Portland, July 24th. The President landed at the Oregon Air National Guard base and met with greeters, including his brother-in-law OSU basketball coach Craig Robinson. White House journalists who travel with the President were treated to Voodoo Donuts. According to Jeff Mapes, they were quite amazed by the bacon maple bars. In a lighthearted moment, President Obama asked local reporters, “Got any granola?”
The quick fundraising visit brought out protesters and created traffic snarls.
The President held two fund-raising events. An invitation-only gathering where 25 people paid $30,000 each to meet with the President, according to campaign officials. He also attended a fundraising lunch, where 950 people paid about $500 to attend. At the Oregon Convention Center, President Obama told supporters, “It’s wonderful to be back in Portland, one of the memories I love is the rally we had by the water four years ago, it was just as pretty as can be. There were people kayaking and in boats, you could see just as far as… it was just beautiful.”
Along with supporters, protesters lined the streets outside the convention center. Many waved signs pushing for stricter gun laws in the wake of the mass shooting in Colorado.
The First Family has a warm relationship with OSU basketball coach Craig Robinson. That connection brought Robinson’s sister, First Lady Michelle Obama, to Oregon State University’s graduation last spring.
Michelle Obama was the keynote speaker at the main graduation ceremony for Oregon State University on Sunday, June 17, 2012.
Mitt Romney, the presumptive Republic presidential nominee, visited Portland in June. Romney was in Portland for a luncheon at the downtown Governor Hotel. The event was not open to the public or media. The event reportedly cost $2,500 per person to attend.
Look for more campaign visits from the Presidential candidates in advance of the November 6th General election.
