Obama to raise money in Dallas

Jul 29, 2010 — Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Dave Montgomery

Jul. 29, 2010 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- AUSTIN -- President Barack Obama is expected to be in Dallas in early August as part of a two-city Texas trip to raise money for Democratic candidates, Democratic sources said Wednesday.

The Dallas fundraiser, at a private residence, has apparently replaced plans for a presidential visit to either Houston or San Antonio. Obama is also scheduled to be in Austin on Aug. 9 for a fundraiser sponsored by the Democratic National Committee.

Three Democratic sources confirmed the Dallas leg of Obama's trip, speaking on the condition of anonymity because the details have not been officially released. The Dallas event will be sponsored by the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, the sources said.

The Texas swing, tentatively scheduled for Aug. 8-9, will be Obama's third trip to the Lone Star State since he took office in January 2009. Republican Gov. Rick Perry has asked for a meeting with him after he arrives in Texas to discuss concerns over border security and the administration's planned deployment of 250 National Guard troops to the border, far fewer than the 1,000 Perry requested.

Obama embarked on a campaign swing for Democratic congressional candidates this week amid concerns over his falling approval rating in the polls, anxiety over his war policy in Afghanistan and fears that his party could suffer losses in the Nov. 2 mid-term elections. White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs recently angered some Democratic leaders by suggesting that Democrats could be in danger of losing control of the House of Representatives.

According to the tentative plans for Texas, Obama will headline private fundraisers and make no public appearances. Obama failed to carry the state in 2008, fares poorly in public opinion polls among Lone Star voters, and is a perennial target for political sniping by Perry and other Republicans who dominate state government.

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Bill White has also seemingly distanced himself from Obama and has no plans to appear with the president during the Texas visit, saying he is concentrating on reaching out to voters in his bid to unseat Perry.

The initial announcement about Obama's trip called for stops in Austin and Houston, but Democratic sources later disclosed that the plans were being revised and that the visit to Houston would likely be replaced by stops in either San Antonio or Dallas.

Obama's campaign travels this week called for fund-raisers in Washington, D.C., and New York City as well as the taping of an interview with ABC's "The View." His schedule next month, according to press reports, includes Democratic events in Atlanta and Chicago, as well as the Texas stops.

Dave Montgomery is the Star-Telegram's Austin bureau chief. 512-476-4294

Newstex ID: KRTB-0070-47442513