The sound of helicopters over Chicago's lakefront Monday signaled the practice drills that accompany a presidential visit.
And with Congress poised to act on a deal to raise the federal debt ceiling, President Barack Obama's plans are back on to return to his hometown and raise some money.
Obama is scheduled to attend a 50th birthday gala Wednesday at the Aragon. It's an event featuring Herbie Hancock and Jennifer Hudson, who also helped new Mayor Rahm Emanuel raise money with a January performance.
The president will turn 50 on Thursday.
Big-dollar donors will attend a dinner fundraiser along with the concert at a cost of $35,800 a person. As has been the practice, the money raised will be divided between Obama's 2012 re-election fund and the Democratic National Committee.
Obama's trip home had been in doubt during the lengthy debt ceiling and deficit debate in Washington, until the president announced Sunday that a deal had been reached with House and Senate leaders.
The Republican National Committee criticized Obama, saying that instead of planning a fundraiser after weeks of political gridlock regarding the debt ceiling, the nation's 9.2 percent unemployment rate "might be the next thing to tackle."
In April, Obama was home for the first time since formally announcing his re-election bid. An estimated 2,300 people paid $100 to $250 to hear him speak at Navy Pier's Grand Ballroom.
Last month, the president's re-election effort reported collecting $86 million during the second quarter of the year. That easily outdistanced the amounts raised by his Republican opponents. Obama raised more than $47 million through his presidential campaign and an additional $38 million-plus with the DNC, which can collect much larger sums.
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