Obama: 2012 Is Like Basketball, and I Don’t Miss Clutch Shots

If his campaign for a second term is like a basketball game, President Obama says it’s nearing halftime, he’s down on the scoreboard, and facing a full court press.

Obama told a crowd of campaign donors, including a mix of past and present NBA stars, in Florida tonight that “this is like the second quarter, maybe the third. And we’ve still got a lot of work to do.”

“But I want everyone to know I’m a fourth-quarter player,” he said. “I don’t miss my shots in the fourth quarter.”

Obama spoke at the glitzy Lake Mary, Fla., home of attorney John Morgan, one of his top volunteer fundraisers, or bundlers, where around 100 guests paid at least $1,500 to see the president speak. Proceeds flowed to the Obama Victory Fund, a joint account between the Obama Campaign and the Democratic National Committee.

NBA all-star Grant Hill, Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers, Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard and Phoenix Suns guard Vince Carter were among the pro basketball players in attendance, according to press pool reports.  The official invitation for the event also listed ex-NBA great Patrick Ewing as a co-host.

“So as long as we’ve got a strong team and everybody’s engaged and involved, we’re not just going to win this election,” Obama said. “We are going to win this election and then we are going to make sure that we rebuild this country.”

The event was Obama’s second fundraiser of the day in Florida.  Earlier he spoke to a crowd of 400 donors at the Orlando Sheraton where tickets started at $250. The two events raised at least a quarter million dollars combined for Obama and Democrats in 2012.

Florida was the fourth most generous state to Obama in 2008, behind California, New York and Texas.  He raised $53 million there, according to stats compiled by Center for Responsive Politics.