February 23rd, 2012
04:14 PM ET
Obama’s $4 million night (CNN) - President Obama isn’t only in Florida to talk energy at the University of Miami. He’s here to line his campaign coffers with an additional $4 million. After his 25-minute speech wrapped, the president headed off to the first of three fundraisers of the evening in this politically crucial state: a $1,000 per-person rally at Miami’s Biltmore Hotel, according to a Democratic official. The event – which is expected to draw 450 people – will feature entertainment by R&B singer Deborah Cox. Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Florida Sen. Bill Nelson will also be in attendance. Obama then heads to a more intimate setting – the home of Chris Korge, a prominent Miami lawyer who was formerly a big booster for Hillary Clinton’s 2008 bid. About 100 supporters are expected at that event, each of whom paid at least $15,000 to get in the door. The president will then make the quick flight up to the Orlando area, where Dallas Mavericks star Vince Carter is hosting a $30,000 per-person reception at his home. About 70 people will attend that event.  An important voting block: President Obama addresses the White House Forum on American Latino Heritage October of last year.
February 23rd, 2012
01:05 PM ET
Obama pressed on immigration promise Calling Republicans in Congress the "roadblock" to getting comprehensive immigration reform passed, President Barack Obama seemed to bristle when Univision radio host Eddie “Piolin” Sotelo pressed him on breaking his 2008 campaign promise to Latinos. "I would have only broken my promise if I hadn’t tried," the president told Sotelo in a radio interview broadcast Wednesday. "But ultimately, I’m one man," the president continued. "You know, we live in a democracy. We don’t live in a monarchy. I’m not the king. I’m the president." Mr. Obama drew a clear contrast between himself and his potential Republican challengers telling Sotelo, "[W]e haven’t seen any of the Republican candidates even support immigration reform. In fact, their leading candidate said he would veto even the Dream Act, much less comprehensive immigration reform," said the president in a reference to Mitt Romney's promise to veto any bill that would open a path to citizenship for some undocumented young people.” When asked if he felt he still had support in the Latino community, a voting block of some 12 million, the president answered with bravado. "[M]y presidency is not over. I’ve got another five years coming up. We’re going to get this done. And absolutely, we have strong support in the Latino community because they’ve seen what we’ve been working on." 
February 23rd, 2012
08:07 AM ET
Soaring gas prices and energy focus of POTUS speech today (CNN) - President Barack Obama will talk about ways to expand oil and gas production and how to decrease the dependence on foreign oil in a speech at the University of Miami Thursday afternoon, the White House said. Obama's speech in Florida comes at a time when gas prices are soaring around the nation. Gas prices rose 3.3 cents nationwide overnight to $3.61 a gallon, according to AAA. "The president clearly understands the impact that high gas prices have on middle class families, but unlike some, he isn't interested in engaging in false debates and phony promises," a senior administration official said. "On Thursday, the president will make clear that while domestic oil and gas production has increased under his watch, (and is) currently higher than any time since 2003, the solution requires more than increased drilling, it requires an all-of-the-above approach that leverages technologies." Press Secretary Jay Carney spoke about the issue of rising gas prices to reporters Tuesday. "There are no magic solutions to rising oil prices and the pain that Americans feel at the pump," Carney said. "The fact is that the president is very aware of the impact that the global price of oil has on families and this is not something that this administration discovered or rediscovers every spring as some politicians do. Oil production in the United Stateshas increased every year that this president has been in office." Before the speech, Obama is scheduled to tour the school's Industrial Assessment Center, a place where students learn how to help manufacturers reduce energy costs, the White House said. 
February 23rd, 2012
07:26 AM ET
Morning briefingThe 1600 Report's daily roundup of what the White House is reading this morning online and in the papers: Five things we learned from Wednesday's debate (CNN.com) Report: Debt will swell under top GOP hopefuls' tax plans (WashPost/Bloomberg) Scalia courted as unlikely Obama ally in top court health battle (Bloomberg) White House pushes online privacy bill of rights (CNN Money.com) 
February 23rd, 2012
07:08 AM ET
President Obama is Florida bound Thursday10:45AM THE PRESIDENT departs the White House en route Joint Base Andrews / South Lawn /Open Press 11:00AM THE PRESIDENT departs Joint Base Andrews en routeMiami,Florida/ Out-of-Town Travel Pool Coverage 1:25PM THE PRESIDENT arrivesMiami,Florida/MiamiInternationalAirport/ Open Press 1:45PM THE PRESIDENT tours theIndustrialAssessmentCenter/UniversityofMiami/ Out-of-Town Travel Pool Coverage FULL POST |
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