Obama comes to Conn. for cash, leads in polls

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (AP) -- President Barack Obama will attend two fundraisers Monday in Connecticut, where he holds a comfortable lead over Republican Mitt Romney though not as wide as his margin of victory in 2008 against John McCain.

The events include a $500 per person reception at the Stamford Marriott and a $35,800 per person dinner at the Westport home of movie producer Harvey Weinstein. The fundraisers could add about $2 million to Obama's coffers.

Obama led Romney 50 to 38 percent in a Quinnipiac poll in June.

Obama defeated McCain by about 22 percentage points in 2008 in Connecticut.

A polling expert said Obama is in a strong position to win Connecticut again. A Republican leader said Romney could close the gap and make the race competitive.