WASHINGTON--Chicago Cubs President Theo Epstein headlines a fund-raiser on Oct. 17 in Chicago to benefit the Obama campaign, with the other draw David Simas, the Obama campaign director of opinion research. The evening reception is at the home of Barbara Goodman Manilow. The tab is $1,000 to guest, $5,000 to host.

Manilow is a member of Chicago's Crown family; cousin Susan Crown is a major fund-raiser for Mitt Romney. Manilow is an executive at the Ida and Arie Crown Foundation. Her former husband, David Manilow, is the founder and producer of the show "Check Please."

Epstein is no novice to political giving; while in Boston working for the Red Sox he donated $1,000 to the Obama campaign in January, 2008. Cubs honcho Laura Ricketts is a major Obama fund-raiser.