Obama to cash in at Stamford, Westport fundraisers

1917: Former President Teddy Roosevelt, center visited Jack Copper's Health Farm on Hgh Ridge Road to reduce his waistline. He is pictured here with Chief of Police William Brennan. 1917: Former President Teddy Roosevelt, center visited Jack Copper's Health Farm on Hgh Ridge Road to reduce his waistline. He is pictured here with Chief of Police William Brennan. Photo: File Photo Photo: File Photo Image 1 of / 84 Caption Close Obama to cash in at Stamford, Westport fundraisers 1 / 84 Back to Gallery

STAMFORD -- President Obama will swing through Fairfield County Monday as he seeks to close a $2 million statewide fundraising gap with his Republican rival Mitt Romney.

The president's visit will begin with cocktails and hors d'oeuvres at the Stamford Marriott Hotel & Spa on Tresser Boulevard. The event will begin at 4 p.m. with a presidential photo-op for guests who have donated $10,000 or more to the campaign, followed by a $500 per ticket general reception, state Democratic Chairwoman Nancy DiNardo said Friday.

Stamford Marriott Hotel & Spa General Manager Joe Kelly said he is expecting between 450 to 500 guests for the evening reception.

Avoiding rush-hour traffic on Interstate 95, Obama is then expected to reboard Marine One, the presidential helicopter, at Kociuszko Park for a quick jaunt up the shoreline to Sherwood Island State Park. Two presidential helicopters and two double-rotor Chinooks were seen circling over Stamford Friday afternoon and were seen hovering over Kosciuszko Park. The president has landed at the park for his past three fundraising visits to the city over the past three years.

In Westport, Hollywood producer and studio executive Harvey Weinstein will host a $38,500 per head fundraiser at his waterfront estate on Beachside Avenue. The event, which is expected to attract between 60 and 75 guests, could fetch as much as $2.9 million for the Obama reelection campaign.

Mayor Michael Pavia, who is in London promoting Stamford and attending the Olympic Games, will not be on hand to welcome the president on Monday. A former Stamford mayor will be present, however, as Gov. Dannel P. Malloy said Friday he plans to attend both fundraisers.

"It's a political stop, obviously, but it's good that the president is coming," Malloy said. "It gives me an opportunity to have some conversations on the issues that are important to Connecticut such as transportation. He's going to get to experience I-95 all for himself."

Stamford Police Chief Robert Nivakoff said his department is working in close conjunction with the Secret Service, as well as law enforcement agencies in other municipalities and states, to provide security for the president's visit.

"For varying short periods of time on Monday, expect lane and full street closures," Nivakoff said. "We'll do our best to keep it at a minimum."

Monday's event will mark Obama's second visit to the Marriott and his third visit in as many years to Stamford, but it will be the first time he has come to the city to raise money for his own campaign. The president first stopped in Stamford in October 2009 to stump for then-U.S. Sen. Christopher Dodd. He returned to the city in 2010 for a $1,000 per plate dinner at the Marriott in support of Richard Blumenthal's Senate bid.

"I think whenever the president visits the city it's a positive for the city," Board of Representatives President Randy Skigen said. "Hopefully we'll have at least a brief opportunity to show him some of the activity that's going on."

Romney has also paid several visits to Fairfield County, including a March stop at the Stamford Marriott for a $2,500 per plate fundraiser. Pavia said the high-profile visits help showcase Stamford.

"President Obama's visit to Stamford, as well as Governor Romney's visit several months ago, serve to reinforce the value of Stamford by our national leaders," Pavia said in a statement provided by his Executive Aide Lynn Arnow Friday.

Obama had collected $204,117 from Stamford residents as of June 30, leaving him far behind the $723,073 he raised in the city during the 2008 campaign. Romney has raised $192,552 so far in Stamford, putting him on track to surpass the $193,706 total Sen. John McCain collected from city residents four years ago.

Democratic City Committee Chairman John Mallozzi said Democrats in Stamford, which historically votes blue in presidential races, may be taking Obama's re-election for granted. Mallozzi said he plans to attend Monday's fundraiser at the Marriott.

"I think in Stamford people are too complacent about assuming the president is going to win," Mallozzi said Friday. "Maybe that's what he needs to do to encourage donations, make sure Democrats in Stamford understand it might be a sure thing in Stamford, but not in the rest of the country."

Shippan resident Kevin Segalla, president of the Connecticut Film Center, said he is encouraging friends and neighbors to attend Monday's event in Stamford.

"It's a great opportunity to see and hear the president in a pretty intimate setting and not an opportunity that comes every day," Segalla said. "I think there's a recognition that he has to raise a significant amount of money to combat the special interest groups that are raising money."

Romney had raised $4.8 million statewide as of June 30, with the vast majority -- nearly $4 million -- coming from Fairfield County. Obama has raised about $2.9 million in Connecticut, with most of his support also coming from the southwestern portion of the state.

Four years ago, Obama far surpassed his GOP opponent in Connecticut fundraising, bringing in $9.9 million to McCain's $3.9 million.

The president also has a narrower lead over his Republican rival this election cycle in terms of polling numbers. Recently-released data from Public Policy Polling shows Obama leading Romney 51 percent to 43 percent in the state, a major slip from 2008, when the president crushed McCain 61 percent to 38 percent.

Malloy said the polling results will likely fluctuate throughout the general election.

"These things develop over time and I don't think we're going to have a real deal for this thing until well after both conventions are held," he said. "I think they'll fight it out until Labor Day and Election Day. I don't think there's much doubt that President Obama will win Connecticut."

Kate.King@scni.com; 203-964-2263; http://twitter.com/kcarliniking