Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton hobnobbed with Silicon Valley’s elite during her brief trip in the Bay Area this week.
The former Secretary of State touched down in California Wednesday, first stopping in Sacramento for a fundraising luncheon. The price of admittance to the exclusive fete wasn’t cheap, with diners spending upwards of $2,700 for a ticket and photo with the democratic frontrunner.
Clinton – who has been smashing Vermont senator Bernie Sanders in recent polls – then made her way to Los Altos Hills, where Stanford alumnus and prominent biologist Anne Wojcicki hosted a party in her honor. The two-hour fundraising event sold out, according to the campaign website, with tickets also coming in at $2,700.
Guests to the family-friendly affair arrived at the hilltop home in buses. Some attendees brought their children along.
"I came to get them out of school," said Karen Ratay of her granddaughters, one of whom was clearly excited for the meet-and-greet. "She said she was going to see the first girl president – she’s five."
The Republican National Committee wasted no time jibing Clinton’s fundraising trip to California, releasing a statement that attempted to bring attention back to the email scandal that has been dogging the presidential hopeful.
"Another two-day fundraising swing in the Golden State won’t win back the trust of voters still waiting for answers from Hillary Clinton as she continues dodging questions on the growing investigation into her secret email server," said Ninio Fetalvo, a spokesperson for the RNC.
Clinton supporters and opposers also were vocal about the trip, with many of them flocking to social media to provide a mixture of support and critique.
She will depart from the Golden State Thursday after attending an event in Napa. Former Austrian ambassador Kathryn Hall will be playing host at Hall Winery, where tickets will be sold for a comparatively modest $1,000.
This isn't Clinton's first trip to the Bay Area.
Newly re-elected San Francisco mayor Ed Lee hosted a reception in early August, and Clinton was also in town later in September for an event in Palo Alto.
Public events have been minimal, but political expert Larry Gerston believes that’s part of Clinton's plan.
"There will be a time when she campaigns here," he said. "When it comes time to collect electoral votes, in the fall of next year. Right now, California serves her purpose best if she can collect as much money as she can and spend it, even next door in Nevada to help her in those early primaries."
