Politics & Government

UPDATE: President Obama Spent Nearly Four Hours In a Joint Appearance with Bill Clinton in McLean

Overflow crowd mingles with presidents and other Virginia politicians

UPDATE: President Obama left McLean at 9:11 and has now returned to the White House.

We'll bring you a full report on the party tomorrow morning beginning at 6am.

If you attended the party please share your thoughts and experiences in the comments to this story.

Find out what's happening in McLeanwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

UPDATE: President Obama arrived at his private fundraising party at 5:35 p.m.

Former President Bill Clinton told the crowd of supporters: The President has "got an opponent who basically wants to do what they did before — on steroids."

Find out what's happening in McLeanwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The President told the gathering, "You guys get two presidents for one, which is a pretty good deal."

Virginia dignitaries in attendance include Senate candidate and former Gov. Tim Kaine, U.S. Rep. Jim Moran and Virginia state Sen. Barbara Favola.

ORIGINAL STORY: More than 100 people are standing in line in a McLean church parking lot waiting to board shuttle buses to take them to a fundraiser a few miles away with President Barack Obama and former president Bill Clinton.

More than 600 people are expected this afternoon at the McLean home of Dorothy and Terry McAuliffe for this first joint appearance by two presidents in the intimacy of a private home.

"You can't beat the opportunity to meet two presidents at the same time and they are both on my bucket list," said Olufolajimi Ige, from Crystal City.

"The opportunity to meet both Bill Clinton and President Obama is an historic opportunity. To be with the two presidents that I admire the most," said Janet Goss of Bethesda.

The first stop in the line was to show identification and have names checked against the list of supporters. Tickets cost $1,000 to $25,000 to attend the fundraiser, which included a reception and then dinner for an estimated 80 people.

Next stop, a walk through the metal detectors and a bag check by the Secret Service. Then onto the shuttle buses, which has also been checked by the Secret Service.

Fairfax Police said no streets will be closed for the presidential visit. There will be rolling street closings as the presidential motorcade arrives and leaves.


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