Republican Presidential hopeful Mitt Romney raised an estimated $1.25 million during two political fundraisers in Buffalo Friday afternoon.
After arriving just after 3 p.m. at Prior Aviation in Cheekotwaga, police and secret service escorted Romney to the Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society. That’s were guests paid $2,500 to hear Romney speak.
Then Romney appeared at the home of Buffalo businessman Anthony Gioia, upstate fundraising coordinator, where guests doled out $10,000 per plate for dinner. Guests gathered for a dinner catered by Oliver’s Restaurant in the Gioia’s backyard, but nearby protestors from a few organizations staged protests, chanting against Romney’s policies.
Planned Parenthood and other citizens groups gathered next to Gioia’s home.
Democratic State Assembly woman Crystal Peoples Stokes also held a news conference speaking out against Romney and his economic policies.
Peoples Stokes told WBFO & AM-970 News with Romney coming to Buffalo, the third poorest city in the nation, “you think he would bring us a million dollars” instead of raising a million for himself.
Romney spent only three hours in Buffalo.