President Barack Obama plans to return to Akron next week, his second stop in the city during this campaign.
Obama’s campaign announced Friday that he will visit Mansfield and Akron on Wednesday and then move on to Florida and Virginia on Thursday.
The president will “lay out his vision to rebuild the economy from the middle out, cut taxes for middle-class families and reduce the country’s deficit,” according to the campaign.
Obama was last in the Akron area July 5 and 6, when he stayed at the Hilton/Akron Fairlawn in Fairlawn after a campaign appearance in Parma. The next morning, he ate breakfast at Ann’s Place in Akron before making another stop in the Youngstown area.
Obama’s trip to Akron became national news when Josephine “Ann” Harris, the owner of Ann’s Place, died shortly after meeting him. Harris, 70, had been ill.
The campaign is expected to release more information about Obama’s latest visit to Akron on Monday. This stop probably will be more of a traditional campaign appearance and Obama is not expected to stay in the area.
Obama will move on to Orlando and Leesburg, Va.
Obama held a rally at the John S. Knight Center in downtown Akron in February 2008 that drew a crowd of 6,000. First lady Michelle Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and Hillary Rodham Clinton also visited Akron. Sen. John McCain, the GOP presidential candidate, didn’t make it to Akron, but did have a stop in Green.
Mitt Romney, the likely GOP candidate this time, hasn’t yet visited Summit County. He held a Father’s Day rally in Brunswick and a private fundraiser in Jackson Township.
Stephanie Warsmith can be reached at 330-996-3705 or swarsmith@thebeaconjournal.com.
