President Obama leaves the Bay Area but not before kissing babies
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. - After attending two Democratic fundraisers, President Barack Obama has departed the Bay Area this afternoon, ending his first visit to the region in 2016.
Obama took off from Moffett Federal Airfield in Mountain View on Air Force One at 2:36 p.m. He reached Moffett Field in a motorcade at 2:22 p.m. and was greeted by dozens of people in a gated area near the plane. He also held two babies, one dressed pink and purple and the other in navy blue.
He was dressed in sunglasses, a light blue long-sleeved button-up shirt, dark-colored solid tie, black pants and put on a black blazer before stepping on the plane.
The president left the Sheraton San Jose hotel in Milpitas around 10:15 a.m. today and attended an 11 a.m. Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee roundtable in Palo Alto, where tickets were $33,400 each, according to White House press pool reports.
Nearby residents along Emerson Street welcomed the motorcade as it reached the private DSCC event at the home of Aeris Communications vice president Harry Plant, according to press pool reports.
Obama was escorted from Palo Alto shortly after noon to a Democratic National Committee fundraiser at the Atherton home of former state Controller Steve Westly and wife Anita Yu, press pool reports said.
There were 450 people set to attend the outdoor afternoon fundraiser, where tickets were between $250 and $25,000, according to press pool reports.
Obama had arrived Wednesday evening to Moffett Field, where he was welcomed by San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo, Mountain View Mayor Pat Showalter, Maj. Gen. Nick Tooliatos in charge of the 63rd regional support command of the U.S. Army and Col. Greg Jones, commander of the 129th Rescue Wing of the California Air National Guard.
The president is estimated to arrive at Los Angeles International Airport later this afternoon. While in Los Angeles, he is scheduled to film an appearance on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" and attend DNC events.
Obama will travel to the Palm Springs area on Friday and on Monday and Tuesday will attend a summit with leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in Rancho Mirage, a city in Riverside County.