Alexi Giannoulias Gets 'Strong Support' From White House During Visit, Adds Top Obama Fundraiser To Campaign (VIDEO)

Alexi Giannoulias' Tuesday trip to the White House was a productive one. Not only did the Democratic Senate candidate attend the Greek Independence Day event, but he got "strong support" from the Obama administration.

Politico's Ben Smith reported that Giannoulias went to D.C. to chat with Senior White House advisor David Axelrod and Patrick Gaspard, as "part of a running effort to convince national Democrats not to write the race off."

Giannoulias' campaign released a statement Tuesday afternoon that said the White House was behind Alexi's campaign.

"Alexi Giannoulias is the Democratic nominee for the United States Senate, and has the support and the backing of the White House," Press Secretary Robert Gibbs told Fox News Senior White House Correspondent Major Garrett Tuesday.

"My meetings today at the White House have been very productive, and the support of the President is a great asset in a state where 64 percent of voters approve of the job he is doing," Giannoulias said in a statement. "While my opponent opposes the White House agenda every chance he gets, I want to help the president change the broken system here in Washington."

The Giannoulias campaign also added a big fundraiser to their roster Tuesday. Jordan Kaplan, who served as Finance Director to President Obama's 2004 Illinois Senate race and as his Illinois Finance Director for presidential run in 2008, will now be raising money for the state treasurer.

Before Giannoulias' nomination, some said President Obama was keeping his distance from his old basketball buddy after news of Giannoulias' troubled Broadway Bank surfaced.

Meanwhile, Crain's Chicago Business reports that Giannoulias and his family could make millions in tax refunds from if the bank closes. The Giannoulias camp denies these reports, saying in a statement that "the idea that the Giannoulias family will benefit in any way if the bank fails is absolutely false."

Watch President Obama welcome Alexi to the White House:

Giannoulias discussed the White House support Tuesday:

Comments

[krz2]

02:56 PM on 03/10/2010

this guy always looks like he should be in his moms basement watching Legally Blond on the big sreen in his snugglie

[poomplet]

12:08 PM on 03/10/2010

Even very-librall Carol Marin today predictied what I said in another thread (and libral Sun-Times columnist Mark Brown, too):

Alexi will be/maybe IS being pressured to withdraw from the race. http://www.suntimes.com/news/marin/2093814,CST-EDT-carol10.article

Don't be fooled by these early polls...Kirk & the GOP haven't even warmed up The Taint Machine, and now they have the specter of the feds closing his bank this summer, during peak campaign time....AND the Blago Trial!!

The state is in shambles...there won't be a big turnaround in jobs so soon. The Powers That Be KNOW a mobbedup Chicago Way Crony BANKER doesn't really have a chance in the current/near term political landscape.

If you want a Dem to win, you'd be wise to lend your voice to the 'oust Giablagstrogurris' chorus instead of supporting/defending him. Cuz it needs to happen soon for the new guy/gal to have a chance.

[corwin]

08:49 AM on 03/10/2010

I think they mean Illinois Democrats are saddled with the stigma of a recent Governor who was removed.And a Senator ,who has been such a failure, it sems he is more interestedin a pension than anything else.Ans, an economy , that is based on paying public employees benefits and wages that are non sustainable.And a state that is flirting more closely with bankruptcy. And , a budget mandating actual cuts and tough decisions.(never a Democrats' best time.. and a President whose job performance ratings are continually decreasing and facing a problem- in perceptions at least -of competence.
And, a worry that being a political insider is the best waay to make money in Illinois.
Read this slowly,it should help
Actually,I think the GOP leaders -after pinching themselves to make sure they're awake-love the idea of Alex as tha candidate. Maybe he coul;d run for Lt Gov also.?

[ekoorb]

03:07 AM on 03/10/2010

What is Politico talking about with the White House "not writing the race off"? Alexi is leading in most polls and it is generally agreed that his will be a top-tier race.

[BarackstarObama]

06:04 AM on 03/10/2010

Generally, Politico's a mess... I'm all in for Alexi.

[ekoorb]

11:57 AM on 03/10/2010

Even Rasmussen has Alexi ahead in a new poll!

[cmj707]

01:22 AM on 03/10/2010

Keep the seat blue, hope Giannoulias can pull this off.

[poomplet]

12:13 PM on 03/10/2010

Maybe he needs to spin all his troubles into a positive message. I'll even help him out & allow him to use the campaign slogan I recently coined...gratis:

"Vote For Alexi....He's Scan-DELICIOUS!"

[illindependent]

01:56 PM on 03/10/2010

NO Way

[cstmrsrvc]

11:47 AM on 03/09/2010

So the Bankster Giannoulious is heading to the WhiteHouse to meet with the likes of Axelrod, Rahm and Jarret and the rest of the Chicago team,,,, Kirk should use this asap

[stav506]

01:31 PM on 03/09/2010

To what end? He's still got that whole "voted with Bush 97% of the time" albatross hanging from his neck. With that he will never get the Chicago voters.Without that, he loses the election as more than 1/2 the state's population is right here in Sweet Home Chicago!

[cstmrsrvc]

01:56 PM on 03/09/2010

PSST........ most of the Chicago voters who wouldn't vote for him are the African American, maybe, and they are not voting as much this November,,,, and that "albatross' isn' t as horrid as you might think anymore

[poomplet]

02:19 PM on 03/09/2010

For what I wish is the last time (but I know I'll need to repeat it ad nauseam)....

During the Bush era, Mark Kirk voted with Bush SIXTY-THREE PERCENT of the time, and 78% with the Republican Party

That's from Congressional Quarterly...please, take a look: http://www.cqpolitics.com/cq-assets/cqmultimedia/flash/votestudy/index.html

That makes him #14 out of 178 GOP House members in terms of their opposition to the president, and #9 of 178 re. how often they voted against their party.

Gee, what an albatross; he can say...and PROVE...that he's one of the most moderate GOP House member.