WASHINGTON–President Obama spent a lot of time in Iowa in the run-up to the crucial 2008 caucus vote, and on Thursday stopped at a favorite Iowa City bookstore while in town to deliver a speech–more like a pep rally for the new health care law he signed on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
After he strolled through the store he bought-with cash–“Journey to the River Sea” by Eva Ibbotson and “The Secret of Zoom” by Lynne Jonell for his daughters and a Star Wars pop up book for the son of Press Secretary Robert Gibbs that cost $37.44.<\/p>\n
Click below for pool report.<\/p>\n
Pool report by
\nCarol Lee
\nPOLITICO<\/p>\n
OTR stop at a small bookstore in downtown Iowa City:<\/p>\n
President Obama made a surprise visit to Prairie Lights, an independent bookstore in downtown Iowa City, around 2 p.m. local time.<\/p>\n
“Well, this used to be my favorite place,” Obama told the owner as she showed him around.<\/p>\n
He remarked how as president he can’t really mosey around bookstores anymore and said the office comes with the good and bad.<\/p>\n
Obama walked around the store apparently in pursuit of the children’s\/young adult section.<\/p>\n
Along his way he picked up “No Apology” by Mitt Romney and “Courage and Consequence” by Karl Rove.<\/p>\n
“What do you think guys?” he asked the pool, holding up a hardback copy of each in his hands before setting them back down.<\/p>\n
On the same row was book “Inside Obama’s Brain,” which Robert Gibbs remarked on as he walked by.<\/p>\n
Obama then headed upstairs but was soon back.<\/p>\n
“Alright, I’m supposed to go downstairs,” he explained.<\/p>\n
A few minutes later POTUS stepped up to the cash register with two books in his hands: “Journey to the River Sea” by Eva Ibbotson and “The Secret of Zoom” by Lynne Jonell for his daughters.<\/p>\n
Obama pulled out five $20 bills to pay for the two books. Your pooler couldn’t hear the exact price but the two books didn’t cost that much.<\/p>\n
Obama also bought a book for Gibbs, who was holding a large Star Wars pop-up book for his six-year-old son, Ethan.<\/p>\n
“It’s a little expensive, sir,” Gibbs said to his boss as he handed it over.<\/p>\n
POTUS showed the book to pool as the cashier rang it up for $37.44.<\/p>\n
“I can handle it,” Obama said as Gibbs suggested he pay. “It’s for keeping his dad away for too many hours a day.”<\/p>\n
“I need more books than that, sir,” Gibbs remarked.<\/p>\n
Obama then shook a few hands of customers in the store.<\/p>\n
“Thank you so much guys. You have a wonderful bookstore,” he said, adding that hopefully he’s helping “to make sure everybody has health insurance.”<\/p>\n
Someone remarked about the significance of his dropping by the store.<\/p>\n
Obama said he hoped so. “It’s not every day a president stops by,” he said.<\/p>\n
On his way out the door, POTUS showed his purchases to pool.<\/p>\n
“Journey to the River Sea” by Eva Ibbotson and “The Secret of Zoom” by Lynn Dornell were “based on recommendations,” he explained.<\/p>\n
“Of course the question is how they take to them but I think they’re going to like them,” POTUS said.<\/p>\n
“Nothing for Mrs. Obama?” Bloomberg’s Ed Chen asked.<\/p>\n
Obama paused to think for a second. “Thanks for getting me in trouble,” he replied.<\/p>\n
Out on the sidewalk, POTUS was encountered some excited locals. One man reminded him of a time during the campaign. Obama shook hands outside an Indian restaurant and said hello to some people outside a clothing store. A crowd had gathered on the nearby street corner.<\/p>\n
Motorcade rolling to the airport around 2:15 p.m.<\/p>\n
Carol Lee
\nPOLITICO<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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