Fla. Obama fans set to party
When Barack Obama becomes president, the Florida folks who raised money, made phone calls and waved signs will be there to celebrate.
BY LESLEY CLARK AND AMY SHERMAN
lclark@MiamiHerald.com
WASHINGTON -- Before they watch Barack Obama take the oath of office, the folks who delivered him the biggest swing state in the country plan a few celebrations of their own.
On the list of soirees: a posh cocktail party at the Four Seasons in Georgetown sponsored by some of Obama's Florida campaign bigwigs and a bash for Obama's Florida campaign staff at a D.C. nightclub.
''I think for a lot of us it's still hard to believe it's real,'' said Steve Schale, the mastermind behind Obama's Florida campaign, who was so confident of a Florida victory that he booked his hotel for the inauguration in October. ``It's going to be great to get together and celebrate.''
The Florida celebration will be a bit of a bipartisan affair. On hand to watch Obama's swearing-in Tuesday: Florida Republican Sen. Mel Martinez and Gov. Charlie Crist, who after a spate of critical news stories about a pricey trip to Europe, is flying commercial with his wife, Carole Rome, ``at their expense.''
Crist, a spokeswoman said, may only attend the swearing-in and parade.
Miami Mayor Manny Diaz will be in town as well, though he's mixing pleasure with business.
He'll headline the U.S. Conference of Mayors, which is hosting its winter meeting over the weekend. The mayors are scheduled to release a report Saturday that forecasts possible job losses in 2009.
Despite the gloomy economic picture, Obama's campaign has raised an estimated $41 million for the inauguration, including a number of South Florida donors who contributed the $50,000 maximum. Some bundled as much as $300,000 in contributions.
Many donors plan on attending, along with a number of elected officials who secured tickets from Florida's congressional delegation.
Broward County Administrator Bertha Henry will be at the swearing-in ceremony and plans to attend the Baltimore-Washington Black McDonald's Operators Association Inaugural Ball.
`IT'S VERY COLD'
''It is very cold out here, but the sun is shining,'' Henry said of the Washington weather that hovered in the mid-teens on Friday. ``There is a lot of buzz in the air.''
She got her tickets from Rep. Alcee Hastings, D-Miramar, and said she's eager to witness history.
''The first African-American president?'' the African-American administrator said. ``I wouldn't miss it.''
Broward Mayor Stacy Ritter, Obama's Broward campaign chairwoman, has a long list of parties stretching into the wee hours -- including one after-hours event that starts at midnight and ends at 4 a.m.
Ritter recently interviewed for a job with the new administration and hopes for a position in the energy or commerce departments.
On her dance card: the Four Seasons event hosted by her lobbyist husband, Russ Klenet, along with a number of Obama's national finance committee members from Florida, including Freddy Balsera, Kirk Wagar and Jeremy Alters, pollster Dave Beattie and the law firm of Rothstein, Rosenfeldt and Adler. Expected guests: Reps. Robert Wexler of Boca Raton and Kathy Castor of Tampa, who co-chaired Obama's Florida campaign.
Other South Floridians up for the festivities: Miami-Dade schools chief Alberto Carvalho, former Attorney General Bob Butterworth, state legislators Chris Smith and Perry Thurston, Hallandale Beach Mayor Joy Cooper, Miramar Mayor Lori Moseley and Pembroke Pines Mayor Frank Ortis.
SOME BUSINESS, TOO
Miami-Dade Commissioner Sally Heyman -- who also will mix in some business as a member of the National Association of Counties -- will share two hotel rooms with nearly a dozen others.
'I'm not going to any of the balls -- it's `been there, done that,' '' Heyman said. ``I'll go to the inauguration and watch the parade.''
Instead, Heyman said she plans a few meetings with members of Congress to talk about the county's priorities in a proposed economic stimulus package.
Balsera and Ritter will both attend a dinner toasting Obama's Republican presidential opponent, John McCain, the night before Obama is sworn in.
''If President-elect Obama can succeed in maintaining cordiality among both parties, it could be remarkable,'' Balsera said.
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