Nothing brings political frenemies together like a Hillary Clinton fundraiser.
Headlined by Chicago Mayor and longtime Clintonite Rahm Emanuel, the "Ready for Hillary" funders happening here tonight are expected to attract Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, with whom his relationship is frosty at best.
As previously reported, Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin will make a cameo to support the grassroots Ready For Hillary PAC on the second floor of John Barleycorn in the River North neighborhood from 7-9 p.m. Also on the VIP guest list: U.S. Reps. Jan Schakowsky, Robin Kelly, Bill Foster and Danny Davis as well as Nancy Rotering, the Mayor of Highland Park.
Beforehand, there will be a separate, $1,000-per-person bash for bigger-pocketed donors at Phil Stefani's steakhouse on Rush Street, co-hosted by Chicago Cubs owner Laura Ricketts and political strategist Kevin Conlon, both of whom contributed to President Barack Obama's campaign.
Emanuel, a master fundraiser with strong professional ties to the Clintons and the West Coast's wealthiest Democrats, nonetheless faces a rocky road to re-election next February amid brewing resentment from Chicagoans who loathe his policies on pension reform and education, among hot-button issues.
City progressives are dropping Preckwinkle's name as a potential mayoral challenger, and so far, she has not issued a flat-out denial on whether she'll take a stab at defeating Emanuel.
Preckwinkle and Emanuel are each "Ready for Hillary," but don't expect the two Democrats to pose together in a photo-op on the blue carpet.
