President Obama In Bay Area For Fundraising Trip
MOUNTAIN VIEW (CBS SF) -- President Barack Obama has arrived in the Bay Area for a series of fundraising events Wednesday night and Thursday.
Air Force One flew in from Colorado Wednesday evening and touched down at Moffett Field in Mountain View at 6:18 p.m.
The president, clad in a dark suit and blue tie, waved and smiled at the crowd of dozens awaiting his arrival before greeting local officials, including NASA Ames Research Center Director Simon Pete Worden, Sunnyvale Mayor Tony Spitaleri, Mountain View Mayor Mike Kasperzak and Rep. Anna Eshoo, D-Palo Alto.
Mr. Obama shook hands with members of the crowd before getting into his town car and driving off in his motorcade.
One attendee who shook the president's hand was 10-year-old Kyle Chomaker of Pleasanton. The Fairlands Elementary School student was stunned by the gesture saying, "I didn't think it was possible."
Video: President Obama At Redwood City Fundraiser
Watch Part 1 | Watch Part 2
Sheila Johnson, a community relations coordinator for NASA Ames Research Center, said she has met three presidents in her lifetime but her excitement hasn't waned.
"It is an absolute thrill and joy to be privileged to be here to shake his hand," she said.
Obama arrived at a fundraising dinner at the Atherton home of philanthropists Lisa and Doug Goldman around 7:10 p.m. Tickets for the dinner cost $35,800 per person.
Following the Atherton fundraiser, Obama spoke at a sold-out rally at Redwood City's Fox Theatre. Premium seating for the event started at $1,000 per person with some paying as much as $12,500.
On Thursday, the president is expected to attend a fundraiser at the Fairmont San Jose. Twenty people are expected to attend the 8:30 a.m. event, which cost $35,800 per person.
He is scheduled to fly out from Moffett Field Thursday around 10 a.m.
(Copyright 2012 by CBS San Francisco and Bay City News Service. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
