Raising Coin In Richmond
RICHMOND, VA – You won't see it, but you'll hear about it.
Sen. John McCain is attending a fundraiser this afternoon at the Omni Richmond Hotel in the Virginia state capital city. It's the first of the senator's fundraisers open to the press. The campaign has come under fire for refusing to allow media coverage of the senator's receptions.
Media coverage is limited to print "poolers," representatives of the media who share their notes with the traveling press corps. Television cameras are not permitted in the room, but text of the Senator's remarks will be reported by the wire and newspaper reporters who attend.
The price tag on a seat at the Richmond luncheon starts at $1,000 for an individual ticket. For $2,300, attendees can pose for a photo with the candidate. Contributors above the $10,000 mark attended a smaller pre-party reception, and those who raise or contribute more than $25,000 are granted special recognition at the event.
NBC News reported Friday that McCain's campaign would start the practice of opening fundraisers, which the senator has been known to attend up to three times in a given day. A recent count by NBC showed that he has done over 80 such events since securing the nomination.
McCain told reporters in a press conference last month that the events were closed to press for the privacy of the attendees. He noted then, that, unlike Barack Obama – whose "bitter" controversy was spurred by comments at a closed fundraiser in San Francisco – his message is no different regardless of the presence of watching media eyes.
"I say the same thing in fundraisers and closed events as I do in open events," McCain said in Beverly Hills in May.
The senator's day in Richmond began with a quick stop at Shockoe Espresso & Roastery, where he and his wife greeted a small group of supporters. In true Southern summer form, bow ties were a key accessory of many of the gentlemen in the crowd.
(NBC/NJ's CARRIE DANN)