Hitting the pavement, Obama puts on the pounds?
July 6th, 2012
03:02 PM ET
11 years ago

Hitting the pavement, Obama puts on the pounds?

(CNN) - President Barack Obama faces a daily wave of criticism on a number of issues. The latest attack?

"People have been commenting I need to gain some weight," Obama quipped Friday at a campaign stop in Poland, Ohio.

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After a woman from the audience cheered, "Yeah!" the president paused.

"Who said that?" he asked, laughing with surprise. "Yeah?"

"Well, you'll be happy to know that I've been eating," he continued. "And in between the eating, we've been talking a little about the politics."

In fact, Obama assured the crowd he's been eating "a lot" on his two-day bus tour through Ohio and Pennsylvania. And based on pool reports from reporters traveling with the president, anyone would have a hard time disagreeing with that statement.

Friday afternoon, for example, Obama purchased an apple pie and a dozen chocolate chip cookies at Kretchmar's Bakery in Beaver, Pennsylvania.

That followed a visit earlier in the day to the Summer Garden Food Manufacturing in Boardman, Ohio. While taking a tour of the factory floor, Obama joked that he wanted some samples of spaghetti sauce to take on his trip to Camp David.

"I smell a little oregano around here or something," Obama said, while checking out the jars of sauce on the assembly line.

Obama started the day Friday morning with a hearty meal of two eggs over medium, bacon and wheat toast at a diner called Ann's Place in Akron.

Thursday night, the president stopped through Amherst, Ohio to have a beer at Ziggy's Pub and Restaurant with former Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland. Meanwhile, earlier in the day, he paid cash for some corn, peaches, cherries and strawberries at a fruit and vegetable stand in Port Clinton–a somewhat healthier option after his burger at Kozy Corner in Oak Harbor during lunch.

While visiting local restaurants is a key component of political bus tours, Obama's jokes on Friday about his weight raise the question of whether the president really is trying to put on some pounds.

Rounding out his speech in Poland, Obama warned the crowd that Republicans would launch a tsunami of attack ads against him in the coming months.

Responding to the ensuing boos from the audience, Obama assured the crowd he could handle it.

"It's alright, because I'm tough," Obama said. "I'm skinny, but I'm tough."


Filed under: Ohio • Pennsylvania • President Obama
soundoff (13 Responses)
  1. GROVER NORQUIST IS A ENEMY OF THE STATE/ConservaFASCISTS

    This President is so down to earth. When the President came to Hampton last year in October, he picked up a couple of pumpkins from a local farmer. He went downtown Hampton(the hood) and got some ice cream. After he gave his speech at Langley, he went right down the road and got some pizza from Anna's. Truly, he's the Peoples President.

    July 6, 2012 03:08 pm at 3:08 pm |
  2. Myviewis

    I think he looks fine.

    July 6, 2012 03:11 pm at 3:11 pm |
  3. Gurgyl

    Id like to see him carry a machine gun uphill while running for his life

    July 6, 2012 03:11 pm at 3:11 pm |
  4. clownshoes

    America needs to lose some weight and we can start with dumping Barack Hussein.

    July 6, 2012 03:14 pm at 3:14 pm |
  5. Luke,AZ

    President Obama is an inspiring leader. Gov. Romney on the other hand seems like a nice guy, but he is NOT made of presidential material. He has no backbone or core convictions. Gov Romney is the perfect candidate for the 1%.

    July 6, 2012 03:25 pm at 3:25 pm |
  6. Mikey

    @clownshoes – Why do you refer to the President as "Barack Hussein"? Can we guess?

    July 6, 2012 03:30 pm at 3:30 pm |
  7. Gurgyl

    The bankrupter in chief eats dog

    July 6, 2012 03:40 pm at 3:40 pm |
  8. gt

    obama hates business....hates oil ...NO WONDER...NO JOBS..

    July 6, 2012 04:04 pm at 4:04 pm |
  9. Carole, MO

    Luke in AZ, May I recommend for your summer reading pleasure 2 books 1. The Real Romney and 2. The Amateur. Reading those two book should help you make an educated vote for the best candidate for president in November.

    July 6, 2012 04:08 pm at 4:08 pm |
  10. 2012liberal

    @gurgyl same can b said 4 romney!

    July 6, 2012 04:10 pm at 4:10 pm |
  11. Peace

    Christ Christie needs to put on weight a little bit, may be by doing so, he will stop bullying people!

    July 6, 2012 04:13 pm at 4:13 pm |
  12. Mukudi

    Michelle, you need to get on the road too. Someone might be taking advanateg of your absence to look hard diet related illness while having fun with food.

    July 6, 2012 04:20 pm at 4:20 pm |
  13. cali ha ha

    Robbed me inspire many to accept his fees in MA. LOL

    July 6, 2012 04:22 pm at 4:22 pm |