Romney to make campaign stop in KC

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney brings his campaign to Kansas City on Thursday evening.

But he isn’t here just to appeal for votes. He’s holding a private fundraising event at the Westin Crown Center hotel at 6:00 p.m.

It’s one of a series of events Romney is holding in May to raise cash for his campaign and statewide Republican organizations.

This afternoon the likely Republican nominee will raise money and make a brief public appearance in Omaha, Neb., then travel to Kansas City.

A Missouri Republican said tickets start at $1,000 per person and that more than 200 people are expected to attend the fundraiser, which is closed to the public.

Romney’s last public appearance in this area came just before the Missouri GOP caucuses in March, when he spoke at a rally in Liberty. First Lady Michelle Obama and Vice President Joe Biden also have visited Kansas City recently to raise money for Democrats.

So far, President Barack Obama has outraised Romney in the area, according to Federal Election Commission records. Obama has taken in almost $335,000 from Kansas City-area ZIP codes, while Romney has raised roughly $128,000.