MIDWEST BUS TOUR

President Obama kicked off his Midwest bus tour today. His first stop was in Cannon Falls a small community of 4000. It is about an hours drive Southwest of St. Paul, Minnesota.
The Washington Post reports that about 500 people attended this “town hall” meeting. The tour is defined, (according to the White House Spokesman) as a town hall meeting to talk about jobs and the economy; however I suggest that it is a campaign tour to shore up what may be left of his base.

CASE IN POINT THE FOLLOWING QUOTES LEAD ONE TO THINK CAMPAIGN:
“I know it’s not election season yet, but I just have to mention the debate”
“You’ve got to send a message to Washington that it’s time for the games to stop. It’s time to put country first,”
“Some folks in Congress ... would rather see their opponents lose than America win.

The President will travel in one of the two Secure Black Buses that will also be used by the next administration and is maintained and serviced by the Secret Service. The cost of these buses is reported to be 1.1 million dollars each.

So what is the difference, town hall or campaign?
Town Hall is paid for with tax dollars: campaigns are paid from donors campaign funds.

Obama is scheduled to go on a 10-day family vacation to Martha’s Vineyard on Thursday after completing the economic tour.