President Obama Campaigns In Chicago, Jan. 11: Janelle Monae Concert, Dinner, Reception

First Lady hits campaign trail in Virginia...
President Obama's fundraising trip to Chicago on Wednesday, Jan. 11 will include a dinner for top-level donors and an appeal to the youth vote with a concert by R & B sensation Janelle Monae, who performed at the White House last year. The President's re-election headquarters are based in his hometown, and it is his first trip to the Windy City for 2012. His newly resigned Chief of Staff, Bill Daley, is now co-chair for the 2012 Campaign. First Lady Michelle Obama also hits the campaign trail on Wednesday, with a Democratic National Committee luncheon in Richmond, Virginia, and an evening DNC reception in Charlottesville.

The President departs Washington at 3:10 PM ET.

Concert: At 5:50 PM in Chicago, the President will deliver remarks at the University of Chicago-Illinois Forum, where CSI:NY star Hill Harper will join Monae as headliner for the President's concert. Tickets range from $100 for general admission to $1,000 for VIP access. Monae and her band performed for the President during the State Dinner for South Korea last October. The President and Mrs. Obama requested that Monae sing her hit "Tightrope. "

"Just performed (at) The White House for the State Dinner!!!!! President Obama and First Lady are Big Fans!!!! Wow! I'm So Honored!!!!! They requested "tightrope"! ha!" Monae wrote on her Facebook page.

Dinner: At 7:30 PM, Mr. Obama will keynote a $35,800-per-couple dinner at the North Side home of media mogul Fred Eychaner. He is a major donor to Democratic organizations, campaigns and "SuperPacs," the third party groups playing a role in the 2012 campaigns, according to Lynn Sweet of the Chicago Sun-Times.

Reception: At 9:00 PM, the President travels to the home of Evonne and Stuart Taylor, managing partner of The Taylor Group, a private equity firm; he is CEO of one of its holdings, Analytic Innovations. Donors are being asked for at least $7,000, with $20,000 for a host reception per couple. Bundlers--people who tap their personal networks to get others to write checks--can get in if they raise at least $30,000 in donations, says Sweet.

Host Committee members at the Taylor event include Illinois Obama 2012 Finance chief John Rogers Jr., and the President's close pals Cheryl and Eric Whitaker. More host committee names: Les Coney, Alan and Sophia King, Susan McKeever, Jesse Ruiz, Joshua Schwartz, Nigel and Deborah Telman.

Proceeds go to the Obama Victory Fund 2012, run by Obama for America and the Democratic National Committee.