Perry's People Stonewall Fundraiser Details

Texas Governor Rick Perry is holding two Oklahoma fundraisers today for his nascent Republican presidential campaign, but unless you're among the well-heeled invited to pony up to the max for Perry, you'll be hard-pressed (1) to find the fundraisers and (2) get in even if you find them.

It's not uncommon for such candidates to hold closed fundraisers; what is a bit strange is the refusal, at first, to even acknowledge they would be held and then refuse any details. That's usually only done when the candidate wants to avoid the news media.

By late morning, however, it was announced Perry will hold a 2 p.m. news conference in Tulsa to accept Senator Jim Inhofe's official endorsement.

KTOK's news director, Jerry Bohnen, has been chasing this story since Friday and at first, got the "Nobody knows nuttin'" response from Perry's office. (His campaign office, Bohnen was told, isn't yet up and running, so there's no one to talk to.)

Then, over the weekend, a Perry spokesman acknowledged the fundraisers but refused to provide any details.

We now learn, through multiple sources, that the first fundraiser will be a noon luncheon at the Summit Club in Tulsa. The second is an evening event (5:30) at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Center in Oklahoma City, scene of many political fundraisers in the past.

Publicist Renzi stone is hosting the Tulsa event; Lee Allan Smith of Ackerman-McQueen Advertising is coordinating the Oklahoma City event, sources said.

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