President Barack Obama is coming to San Diego Thursday for what will likely be one of his last visits as commander in chief.
Obama will fly in and out of Marine Corps Air Station Miramar with just one scheduled stop on the itinerary – a luncheon fundraiser at the La Jolla mansion of Qualcomm founder Irwin Jacobs.
“The president has already run his last campaign. It’s probably the last time you’ll see him in office here locally. I think you’ll see this very well attended,” said political consultant John Dadian.
The mega-donor crowd will have the chance to eat lunch and get a photograph with the president for $10,000 each or spend $32,400 per couple to also be part of a private VIP reception.
“The joke for any elected official is when you first get elected, your priority is to get re-elected," Dadian said. "He doesn’t have that on his agenda now, so now what he is doing is trying to set a legacy of how much he helped the party."
San Diego police officers and Secret Service members spent part of Wednesday securing the La Jolla neighborhood where "no parking" signs are posted up and down nearby streets.
Jacobs and his wife hosted a fundraiser at their home with First Lady Michelle Obama in October 2012, which brought several groups of protesters to the neighborhood. Several protest groups have already distributed invitations for this event as well.
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On the eve of the president's visit, the Republican National Committee released a statement which read, in part, "President Obama is once again treating California as his personal piggy bank as he tried to stave off the worst midterm environment for Democrats in 20 years."
