Obama arrives in Philadelphia

More than 350 people gathered outside the Bellevue Hyatt on South Broad Street to both protest and support President Obama, who arrived at the hotel at 5 p.m.

Obama arrived in a 14-car motorcade, along with 20 police motorcycles, and quickly entered the building, saying nothing to the crowd.

"Education, not deportation," shouted 30 or so members of the Dream Activists, a group promoting immigrant rights.

Others, holding signs saying "Support Obama," shouted, "Four more years."

Also in the crowd were about two dozen members of the Independence Hall Tea Party Association, and 40 members of ACT Up, and 200 curious onlookers.

The President is speaking at the hotel and later at a private reception in Chestnut Hill to raise money for his presidential campaign and for the Democratic National Committee.

"I felt if there was any core group of support, it's good to be an extra body," said Ellen Clark of Center City, who came to South Broad Street because "he [Obama] needs support."

"I'm unhappy with the current administration, especially with the president. The economy is tanking, unemployment is high, and he's doing nothing about it," said Mary Ellen Jones of Havertown, who is part of the Tea Party group.

Fernanda Marroquin, an organizer for the Dream Activists, who are seeking immigrant rights, said, "We need more concrete action. Obama has been pro-immigrant, but he's still deporting families."

Among the signs held by activists were placards reading "Obama is the problem" and "One and done."

Not everyone was against the President. At least one sign pictured a stylized portrait of Obama emblazoned with "Support."

The clamor of the protestwrs disconcerted some folks in the city on business.

"I'm half excited and half scared to death," said Judi Sheridan of Haddonfield, who was on her way to a doctor's appointment. "There's an angry group up here and I don't know what they could do."

For some tourists, the hubbub was a welcome sideshow.

Chad Gary, his wife Lynn and two daughters are in the city for a convention. The Garys, of Prosperity, South Carolina, were walking through town when they spotted the throng.

"We thought someone famous was here," said Chad Gary, clad in a Phillies tshirt. "We heard the news that Obama might be in town, so that's how we figured it."

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