Obama Visits Chicago for DNC Fundraisers

CHICAGO, July 23 -- President Obama made a whirlwind trip through his home town Thursday night, attending two Democratic National Committee fundraisers after a day in Cleveland discussing health-care reform at a town hall forum and clinic.

In his third visit to Chicago since his inauguration, Obama headlined a private dinner at the home of friend Penny Pritzker, costing $15,200 a plate for more than 100 guests, and then headed to another, larger dinner at a downtown hotel. Businesswoman and philanthropist Pritzker was Obama's presidential campaign finance chairwoman, and she chairs four corporations, including Classic Residence by Hyatt.

Democratic officials said they expected the two events to yield as much as $3 million.

Obama continued to discuss health care at both stops. At the Pritzker dinner, he said that opposition to his plans for health-care reform "gets on my nerves. It frustrates me that we'd even be suggesting the status quo is the best we can do."

And he complained about what he called the media's "lack of sustained focus on the facts" concerning health care. "That makes it very difficult," he said.

Obama previously returned to Chicago for a Valentine's Day visit and to speak June 15 about his plans for health-care reform at the American Medical Association's annual House of Delegates meeting.

Many local supporters are disappointed that Obama has not spent more time in the Windy City. In December, Obama said he hoped to return every six to eight weeks.

On Obama's way back to the airport, his motorcade took a surprise detour and drove to his Hyde Park house. The president spent a little time inside his home as a few of his neighbors stepped out onto their porches and sidewalks to await his return to the street.

"It's nice that he likes to come back home," said Jo-Ellen Karstens, a neighbor. "It's sweet."