EmailABC News' Mary Bruce (@marykbruce) Reports:
Tomorrow President Obama turns the big 5-0. Today he will start the celebration a day early, marking the milestone with supporters at two fundraisers in Chicago.
The president will travel to his hometown later this afternoon, where he will attend two DNC events and participate in a live-stream teleconference with thousands of volunteers at grassroots meetings across the country.
The first fundraiser will be a big bash at the historic Aragon Ballroom with roughly 1,000 guests paying between $50 and $35,800 to attend the president’s birthday party. The second event will be a smaller affair with between 80 to 100 VIPs.
Before the birthday celebrations get underway Obama will meet with his Cabinet at the White House this morning. He will also meet privately with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and later with Attorney General Eric Holder.
The president will return to Washington late this evening. No word yet on how Obama plans to spend his actual birthday Thursday.