Obama will be collecting checks in Philadelphia Friday. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Area Democrats have pledged more than $4 million for two back-to-back fundraisers with Barack Obama on Friday in Philadelphia, organizers say.

      Tickets are $1,000 and $2,300 a person for a cocktail reception with the presidential front runner, scheduled for 4:30 p.m. at the Sheraton Philadelphia City Center Hotel, according to the invitation. A later dinner with Obama at the home of Comcast executive and Democratic powerbroker David L. Cohen is open to those who buy a $10,000 ticket – or raise $50,000 from others.

        The dinner is to benefit the Obama Victory Fund, with the first $2,300, the federal limit for an individual contribution, going to the Obama campaign, and the rest going to the Democratic National Committee for campaign activities that will boost the Obama ticket and other party candidates. Federal law allows contributions of up to $28,500 to such party funds.

        Beating the bushes for cash were hosts Gov. Rendell, Sen. Bob Casey Jr. (D.,Pa.), and Mayor Nutter – along with heavy hitters such as Charles H. Breslin, Mark Alderman, Mark Aronchick, Ken Jarin, Cohen and others.

       If the pledges come through, organizers believe the events could be one of the largest ever fundraisers in the city for a presidential candidate. Many of the donors were big contributors to Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and thus were able to “max out” to Obama.