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Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Tom Infield reports:

2 pm

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.
Posted by Nathan Gorenstein @ 3:39 PM  Permalink | File Under: Obama | 10 comments
Comments   
Posted 04:02 PM, 04/22/2008
anon
Who cares! Must we know every little thing?
Posted 04:06 PM, 04/22/2008
pieman
yuk why would he eat there! their cheesesteaks and geno's are really bad!
Posted 04:20 PM, 04/22/2008
Paul Paulos
Did Michelle say today was the first day she was glad to be an American, and where has O been hiding her ? At least Clinton trots out her hubby. Is O hiding Michelle for some reason he'll deny later
Posted 04:22 PM, 04/22/2008
RAHMAN
ANON, DON'T BE A HATER DUDE! CHILL OUT. THIS IS NORMAL.
Posted 04:22 PM, 04/22/2008
tightlines
ZOMG he drank WOOTER with his cheesesteak? How can he ever relate to the common man??!!???11??!11! /snark
Posted 04:24 PM, 04/22/2008
RAHMAN
DO I DETECT BITTERNESS?
Posted 04:36 PM, 04/22/2008
Delaware Vol
Jim's Steaks on South Street are THE BEST---IMHO!!!
Posted 04:50 PM, 04/22/2008
expat4barack
Sounds yummy to me! Michelle will be a fabulous first lady. Best we've had since Jacqueline.
Posted 04:51 PM, 04/22/2008
Wiam
I wanna know everything that goes on in PA’s primary, otherwise my colleagues come back and tell me they saw Barack Obama on Fox Fake News with cheese in his mouth. What I really want to know is whether or not the PA elections are rigged. There’s a lot of corporate money behind the Clinton campaign, both from inside the country and out. Over 85 percent of PA voters are using the infamous computer voting systems with paperless touchscreen machines that are hackable, failure-prone, and fundamentally unauditable. Given the conservative pundits’ urging of Republican voters to switch parties to vote for Hillary Clinton, who they know will reinvigorate their base next fall, I’m guessing other financial interests also have a stake in propping up Clinton’s bid for the presidency. Whoever you vote for, at least keep an eye out for election fraud throughout the state. See http://www.opednews.com/articles/1/opedne_bev_harr_080414_pennsylvania_3a__the_w.htm for more info on election fraud in Pennsylvania.
Posted 04:57 PM, 04/22/2008
seah
Barrack and Michelle slumming it with them "typical white" people!
10 comments
About Inquirer political writers

The Inauguration: Jan. 20 blog brings you coverage of President-elect Barack Obama's transition into office.

It's written by political journalists from the Philadelphia Inquirer. Send us your comments -- and news tips -- at this address.

Thomas FitzgeraldThomas 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.