Obama turns birthday bash into fundraiser

US PRESIDENT Barack Obama turned his 50th birthday into a 2012 campaign fundraising bonanza, buoyed by a hometown crowd after what he called a frustrating period locked in a debt battle with Republicans.

Obama’s big birthday comes just days after he reached a deal with Republicans to raise the nation’s debt ceiling and avert a calamitous government default. While the mood around the White House hasn’t exactly been festive since the deal was reached — Obama didn’t get much of what he wanted — there was plenty of celebration there yesterday for the president’s 50th.

Senior members of Obama’s staff toasted the president in the Blue Room of the White House and on Wednesday night he celebrated with family and friends, including some coming in from his hometown of Chicago. He will cap the festivities with a weekend trip to Camp David, the presidential retreat in Maryland.