Politics & Government

President Clinton expected to be in Charlotte for Wednesday fundraiser

Former President Bill Clinton is scheduled to headline a Wednesday fundraiser in Charlotte, In the March photo, he is seen campaigning for wife Hillary Clinton at Johnson C. Smith University's Biddle Hall in Charlotte.
Former President Bill Clinton is scheduled to headline a Wednesday fundraiser in Charlotte, In the March photo, he is seen campaigning for wife Hillary Clinton at Johnson C. Smith University's Biddle Hall in Charlotte. rlahser@charlotteobserver.com

Former President Bill Clinton is scheduled to be in Charlotte on Wednesday for a lunchtime fundraiser benefiting his wife’s presidential campaign.

Hosting the event at his Foxcroft home: Charlotte businessman Mark Erwin, who was a U.S. ambassador during the Clinton administration.

Erwin confirmed that the luncheon, expected to draw about 35 supporters, is a fundraiser to benefit “the Hillary Victory Fund.” But he said he could not talk about how much Wednesday’s guests are expected to give to Democrat Hillary Clinton’s campaign. Last week, she became the party’s presumptive nominee after winning late primaries – and delegates – in California, New Jersey and other states.

The timetable for the Charlotte event is in flux, Erwin said, because campaign schedules are being re-evaluated after the Sunday shootings in Orlando. President Clinton had originally been scheduled to travel to Florida and the Charlotte fundraiser was to have been a dinner.

Erwin co-hosted two Charlotte fundraisers that featured the candidate herself. The first was at the home of Erskine and Crandall Bowles – he served as President Clinton’s chief of staff; she was a classmate of Hillary’s at Wellesley College.

The more recent one, in January, was at the Foxcroft home of philanthropists Phillip and Amy Blumenthal. Erwin has known Hillary Clinton for 30 years.

According to the Federal Election Commission, Hillary Clinton’s campaign has raised $2.1 million in North Carolina during her current run for the White House. That’s more than any other 2016 presidential campaign. Her haul from Mecklenburg County so far: $522,811.

This story was originally published June 13, 2016 at 2:59 PM with the headline "President Clinton expected to be in Charlotte for Wednesday fundraiser."

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