Obama surprise at Rezko trial

The Chicago Tribune updating the Rezko trial today - - -

Obama appeared at 2004 party at Rezko's home

April 14, 2008; 12:57 p.m.

Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama's name came up again at the Antoin "Tony" Rezko corruption trial and in a way that earlier filings in the case did not telegraph.

Stuart Levine, the prosecution's star witness, said he and Obama were at a party Rezko threw at his Wilmette mansion on April 3, 2004, for Nadhmi Auchi, a controversial Iraqi-born billionaire who Rezko was trying to get to invest in a South Loop real-estate development.

Auchi, now a citizen of the United Kingdom, has faced criminal charges in Europe. He also figured in the revocation of Rezko's bond early this year after attempting to wire him more than $3 million. Upon learning of that attempt, U.S. District Judge Amy St. Eve declared Rezko a flight risk and ordered him held in a federal jail in the Loop.

The Rezko party in 2004 was designed to induce Auchi to pour money into the South Loop investment. Obama's presence at the party was not previously known. At the time, Obama was fresh off a surprise win in the Illinois Democratic primary for U.S. Senate and was riding a crest of national publicity.
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Comments:

Do you think Obama would rather be talking about Rezko or those "bitter" "God and guns small town" people in Pennsylvania?

I'd say it was a close call.

BTW - I'll ask again: Obama has now raised hundreds of millions. Who's giving that money? And why?