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Obama, his wife Michelle and their entourage of Secret Service agents, aides and news media arrived at Pat’s King of Steaks at 9th and Wharton Streets in South Philadelphia , an iconic location for out of town politicians to meet and great real Philadelphians
He worked his way through the crowd to the counter, where he ordered twocheese steaks- with onions. “Whiz with,” his wife chimed in.
(History: John Kerry infamously ordered his cheesesteak with Swiss.)
The couple sat down with a startled Charles McDermot, of Roxborough and his daughter Ariel, 16. Obama had to fold his long frame to get under a bolted down red plastic bench, at a bolted down red plastic table, underneath the sidewalk overhang.
With the throng of cameras leaning over their shoulders, Obama and his wife tried to talk to their lunch companions. “We don't want to have Cheese Whiz dripping from our mouths,” Obama was heard saying at one point.
He ate all of the sandwich, then dipped into some French fries, and opened a bottle of water. After taking a sip, he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.
"Do I have cheese steak in my teeth," he asked McDermot, who was wearing a "World's Best Dad" t-shirt.
McDermot, who manages a restaurant, said they had talked about the “economy, a little bit about the gas crisis, and the war.”
Of Obama, he said he hadn't’t yet voted, but planned to later today. “I hope he gets it…but I think its an uphill climb.”
Obama then got back in their motorcade, and headed for the Major League Barber shop in West Philadelphia.
The Decision: November 4th blog brings you up-to-the-minute coverage of the Presidential campaign.
It's written by political journalists from the Philadelphia Inquirer. Send us your comments -- and news tips -- at this address.
Larry Eichel is the senior writer for The Philadelphia Inquirer, covering the 2008 presidential election. He has served as national political writer, a foreign and national correspondent, a political columnist, sportswriter, national editor and suburban editor. He is the co-author of two books and three children.
Thomas Fitzgerald joined The Philadelphia Inquirer in 2000, and has covered Harrisburg as well as city, state and national politics for the newspaper. He was a “boy on the bus” in the 2004 presidential campaign and during primary contests in 2000 and 1996.
Nathan Gorenstein has covered politics and government in the city, state and nation for the Inquirer. He's worked in the city hall bureau, had a stint on the business desk, and once covered the suburbs. After serving as assistant regional editor, he was named editor of the "Politics" web site.
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