President Barack Obama has added a second high-dollar fundraiser — at the home of Live Nation CEO Michael Rapino — to his July fundraising trip to Los Angeles, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.
Obama will hold a private Q&A with 25 donors at Rapino’s Westside home on July 24th, the day after he attends a Los Angeles fundraiser hosted by Scandal creator Shondra Rhimes and co-hosted by actress Kerry Washington.
“Your contribution and participation will help to ensure that the Democrats keep control of the Senate and make significant headway in winning back the House,” according to an invitation sent to people in Hollywood on Friday. “The truth is, we simply cannot win in 2016 without building our base in 2014. And we cannot do that without a strong Democratic National Committee. With the Tea Party and other extremists taking ground, the time is now to start raising money, and protect our future.”
The invitation also stated: “This is the last trip to Los Angeles the president will be making this year and a truly special opportunity to interact with the leader of the free world in an off the record, small forum.”
Tickets for the Rapino fundraiser are $32,400-per-person, with proceeds being used by DNC to bolster the party’s efforts during this year’s mid-term election. Tickets for the July 23 Rhimes event range from $1,100 to $32,400, also for the DNC.
The Rapino event marks a political coming-out of sorts for the head of the entertainment company, which became a concert powerhouse after merging with Ticketmaster in 2010. Athough Rapino has become increasingly involved in political fundraising in Hollywood for the Democrats in recent years, this is his first time hosting a major presidential event. A spokesperson for Rapino declined to comment on the matter.
