Obama fundraiser in Minneapolis draws hundreds

Hundreds of supporters of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama attended a private fundraising event in downtown Minneapolis last night.

It cost $1,000 to attend the general reception at the Minneapolis Hilton and hear Obama speak.

The campaign did not disclose how many people donated $5,000 for pictures. 50 people paid $28,500 each to dine privately with the Illinois senator.

A major focus of the candidate's speech was energy and high oil prices.

Kim Ewell caucused for Obama in Iowa during the primaries. She said she was glad to hear Obama talk about the need for a national energy policy.

"He feels that it's really important that we make it a priority, that we stop just talking about doing something about the energy problem and the price of oil and actually do something about it. And pointing out that oil profits are at a record high and we are paying, until very recently, four dollars a gallon," Ewell said.

Some recent polls show Obama neck and neck with Republican presidential candidate John McCain in Minnesota. But South Minneapolis resident Mark Abeln said he is not convinced those polls are accurate.

"In my middle 50s I get polled because I have a telephone and I'm a registered voter and they can call me. But the younger voters that are coming into this -- and Barack has energized so many of them -- are not getting touched. So I don't trust the polls particularly," Abeln said.

Abeln said he believes younger and newly registered voters will help Obama carry the state in November. McCain last visited Minnesota in July.

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