Presidential Candidates Cozying Up With Art Basel Crowd For Campaign Cash
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Art Basel, known to be a little on the hoity-toity side, will have plenty of invitation only events that have a lot less to do with art than politics.
Art Basel what doesn't kick off officially until Thursday, but already lots of high rollers are in town for the art extravaganza.
And big money means even bigger attention from presidential candidates who want to pick up some extra campaign cash.
County Commissioner Audrey Edmonson said if she were running for president she would "be right here [Art Basel] where all this money is. So I would be right here and get out there to get my message out."
Hillary Clinton is holding a $1,000 per person fundraiser on Miami Beach Tuesday and a second in Pine Crest.
Jeb Bush will hold a $1000 a-head-to-do organized by his pal Romero Britto who has created a "Pop Art, Politics & Jeb" poster to promote the affair.
Martin O'Malley will be raising money at a gathering of supporters at a Miami Beach mansion.
Artist Lindsey Adelman said she is flattered that the art gathering is drawing attention presidential politics.
"It's great to think that art maybe has a place in politics now, and to think that it has the power to draw, I suppose from American culture in general. That sounds really encouraging," Adelman said.
Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez said the presidential hopefuls are going where the money is.
"There's a lot of people from around the world with a lot of money coming here this week, and I expect there will be a lot of presidential candidates trying to see how they can separate them from their money," Gimenez said.
Now, if you want to escape the bling of Basel and support a candidate, Marco Rubio might be your man.
He's having a hometown rally in West Miami at the rec center.
The finger food at the Hillary, Jeb and O'Malley soirees will probably lean toward the gourmet side.
At Rubio's rally, no invitation is required and your $25 will probably get you a cafecito and croqueta.
