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Obama Arrives At Greenwich Polo Club Via Helicopter, Heads To Fundraiser

Updated: GREENWICH, Conn. -- President Barack Obama arrived in Connecticut on his helicopter Marine One for a private fundraiser at 5:09 p.m. Tuesday, landing at the Greenwich Polo Club. 

Photo Credit: White House photo

"Trees have started to change colors around the field and many leaves are on the ground," said a report from the White House press pool report.

Marine One kicked up a dust storm on the manicured polo field, where Britain’s Prince Harry played in April 2013, the pool report said.

Three support helicopters accompanied Marine One on its journey from New York City, where Obama attended events earlier in the day.

The president is attending a fundraising dinner for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. The event is being held at the home of Richard and Ellen Richman in Conyers Farm. He arrived at the home at 5:19 p.m.

Obama used the presidential SUV instead of his limo known as "The Beast" for the 2-mile drive south on North Street to the fundraiser. There were concerns that pebble driveways would scratch paint job of limousine, according to the White House press pool report. The drive was described as "a windy road and lush greenery" around the polo club.

A woman was seen waving with a glass of wine in hand while seated on a stone wall at the entrance of the Stanwich Club on North Street as the presidential motorcade passed, the report said. 

The White House press pool report noted that North Street is "flanked by multimillion-dollar homes" behind "huge stone fences." 

The president was greeting VIP donors at the Richman estate. They own contiguous properties in Conyers Farm valued at a combined $26 million on town’s tax rolls. 

Richard Richman is a real estate developer. His wife, Ellen Schapps Richman, has been an adjunct professor of marketing at Pace University.

The press corps was sequestered in basement game room and home theater, where some members of the White House entourage were playing pool during the fundraiser.

Tickets for the event ranged from $10,000 to $32,400. DSCC Chairman Michael Bennet and U.S. Sens. Chris Murphy and Richard Blumenthal are also attending.

The Democrats are working to hold the majority in the U.S. Senate in the midterm elections in November.

Notable absences from the guest list at the event include Connecticut Gov. Dannel P. Malloy as well as U.S. Reps. Jim Himes, D-4th District, and Elizabeth Esty, D-5th District. Himes is participating in a Congressional debate Tuesday night.

Secret Service checked under the hoods of vehicles and in trunks behind the grandstand of the Greenwich Polo Club. It is owned by paper magnate Peter Brant, who is married to former Victoria’s Secret supermodel Stephanie Seymour.

The president was expected to make remarks to dinner guests at 6:40 p.m., then take questions. 

In the 2014 cycle, Obama has done 17 events for the DSCC, five in 2013 and 11 far in 2014, including this week’s event.

He has done four joint events for the DSCC and DCCC, two each in 2013 and 2014. Vice President Joe Biden has done five events for the DSCC, two in 2013 and three so far in 2014. First Lady Michelle Obama has done three events for the DSCC this cycle, two in 2013 and one so far in 2014.

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