Obama arrives in Baton Rouge for first presidential visit

Obama used the visit – the second major appearance since his Tuesday State of the Union speech – to mostly play up the themes from it. He called for more unity and optimism.

Obama mentioned LSU star Ben Simmons during the president’s stop in Baton Rouge on Thursday morning.

The president was introduced by Che’dra Joseph, McKinley High School’s Student of the Year. Edwards and Holden rode in the limousine with Obama to the hotel. “How can we convince the First Lady to run for president?”

Obama is expected to fly out of Baton Rouge airport and return to Washington, D.C. this evening.

Obama responded with an emphatic “No”.

“Let me tell ya, there are three things that are certain in life: death, taxes and Michelle is not running for president”.

About 10 minutes before 10 a.m., his motorcadee arrived at McKinley High for the town hall meeting at 10:05 a.m.in the school gym.

Many of people want to try and get a glimpse of the president in his first visit to Baton Rouge while in office. Earlier in the day the president was at the University of Nebraska, where he spoke to a large crowd about the economy and his plan to help working Americans and small businesses.

The president arrived in the capitol city on Wednesday just after 7 p.m. He was spotted getting off Air Force One with U.S. Rep. Cedric Richmond and was greeted on the ground by Baton Rouge Mayor Kip Holden and Gov. John Bel Edwards.