It would be difficult to upstage President Obama’s starry inauguration four years ago where an estimated 1.8 million descended to see Beyoncé, Bono and Bruce perform. But things are so grim this time that Presidential Inaugural Committee members are sweating over the Jan. 21 event, sources say.
The number of inaugural balls this year where the president and Michelle Obama will appear has sharply dwindled from 10 to two. And donors have also dropped, sources say. “Some on the presidential inaugural committee are starting to seriously worry,” said a political insider. “They’ve dramatically cut the number of balls from 2008 to two, and both will be taking place in the Washington Convention Center.” It will mark the fewest number of official inaugural balls since 1953.
Meanwhile, DC hotels that were booked solid for Obama’s first inauguration have struggled to attract visitors. “Hotels have been slashing prices, and ticket prices to the inaugural events are expected to go down,” said a source, who added, “The committee has been working hard to find benefactors to raise funds.”
In 2009, Obama raised $53 million in inaugural funding, a record, without donations from corporations, PACs or lobbyists. This time, donations will be accepted from a wider net of sources.
According to an invitation we’ve seen, an institutional contribution of $1 million (or individual contribution of $250,000) gets you four inaugural-ball tickets and two bleacher seats to the inaugural parade along with entrance to a concert and a candlelight celebration. But the swearing-in ceremony doesn’t seem to be included.
“They’re offering VIP packages that amazingly don’t even include tickets to the swearing-in itself,” sniffed a donor. “To encourage more benefactors, they’re being promised a separate reception at the White House and an audience with the president . . . They are also offering daily deals with special rates for tickets — it’s like the Home Shopping Network.”
A rep for the Presidential Inaugural Committee declined to comment on the record.