50th birthday, Obama spoke to donors at two fundraisers at the historic Aragon Ballroom, and via video conference to supporters at more than 1,000 house parties from coast to coast.
The fundraisers were held as Obama's presidential campaign lowered expectations for how much money it would bring in this summer, in part because the campaign had to cancel 10 events while the president and his staff were stuck in Washington for the showdown over raising the government's debt limit. Obama's quick stop in Chicago was his first trip outside the Washington region in more than a month.
Obama didn't try to sell his supporters on the deal to raise the debt ceiling and cut spending that he signed this week after arduous negotiations with Republicans. But he did warn that the country couldn't afford another "self-inflicted wound" like it experienced this summer.
"We don't have time to play these partisan games. We've got too much work to do," Obama said. He told supporters not to be discouraged by the partisan fights in Washington, saying, "You did not elect me president to duck the tough issues. You elected me president to do the tough things."
At a high-dollar dinner fundraiser later in the night, took a swipe at his Republican adversaries, saying, "I give the other side credit. They are single-minded in their focus in wanting to cut programs and shrink government."
