By Philip Sean Curran, Staff Writer
Martha Friend, dressed in an Obama 2012 campaign T-shirt, got there around 9:15 a.m. Sunday to catch a glimpse of Michelle Obama on her visit to a Princeton Ttownship home for a political fundraiser.
Ms. Friend and other onlookers watched as guests began arriving to the private event at the Snowden Lane home of Democratic donors Andrew and Carol Golden. Tickets started at $1,000 per person for the reception, with prices up to $10,000 for admission and a photo with the first lady, all to support the Obama Victory Fund.
Published reports stated 230 people attended, including Princeton University President Shirley M. Tilghman and the first lady’s brother, Craig Robinson.
In her remarks, the first lady, a 1985 Princeton graduate, promised to return to campus at some point, vowing to “make that happen,” according to published reports.
Guests stopped on their way into the event to answer questions from some of the assembled media.Sandra Karriem, a corporate lawyer at Panasonic, who said she was “excited to be here” as she came with her daughter, Amira, an analyst at Goldman Sachs. Both women graduated from Princeton University.
Herb and Carol Horowitz stopped on their way inside to show a basketball program that Ms. Obama’s older brother, Craig Robinson, had autographed in 1981 when he played at Princeton University. The couple hoped to get Ms. Obama’s signature.
Ms. Obama’s trip to Princeton hit the news in late August. As expected for a visit of this type, security included township and State Police along with a contingent of Secret Service agents. Authorities cleared the area of spectators standing at the entrance of a public park located next to the Goldens’ home, before anyone could see the first lady.
A few hours earlier, standing under the sun, onlookers expressed excitement at the first lady’s visit.
Chris Wilson of England, having come to America to visit family, said Ms. Obama is “very popular” in his country. He said he thought she looks “natural,” compared to Mitt Romey’s wife, Ann, whose “looks a bit prepared.”
In coming to township, Ms. Obama was in a stalwart Democratic community.
Marie Galastro, an Obama supporter, said there is a lot of support here for the president.

