Obama to speak at UNLV on Friday
WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama will speak about the economy Friday morning at UNLV, the final event of an overnight trip to Las Vegas, the White House said Tuesday.
It won't be a long speech at the Student Union. It is scheduled to begin at 9:20 a.m., and Air Force One is scheduled to lift off from McCarran International Airport at 10:30 a.m.
The White House had no immediate details whether the public would be able to attend the official event at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas or whether it would be limited to an invited audience.
The remarks will cap an overnight trip. Obama is scheduled to arrive in Las Vegas at 5 p.m. on Thursday for an evening of events to promote the re-election of U.S. Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev.
The president is expected to appear with Reid at a political rally Thursday evening at Aria, in CityCenter, and at a private fundraiser. A Reid campaign aide said details would be announced later Tuesday.
Reid said Tuesday he is looking forward to Obama's visit and he acknowledged that it could help his re-election effort.
"I'm happy the president's coming," Reid said after he toured a new VA hospital under construction in North Las Vegas. Reid added that the president's job is tough these days. "He's got a plate full of problems."
Asked if Obama's visit will help Reid, the senator smiled and recalled that when he first ran for the Senate in 1986 President Ronald Reagan came to Nevada a lot for Reid's GOP opponent.
"Every time he came my numbers went down," Reid said of Reagan, referring to political polls.
This week's visit will be Obama's second trip to Las Vegas this year. In February he headlined a closed Democratic National Committee fundraiser, delivered a speech to business leaders, and appeared with Reid at a town hall meeting at Green Valley High School.
Before traveling to Las Vegas on Thursday, Obama will be in Kansas City, where he will talk about the economy at an electric car factory and also campaign with Missouri Secretary of State Robin Carnahan, who is running for the Senate.
Review-Journal writer Laura Myers contributed to this report. Contact Stephens Washington Bureau Chief Steve Tetreault at stetreault@stephensmedia.com or 202-783-1760.
