and Austin Today

by: Katherine Haenschen

Tue Jul 17, 2012 at 09:00 AM CDT

First up, a lunch in San Antonio that may be the biggest fundraiser for a Democrat in the history of the city. The San Antonio Express News reports that the event had to be moved to the Convention Center ballroom, the biggest venue in the city, once ticket sales soared to 1000 seats. Hosts for the event include Mayor Julian Castro, Congressman Charlie Gonzalez, and actress Eva Longoria.

Next, Obama heads up to Austin for an event at the Austin Music Hall featuring a musical performance by Jerry Jeff Walker. The event starts at 3:00 p.m. Additionally, Obama supporters are holding a rally outside of the event to show enthusiasm for re-electing the President.

If you are attending the event, we have heard that large SLR-style cameras are not allowed inside the venue. However, small point-and-shoot cameras and cell phone cameras are permitted. Expect road closures and delays around downtown Austin during the afternoon. Click here for a list of CapMetro route changes around the impacted area.

It's great to see such outpouring of support for the President here in Texas. Kudos to the event co-chairs who have made all of these events a huge success. Even with the popularity of our President, it takes a lot of work to sell so many tickets to these events, so thank you to the folks who are making sure the President's campaign has the resources it needs to do everything from opening field offices to pushing back against right-wing smears.

For those who might scoff at the volley of fundraising emails or take it for granted that the President will raise enough to compete, remember that Republican billionaires are investing vast sums in Super PACs and committed to using their wealth to defeat Barack Obama at any cost. Despite the President's raising $71 million from 706,000 donors in June, Mitt Romney raised $106 million. Romney won't disclose who his campaign bundlers are, but it's safe to say that he enjoys the enthusiastic support of Wall Street bazillionaires and corporate fat cats who want a president who caters to the top 0.001%, which Romney certainly will do because he is the top 0.001%.

President Obama is the first sitting president who will likely be outspent by his challenger and the associated Super PACs and outside groups bolstered by Citizens United. If the President does not win re-election in November, it will be because corporate interests and wealthy billionaires decided that they could simply buy our democracy.

Today's events should be fun, so whether you're attending a fundraiser or just showing your support outside, thanks to everyone who's got the President's back!