As GOP candidates scramble to Illinois ahead of Tuesday's primary, President Barack Obama crisscrosses the country Friday to fill his campaign war chest.
Obama's first stop is a fundraiser in Chicago's Loop at the Palmer House Hilton. It's one of five fundraisers in two cities in one day.
Air Force One landed at 11:25 a.m. Friday at O'Hare Airport. Obama addressed supporters just after noon.
"It's good to be home," Obama told a crowd of about 600. "I have never seen the city look prettier."
He spoke about teachers, jobs, the economy and more work to be done.
"I said in 2008 I am not a perfect man or wouldn't be a perfect president," Obama said. "I promise we will finish what we started in 2008."
Obama was last in Chicago on Jan. 11 for a series of fundraisers that included a concert at UIC and two high-end events, one a $35,000-per-couple dinner on the North Side and the other a reception at a residence in Hyde Park.
Friday's campaign event is hosted by the group Lawyers for Obama and has a tab running from $2,500 to attend the lunch to $35,000 to be a lunch Chair. It includes a campaign discussion with the president, during which he'll likely continue to debate on rising gas prices and his energy plan.
After, he's scheduled to participate in a roundtable discussion with 60 supporters. Tickets for the event start at $10,000.
From Chicago, Obama flies to Atlanta for three more fundraisers, including a gala at Tyler Perry's studios.
Meanwhile, Mitt Romney began his Chicago area trip in Rosemont, where he used the time to attack President Obama on gas prices and energy.
"Gas prices have gone through the roof in part because of this president's failure," Romney told an overflow crowd.
