Obama, Hillary, Romney & McCain paid what for hotels?
Holiday Inn Express blew the lid off the presidential candidates’ hotel spending for 2007 with its new red, white and blue website — “Stay Smart, America.”
The website uses a “Smart Meter” to calculate how much each presidential candidate might have saved if they’d stayed at Holiday Inn Express during their race for the White House.
So, who were the biggest spenders last year — and what luxe hotels were they staying at? Look at what the candidates spent and where they — and/or their entourage — stayed after a hard day of town hall meetings and baby kissings.
Which campaigns spent more $$ on hotels?
Republicans vs. Democrats: Democrats! ($1,753,000 vs. $2,083,000)
Obama vs. Hillary: Obama! ($833k vs. $503k)
Romney vs. Giuliani: Romney! ($708k vs. $509k)
Romney vs. McCain: Romney! ($708k vs. $361k)
McCain vs. Huckabee: McCain! ($361k vs. $42k)
Laurel O’Connor, current lifestyle marketing for Holiday Inn Express in Dallas, gave us some examples, gleaned from the expenses and donations that each candidate files with the Federal Election Commission:
Obama’s campaign spent $1,798.34 at the Beverly Wilshire hotel in L.A. If you booked a standard room at that hotel tonight, it would cost approximately $545 based on info provided by its website. In contrast, the Holiday Inn Express Century City would run $199 for a standard room this evening.
Clinton’s campaign spent $2,436.59 at the Fontainbleau Resort in Miami Beach. If you booked a standard room at that hotel tonight, it would cost approximately $350 based on info provided by its website. In contrast, the Holiday Inn Express Miami-Airport (near Miami Beach) would run $209.99 for a standard room this evening.
Romney’s campaign spent $11,700 at the Mandarin Oriental New York Hotel. If you booked a standard room at that hotel tonight, it would cost approximately $530 on info provided by their website. In contrast, the Holiday Inn Express Madison Square Garden would run $249 for a standard room this evening.
What other hotels did the Republican and Democratic candidates stay at? Here are a few we picked off the FEC’s list where bills were paid.
John McCain’s crew toted up 11 Comfort Inns (including St. Petersburg and Vero Beach, Florida) and eight Holiday Inn properties, including ones in Des Moines, Atlanta and in Tallahassee, Florida, during their travels. But we’re guessing the Arizona senator stayed at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York City, the Westin Hilton Head in South Carolina and the Sir Francis Drake Hotel in San Francisco. One question: Who on his staff stayed in Fort Lauderdale at the Tropi Rock Resort, whose motto is: “We Don’t Rent Rooms…We Sell Happiness!”
Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee reports a short list of hotels — maybe he and his entourage crash with friends? The hotels are modest — even listing a Comfort Inn and a Super 8 Motel. The Disney Beach Club Resort at Disney World and the Royal Amsterdam Hotel in Pella, Iowa, were also on the list.
Did Romney stay here? The Romney campaign stayed at Mandarin Oriental New York, Westin Hotels, Park City Mountain Resort, Omni Hotels and Intercontinental Hotels as well as Super 8 Motels and Motel 6. There were plenty of Best Western and Renaissance Hotels too.
Did Hillary stay here? The Clinton campaign spent money at the Bellagio and Caesars in Las Vegas, Fairmont San Francisco, Fontainebleau Resort, Four Seasons Hotel, Ritz-Carlton, and the Peninsula Beverly Hills. To be fair, campaign staff also stayed at hotels that include Hilton, Comfort Inn, Best Western and even Circus Circus. Yes, they stayed at Holiday Inn Express too.
Did Obama stay here? The Obama campaign stayed at Caesars, Wynn Las Vegas, Beverly Wilshire hotel, PGA National Resort & Spa, the Fairmont Hotel Chicago, and W hotels. To be fair, the campaign also stayed at hotels including Hampton Inn, Courtyard by Marriott, Extended Stay, Ramada and the Holiday Inn Express.
Related:
Top of the Ticket: How candidates spend your donations
— Jen Leo, Los Angeles Times Travel Deal Blogger, and Mary Forgione, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
[Photos: Democrats, Chris Carlson / Associated Press; Republicans, Brian Vander Brug / Los Angeles Times]
13 Comments on “Obama, Hillary, Romney & McCain paid what for hotels?”
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February 10th, 2008 at 3:05 am
Hillary’s $5 million dollar check to her campaign drawn from a joint account with her husband raises more questions than how much she spent on hotel rooms… Edsall’s column at Huff Post notes the following “Along similar lines, the WSJ’s January 22 story pointed out that Clinton has an interest in Yucaipa Global Partnership Fund, making him a partner with the Dubai Investment Group, “an entity connected to the ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum.” Senator Clinton, according to the WSJ, had separately raised questions about investment funds controlled by foreign governments, because the funds “could be used by foreign governments as ‘instruments of foreign policy.”
On a much broader scale, Bill Clinton’s involvement with the Yucaipa funds raises a basic ethical question for Hillary Clinton, both in connection with her presidential bid and in connection with her service in the U.S. Senate: The purpose in hiring Bill Clinton is to use the connections he had made as President to gain access and to make lucrative deals — a commonplace but controversial practice regarding former officeholders, a practice with little or no public support - and the money made from these activities in the Clintons’ case becomes part of Bill and Hillary’s jointly held assets, according to Senator Clinton’s communications director.
In other words, money from Yucaipa and the interests it deals with - running the gamut from public employee pension funds to supermarket chains to the Dubai Investment Group - is directly benefiting Hillary Clinton, an incumbent politician charged with voting on issues crucially important to the profits of Yucaipa, its clients, partners and investors.”
February 15th, 2008 at 4:22 pm
I’m impressed how much LESS Hillary’s bill was compared to Obama’s.
But then again, hubby Bill knows all the “ins and outs” of how to save money at a hotel, right?
February 17th, 2008 at 10:51 am
Are Hilton hotels still under Catholic ownership, with tithes aiding the Holy See? Is the Marriott Chain owned by Mormons? What is faith, if any, of owners of the other major room-rent chains? Was organized crime eventually chased out of that business? We do need free tv for many & all candidates. Congress can do that through appointees at the FCC if we get an honest president this time. I don’t like talk of Obama messing with Social Security.
February 18th, 2008 at 11:30 pm
If Governor Patrick asked Barack Obama to use those line during his campaign, why is Senator Clintin and her camp spliting hairs over? Has Governor Patrick denied that he authorised Obama to use the lines? In any case, is picking quarrels with Obama at every turn what Clintin want to tell Democrats and the American people? This is a sign of desperation which will do her no good no and in the long run.
February 19th, 2008 at 3:01 am
Very Nice! Thanks!
February 19th, 2008 at 10:46 am
One question regarding the above column…….
HOW many people from EACH campaign does this include?
I ask because it has been noted in many news outlets that Obama has a superior ‘ground’ campaign (which means more folks in each place for longer periods of time)….
Just asking?????
Any answers?????
February 19th, 2008 at 6:25 pm
[...] Obama likes it cushy. What? According to the LA Times’ Travel Blog, the Chicago dreamboat’s campaign has spent almost $300,000 more on luxury hotels than then Hill-Hills and almost $500,000 more than the McCainites. What’s going on Chi-Town? The Holiday Inn Express website’s “smart meter” calculates the amount of money each candidate would’ve saved if they had stayed at a sensible Holiday Inn instead of, say, at a blingy upscale suite with “courtesy” bouteilles de champagne. Peep the numbers copied from the Times Travel Blog after the jump. [...]
February 19th, 2008 at 9:16 pm
I must say there are many folks backing Obama I really wonder what is the plan. When a Black man finds he is the white man especially, I guess they would gather vote in a man of Color and control him than elect a women who knows the ropes. Something really is not right with this picture I remembered how the whites refused to elect Bill Johnson, not being to happy about about Maggie Brooks and that vote came back to bite them.
February 19th, 2008 at 10:53 pm
I actually find it hard to believe that the Clinton campaign, which has split Bill, Hillary and Chelsea into a three-pronged campaigning machine, has hotel costs lower than Obama’s campaign. Perhaps Bill is paying for his hotel stays with his own money, rather than campaign funds? I’m pretty sure Bill is not staying at a Holiday Inn Express either.
February 21st, 2008 at 4:14 pm
“Barack Obama” for President!
CLINTON IS THE POLITICS OF THE PAST!
MCCAIN IS BUSH POLICIES!
BARACK OBAMA IS FOR “CHANGE”
VOTE BARACK OBAMA FOR PRESIDENT!
YES WE CAN!
SE SI PUEDA!
March 6th, 2008 at 1:24 am
After this super Tuesday election results, Barack obama still in Obama, Clinton Prepare for Ohio and Texasrace although Hillary wins in Ohio and Texas. No. of Delegates really matters to be President.
March 22nd, 2008 at 1:39 pm
Obama’s efforts to connect to the Republican Party, specifically Bush, and Dick Chaney, of the Halliburton Company, dates back to the Presidents Grandfather, Prescott Bush, and indeed Chaney was once an executive officer of Halliburton.
The American military pounds Iraq with Artillary, bombs, and the like, destroying large sections of cities, and infra-structures, then Halliburton comes in to rebuild. Halliburton and Halliburton associated companies have raked in ten’s of billions.
Obama is just like the BIG HALIBURTAN. Haliburton has contracted to build detention centers in the U.S. similiar to the one in Quantanammo Bay, Cuba. Halliburton does nothing to earn the Two Dollars for each meal an American Serviceman in Iraq eats.
Halliburton was scheduled to take control of the Dubai Ports in The United Arab Emiirate. The deal was canceled when Bush was unable to affect the transfer of the American Ports.
Now we see what some might suspect as similiar financial escapading from the Democrats.
Two years ago, Iraq’s Ministry of Electricity gave a $50 million contract to a start-up security company - Companion- owned by now-indicted businessman (TONY REZKO) Tony Rezko and a onetime Chicago cop, Daniel T. Frawley, to train Iraqi power-plant guards in the United States. An Iraqi leadership change left the deal in limbo. Now the company, Companion Security, is working to revive its contract.
Involved along with Antoin “Tony” Rezco, long time friend and neighbor of Democratic Presidential hopeful Barack Obama, and former cop Daniel T. Frawley, is Aiham Alsammarae. Alsammarae was accused of financial corruption by Iraqi authorities and jailed in Iraq last year before escaping and returning here.
LIKE FATHER LIKE SON –
Recently, Obama’s campaign staff have been vetted by the IRS to disclose his connection to the criminal money generating underworld. Besides, his connections to the REZCO MAFIA types, his up-coming tax fraud charges — Obama needs to disclose why he is a MUSLIM “PATWANG-FWEEE” and disclose Obama’s MUSLIM Farrakhan mob connection to Chicago’s Trinity United Church of Christ. Its minister, and Obama’s spiritual adviser, is the Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr. In 1982, the church launched Trumpet Newsmagazine; Wright’s daughters serve as publisher and executive editor. Every year, the magazine makes awards in various categories. Last year, it gave the Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr. Trumpeter Award to a man it said “truly epitomized greatness.” That man is Louis Farrakhan. Farrakhan and Chicago’s Trinity United Church are trumpeting Barack Obama AKA Barack Hussein Obama as the second coming of the messiah. Obama should stop suppoting our intervention in IRAQ. It’s time to introduce this false, fake Xerox - X box Obama and invite the self-indicting thief plagiarizing pipsqueke “GLORK” Xerox - X box to meet the Buffalo “GAZOWNT-GAZIKKA” Police Department Buffalo Creek. He is MAD!!! –
OBAM YOU’RE NO JFK –
“GLORK” Obama looks like Alfred E. Newman: “Tales Calculated To Drive You.” He is a MUSLIM “Glork” He’s MAD!!! Alfred E. Neuman is the fictional mascot of Mad. The face had drifted through American pictography for decades before being claimed by Mad editor Harvey Kurtzman after he spotted it on the bulletin board in the office of Ballantine Books editor Bernard Shir-Cliff, later a contributor to various magazines created by Kurtzman.
Obama needs to disclose why he is a MUSLIM “PATWANG-FWEEE” and stop suppoting our intervention in IRAQ. It’s time to introduce this false, fake “GLORK” Xerox - X box Obama and invite the self-indicting thief plagiarizing pipsqueke Xerox - X box to meet the Buffalo “GAZOWNT-GAZIKKA” Police Department Buffalo Creek.
Michelle Obama should be ashamed.
“GLORK” Michelle Obama should be ashamed of her separatist-racist connection to Farrakhan and Chicago’s Trinity United Church trumpeting Barack Obama AKA Barack Hussein Obama as the second coming of the messiah. If Michelle Obama new what her husband — the Hope-A-Dope, Fonster Monster — Barack Obama AKA Barack Hussein Obama did in Harlem, she would wash her wide-open, Hus-suey loving MUSILM mouth out, with twenty-four (24) mule-team double-cross X-boX-BorraX. He is a MUSLIM “Glork” It’s time to introduce this false, fake “GLORK” Xerox - X box Obama and invite the self-indicting thief plagiarizing pipsqueke Xerox - X box to meet the Buffalo “GAZOWNT-GAZIKKA” Police Department Buffalo Creek. He’s MAD!!!
THE SPEECH –
The Apologia has arrived and once again the self-indicting, separatist-racist Barack Obama AKA Barack Hussein Obama, promises to heal the wounds of the world. The speech is the rude awakening of mass messianism of his campaign. Apologetically, Obama the MUSLIM double-cross X-boX-BorraX has an astonishingly empty two-prawn echelon explanation of his misjudgment.
In the first prawn: with regard to his connection to separatist-racist Rev. Wright; Obama summons voodoo and juju to express slavery as beginning and ending with the Rev. Wright.
In the second prawn: Obama’s speech takes credit for Ashley’s dream. A dream of unity Martin Luther King, Jr. borrowed from Ashley for his historic “I Have A Dream” speech. In Obama’s speech, the connective bond Ashley, the elderly black man and Obama’s grandmother share; represents Obama’s self-indicting rise to the Harvard Yard. For Obama, the grand flag of language is the semi-fore of words, bestowed upon our nation by the messiah-alumni from Harvard. Obama’s Swoon-Song Apologia to the nation represents a failed hymn — a hymn that fails to heal the nation, repair the world, or make this time different than all the rest. Obama’s speech is a brilliant failure.
http://www.halliburtonwatch.org/
July 22nd, 2009 at 4:40 am
thanx for this post.