Obama inauguration hits a few bumps

WASHINGTON, Dec. 25 (UPI) -- Barack Obama's inauguration team has had no trouble finding donors for the Washington parties but is scrambling to find rewards for prominent guests.

The historic inauguration is expected to draw as many as 5 million people to the capital, The Washington Post reported Thursday.

The presidential kick-off is expected to cost $40 million. Donors will be divided into "trustees" who raise $300,000, "finance chairs," who donate a maximum of $50,000 and "sponsors," who give at least $10,000.

By banning corporate, union and political action committee donations and setting an individual limit of $50,000, however, the inauguration team has found they need more individual donors and more events to entertain them.

"There is frustration because individuals in some cases still do not know what they are getting for their donations," one fundraiser said.

In keeping to their high ethical standards, however, "I guarantee you this inauguration is not about bigwigs," fundraiser Howard Gutman said. "It's about the millions of people who are going to see the parade and the swearing-in for the price of a Metro ticket."