After more than two days, Democratic officials have confirmed that both President Obama and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi will attend a Democratic fundraiser in Minneapolis on Oct. 23.
The private event is being held to raise funds for House candidates through the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC).
It's unclear if either will attend any public campaign events while in Minnesota — Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mark Dayton has asked Obama to campaign with him, but the Dayton campaign said nothing has been planned yet.
While it was previously known that Obama was coming to Minnesota before the midterms, MinnPost's Eric Black broke the news Monday morning that Pelosi was also headed our way, citing an email "circulating to likely suspects."
Within two hours, the Minnesota Republican Party had seized on the fundraiser to attack Obama and Pelosi. "Barack Obama and Nancy Pelosi must explain to Minnesotans why their economic policies have failed to get our economy moving," Minnesota GOP chairman Tony Sutton said in a statement.
Pelosi has joined Obama as a lightning rod for conservatives to attack the Democratic agenda this election season. Rep. Michele Bachmann is using the House speaker in campaign ads against her Democratic challenger Tarryl Clark.
Hot Dish received word from a White House official that Obama was making the trip on Oct. 23. But when we asked the DCCC about Pelosi: crickets.
A Democratic source, who requested his name not be used, told Hot Dish on Wednesday that Pelosi is also attending. The DCCC has not responded to e-mails or phone calls seeking confirmation.
