On the money trail Obama campaign rolls into town

[Ethelk2044]

http://www.greenwichtime.com/news/local/scn-gt-a1obama5.20may20,0,6417994.story?coll=green-news-local-headlines

hedge fund Goliath and the highest paid player in New York Knicks franchise history got swept up by Barack Obama fever last night, hosting back-to-back fundraisers in Greenwich for the celebrity candidate who is aiming to become the first black to occupy the Oval Office.

Allan Houston, who retired from the Knicks in 2005 after 12 seasons in the NBA and two All-Star appearances, hosted a two-hour reception for the Illinois senator last night at his home in Conyers Farm.

A predominantly black crowd of about 150 people listened to Obama talk about the need for improved education and social justice, as well as not conceding any areas of the country to Republicans on the road to the White House. He also gave a scathing criticism of the war in Iraq.

"We are bankrupting ourselves," Obama told the star-struck audience, who snapped pictures of the candidate on camera phones and asked him to sign copies of his best-selling book, "The Audacity of Hope."

Tickets to the event ranged from $1,000 to the maximum individual donation of $2,300 allowed for primary candidates. Fundraising totals were not available from Obama's campaign.

The evening got off to a light-hearted start, with the athletic-looking senator in a suit and dress shoes eyeing a basketball court at Houston's home.

"I told him those would be the only scuff marks I wouldn't wipe off -- the future president," said Houston, 35, who is now a basketball analyst with ESPN.

Houston, who majored in African-American studies at the University of Tennessee, said he couldn't help but think about the possibility of Obama becoming the first black president.

"This, to me, was a historic moment," Houston said, explaining that he had only seen the senator on television before last night. "It's kind of overwhelming, and now he's at your home. It's a blessing."

Keenan Houston, president of the town's NAACP branch, said he was impressed by Obama's answers to questions from the audience.

"I'd say he's genuine. No fluff," Houston said. "He's an incredible man."

After starting his day in the battleground state of New Hampshire, Obama headed for a $2,300-per-person reception at the $25 million waterfront mansion of Paul Tudor Jones II in Belle Haven.

About 300 people attended the event, including the ultra-rich financier of liberal causes George Soros and former model Tyra Banks.

"He's obviously a celebrity, but he's very good at forming a connection with people," said Jim Himes, chairman of the Greenwich Democratic Town Committee.

Himes got his picture taken with Obama, who he said spoke for about 45 minutes and then took questions from a crowd dominated by hedge fund managers and other figures of the financial-services industry.

"He was obviously very bright," said Himes, who is running for Congress. "He is a very strong candidate.