President Obama Hits the Road; Donald Trump's Net Worth
WHITFIELD: A couple of things to watch for in politics and the week ahead. President Obama and the first lady head to Chicago on Wednesday to tape a segment with Oprah. And someone who is eyeing the president's job is also hitting the road. Here now is CNN's deputy political director Paul Steinhauser.</s>PAUL STEINHAUSER, DEPUTY POLITICAL DIRECTOR: Hey, Fred. I guess you can call it president by the way, fundraiser at times by night. President Barack Obama heads to New York City Wednesday. That night he's the main attraction of a top-dollar dinner for his reelection campaign. Mr. Obama announced his bid for a second term at the beginning of the month. Since then he's headlined fundraisers in Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and now this week New York. If you're surprised, don't be. This Oval Office strategy is nothing new. Most recently Presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton employed the same strategy when they were running for reelection. The same day Mr. Obama is in New York, Donald Trump heads to New Hampshire. As just about everybody knows, the businessman, real estate mogul and reality TV star says he might just run for the White House. His meeting with Republican officials and activists in New Hampshire mark his first visit to one of those crucial, early voting states in the primary and caucus calendar. Trump says he'll announce whether he'll make a bid for the GOP presidential nomination by June -- Fred.</s>WHITFIELD: All right. Thanks so much, Paul. So Trump has been bragging that he has more money than Mitt Romney. So how much does he really have? Our Susan Candiotti went a few rounds with him.</s>SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): "The Apprentice" opening boasts about the power of money. But pinning down Donald Trump's own wealth is tricky business. We talked by phone. (</s>On camera): You say your wealth is more than $2.7 billion. How much more? Is it more than $6?</s>DONALD TRUMP, ENTREPRENEUR: Well, it's much more.</s>CANDIOTTI: Is it more than $10? Is it less than 20?</s>TRUMP: I would say -- well, I don't want to do that because I don't want to ruin the suspense for the day that I possibly announce, but I will tell you it is much more.</s>CANDIOTTI (voice-over): Announce whether he'll run for president. If he does, he'll have to tell all on a required financial disclosure form. For now it's a guessing game.</s>TRUMP: My big thing is real estate. I mean, I do great at real estate. I mean, I'm really good at it.</s>CANDIOTTI (on camera): Can you give us a dollar amount?</s>TRUMP: And people will see. Well, I'd rather wait honestly until the filing.</s>CANDIOTTI: How about just the "Celebrity Apprentice" contract?</s>TRUMP: It's been a very, very lucrative show.</s>CANDIOTTI: Well, just give us a number.</s>TRUMP: I'd rather not.</s>CANDIOTTI (voice-over): Clearly he's a wealthy man. Trump's name is in gold on 40 Wall Street, one of many assets. Want to play on a Trump golf course? High-rise apartment buildings on New York City's West Side all say Trump but his stake in them is less than clear. How about Trump vodka? Trump steaks? Thirsty for some Trump spring water? He won't say how much he makes on those deals either.</s>TRUMP: I make a lot from licensing. I make a lot from other things.</s>CANDIOTTI: Should Trump's net worth matter to potential voters?</s>STU ROTHENBERG, COLUMNIST, ROLL CALL: They need to be comfortable with the person. And Donald Trump, part of who he is, is how he's made his money and how he's lived his life.</s>CANDIOTTI: People do wonder about his riches.</s>ESOSA AMASWA, STUDENT: He has a lot of dealings with -- that, you know, affect many people. And I would like to know if he has the people's best interests in heart.</s>CANDIOTTI (on camera): You're gone through some well-publicized bankruptcies.</s>TRUMP: Well, let's stop that because that's wrong. I never went bankrupt at all.</s>CANDIOTTI (voice-over): True. His Atlantic City casinos were thrown into Chapter 11 Trump says strategically to save the business.</s>TRUMP: We've used the laws of this country to our benefit but we've used the laws of this country to reduce debt. Now I had a casino company and still have. I have a casino company where I cut the debt from $1.8 billion to approximately $300 million.</s>CANDIOTTI: How much of the casinos does he still own? (</s>On camera): How much?</s>TRUMP: It's a very valuable piece.</s>CANDIOTTI: Can you say --</s>TRUMP: It's a very valuable piece.</s>CANDIOTTI: What percentage?</s>TRUMP: I don't want to say. But it is a nice chunk.</s>CANDIOTTI (voice-over): But if he runs and opens his books -- (</s>On camera): Are owe prepared for the kind of scrutiny that that is going to unleash?</s>TRUMP: I'm sort of a public person for 20 years. I mean people know me. And they know --</s>CANDIOTTI: But they don't really know -- they don't really know what you're worth.</s>TRUMP: Well, they don't -- well in a way --</s>CANDIOTTI: They don't.</s>TRUMP: They don't know that much because I'm a private person in terms of financial, but that will be disclosed.</s>CANDIOTTI (voice-over): Maybe then we'll get a sense of his dollars. Susan Candiotti, CNN, New York.</s>WHITFIELD: And of course, we'll be right back and I'll tell you about a first for me today.