Sen. John McCain brought his fundraising tour to Riverside today before heading over to Orange County to collect even more money.

Tickets at the lunch at the Riverside Convention Center started at $1,000. Donors who dropped $2,300 got a McCain lapel pin. Donors who helped raise $50,000 got all kinds of special perks.

Diners got a plate of steak, mashed potatoes and steamed vegetables. If they stuck around long enough, they enjoyed a fruit cup.

McCain apparently had had enough of steak dinners, however. One dignitary said he spotted the senator eating some special-order hot dogs at the fundraiser.

All told, the Republican presidential candidate will have collected $3.5 million in the past two days by the time today is over. In the last 60 days, Californians have raised $11.5 million for McCain, McCain's campaign said.

—Michelle DeArmond
mdearmond@PE.com

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