Obama makes quick fundraising sweep through Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- President Barack Obama was in the Bay Area Wednesday for a quick fundraising stop, picking up about $2 million in just four hours before hopping back on Air Force One to head to Los Angeles.

It was just two weeks ago the president picked up more than $3 million in a visit that took him to Atherton, Redwood City and Palo Alto. Wednesday, it was two quick stops in San Francisco's Financial District.

The first stop was the Spear Tower for a roundtable meeting with 25 donors each willing to $35,800. The meeting lasted about an hour and then it was onto a $5,000 per plate lunch for 250 people in the Julia Morgan Ballroom of the Merchants Exchange Building.

The two fundraisers snarled traffic in the Financial District for much of the afternoon. Dump trucks and busses were used to block off the end of Market Street. Several blocks of California Street were blocked as well.

Large crowds gathered around the barricades. Most people who stopped to watch were just interested in seeing the president. But there were protestors -- some who want an end to the war in Afghanistan, some who want an end to arctic drilling and a contingent of tea partiers and Mitt Romney supporters who want an end to the Obama administration.

Supporters welcome Obama at SFO

A small contingent of Bay Area Obama campaign volunteers waited and cheered in the chilly weather at San Francisco International Airport to shake hands and say a few words to their candidate.

"It's an extra little perk when you're working hard on the campaign to actually meet the person," Nanci Clifton said.

The official welcome committee at SFO also included California Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee and San Francisco Supervisor Malia Cohen.

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barack obama, 2012 presidential race, elections, politics

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