CHICAGO - Democratic presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama both asked supporters to open their wallets Monday at dueling fundraisers in downtown Chicago.

Clinton's event, her second major fundraiser here, signaled the Illinois native's determination not to surrender Chicago money and votes to Obama, a popular U.S. senator from Illinois.

Her fundraiser was planned long before Obama's event was announced. The Obama campaign wouldn't discuss why it scheduled a fundraiser at the same time, but it could be read as a message to Clinton that he is willing to push back.

Joe Power Jr., a Chicago attorney helping raise money for Clinton, called it "kind of shocking" that Obama would schedule a rival event. He said the two are Senate colleagues and she had long ago announced the date of her fundraiser, so Obama's decision was inappropriate.

"Apparently, when they learned about it, they set up a conflicting fundraiser," Power said. "I wasn't impressed by that."

In the first three months of the year, Obama raised $3.73 million in Illinois, compared with $373,000 for Clinton, according to their reports to the Federal Election Commission.

But speaking briefly with reporters before heading into Monday evening's closed event at Fulton's on the River restaurant, Obama said Clinton has been raising plenty of money.

"We're just trying to make sure we raise the paltry sums that allow us to compete," Obama said. "It's fair play."

Obama campaign officials declined to say Monday night how many people attended the $2,300-a-ticket event or how much money was raised.

Obama supporter John Schmidt said the event probably had more to do with scheduling than with trying to irk Clinton, largely because of Obama's huge lead in Illinois fundraising.

"I don't think anybody sees that as much of a real competition," said Schmidt, also a Chicago attorney.

Jatinder Bedi, who said Monday evening's event is one of several Obama fundraisers he's attended, also didn't see think any conflict, calling Obama "the son of Illinois."

Clinton supporter Raghu Nayak, who owns a surgery center in Chicago, was more critical of the Obama camp's scheduling before he headed into Clinton's closed event at The Palmer House Hilton.

"I think they did it after they heard … to sabotage this one," Nayak said.

Clinton's staff notes that she didn't hold any Illinois fundraisers during the first quarter. She held a large event in May and hoped to take in about $750,000 from Monday's event, which charged $2,300 per ticket for dinner and a cocktail reception.

"Obviously, Illinois is Senator Obama's home turf, but we are gratified at the strong show of support in the state for Senator Clinton," said spokesman Blake Zeff.

Clinton may be best known for her years in Arkansas with Bill Clinton and as a senator in New York, but she grew up in the Chicago suburbs. She has many old friends and political allies to help her in Illinois.

Flossmoor businesswoman Bea Tayui is supporting Clinton, even though she likes Obama and donated to his 2004 Senate race.

"The country is truly blessed to have both of them run for the presidency. But I'd have to say she has longer experience globally," Tayui said. "Illinois raised her, so she needs to come home and claim Illinois."

Associated Press Writer Christopher Wills in Springfield, Ill. contributed to this report.