Obama Arrives In Columbus Aboard Air Force One

Tuesday August 17, 2010 4:16 PM
UPDATED: Wednesday August 18, 2010 7:46 AM

President Barack Obama arrived in Columbus late on Tuesday night, and preparations for his visit had been under way throughout the day.

The presidential visit is in the middle of Obama's fund raising tour around America, and his trip to Columbus includes a packed schedule, 10TV's Maureen Kocot reported.

Air Force One touched down at Port Columbus International Airport at  about 10:10 p.m.

Obama's first stop on Wednesday will be a fund raising luncheon for Gov. Ted Strickland at The Columbus Athenaeum, where security was already tight.

Police officers and White House security spent much of the day Tuesday preparing for Obama's visit.

The visit will close North Fourth Street from Broad to Gay streets from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. 

Bomb-sniffing dogs, like the ones that were used to search vendors at Red, White, and Boom will aid in security, along with the Columbus SWAT team, Kocot reported.

This trip marks the Obama's ninth visit to Ohio since he was elected to the White House.

"Ohio is the center of the political universe in the United States," said Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman.

After the fund raiser, Obama will meet with a family in Clintonville to talk about how federal stimulus dollars can make a difference in the average American household.

A news release from the White House said Obama will "meet with a local family at their home before hosting a discussion on the economy with families from the area."

"When a President is able to meet with ordinary citizens and just sit down and have a conversation about what's going on in their lives," Coleman said. "What one learns from sitting with a family can change a nation." 

Obama is scheduled to depart aboard Air Force One shortly after 2 p.m. on Wednesday.

The President's visit is preceded by a new Gallup Poll showing that 50 percent of Americans said they disapprove of the way he is handling his job. 

Watch 10TV News HD and refresh 10TV.com for continuing coverage.

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August 16, 2010: Obama To Meet With Family During Presidential Visit

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