Brownback Writes of 'Hatred' of Clintons

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney talks with reporters gathered at a news conference in Coraopolis. Pa., before attending a private fundraiser in Pittsburgh, Thursday, June 28, 2007. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic) (Keith Srakocic - AP)

Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., the lone Republican presidential candidate to attend the three-day conference, said the legislation won't be revived.

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MINNEAPOLIS (AP) _ Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama padded his campaign fundraising numbers Friday at events for small and big donors, telling one overflow crowd that as president he'd champion an energy revolution on the homefront and improve America's foreign reputation.

Organizers estimated 3,000 people paid between $15 and $25 to attend a rally at a warehouse-turned-office building and they were counting on a couple hundred at a private reception for larger donors.

It marked Obama's first visit to Minnesota as a presidential candidate. Two of his Democratic rivals, New York Sen. Hillary Clinton and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, swung through weeks earlier.

At the crowded event for small donors, supporters stood elbow-to-elbow all around the stage and hundreds more leaned over four balconies that ringed the building's atrium to hear the first-term Illinois senator.

"Sometimes when I look around and see these wonderful faces from every walk of life, I say to myself `It's tempting to think it's all about me and I'm just so fabulous,'" Obama said. "But when I'm honest with myself I have to admit that's not the reason people are coming out. The reason people are coming out is because all around the country people are ready for change."

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DENVER (AP) _ The host committee for the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver is still about $1.5 million short of a $7.5 million fundraising goal it set for June 1.

"We have $6 million in the bank. We have other donations committed. Now we're just trying to decipher how much is in cash and how much is in-kind," committee member Steve Farber said Friday.

Farber said he was confident the committee had enough donations.

The Democratic National Committee and the host committee hoped to raise $40 million in cash and $15 million in in-kind donations by June 2008, with a goal of raising $7.5 million by June 1, 2007.