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JUDY WOODRUFF (Newshour): There's only one week left until Washington plays host to President Obama's second-term inauguration. The preparations on the west front of the Capitol Building are well under way, getting set for the president, hundreds of distinguished guests, and a huge crowd.
Celebrities will star at a series of special events, despite the fact that only about half the 1.8 million visitors who showed up for the historic first inaugural four years ago are expected.
Still, the president's private fund-raising goal for the festivities is about the same as 2009. Then, he raised $53 million from individual donations alone that were capped at $50,000 each.
This year, the Presidential Inaugural Committee plans to accept unlimited contributions from both individuals and corporations. The committee aims to raise $50 million.
In comparison, the second inauguration of George W. Bush rose over $42 million and took corporate donations of up to $250,000.
Late today, we asked Steve Kerrigan, the head of the Inaugural Committee, about criticism of how this event is being paid for this year.
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