Michael Jordan, Carmelo Anthony To Appear At 'Obama Classic' Fundraiser

Obama Campaign Fundraises With Basketball Stars Michael Jordan, Carmelo Anthony
US President Barack Obama pretends to shoot a basketball given to him by the University of Kentucky men’s basketball team during an event celebrating their 2012 NCAA championship in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on May 4, 2012. AFP PHOTO / Saul LOEB (Photo credit should read SAUL LOEB/AFP/GettyImages)
US President Barack Obama pretends to shoot a basketball given to him by the University of Kentucky men’s basketball team during an event celebrating their 2012 NCAA championship in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on May 4, 2012. AFP PHOTO / Saul LOEB (Photo credit should read SAUL LOEB/AFP/GettyImages)

The Obama campaign is bringing in NBA heavyweights Michael Jordan, Patrick Ewing, Alonzo Mourning and Carmelo Anthony to boost the president's fundraising efforts.

A new campaign contest announced on Tuesday, dubbed the "Obama Classic," gives supporters a chance to win two tickets to attend an event featuring the basketball stars and Obama. Its only caveat: Make a $3 donation to the campaign.

It's a tactic the Obama campaign employed with great success when it ran a similar contest for a fundraiser at the home of actor George Clooney in May. Supporters donated an average of $23 in hopes of winning a ticket to the event -- propelling the fundraiser's total haul to $15 million when coupled with the $40,000 individual tickets.

The campaign had originally planned a star-studded "Obama Classic Basketball Game" last year, but the event was postponed when a lockout resulted in a shortened NBA season.

In 2008, small donors and celebrity endorsements helped Obama sweep his way into the White House. This year, too, his campaign has drawn heavily on small donors and celebrity fundraisers.

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