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Obama Ticket Distribution Disappoints Some In Fort Myers

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The Associated Press

Published: February 9, 2009

Updated: 02/09/2009 02:34 pm

FORT MYERS - Hundreds of people waiting for tickets to Tuesday's town hall meeting with President Barack Obama went home empty-handed and disappointed today.

Some camped out at downtown Fort Myers' Harborside Events Center as early as Sunday morning for what was announced as 1,500 free tickets.

The box office opened at 9 a.m. The tickets were gone by 9:25, leaving many to question whether 1,500 were actually distributed. Some media reports quoted sources saying as few as 250 were given away.

Two tickets were being sold on eBay this afternoon for $1,900.

Obama plans to visit Fort Myers to promote the $820 billion economic stimulus plan. Republican Florida Gov. Charlie Crist intends to join him. The town hall meeting is scheduled to start at 10 a.m.

Fort Myers' unemployment rate has climbed to 10 percent, and its housing market is among the nation's worst.

The first person in line was 51-year-old Roy Hendrix of Fort Myers, who had been homeless until some friends took him in. Hendrix says he would like to thank Obama for "giving us hope that he can help turn this economy around."

Obama hosted a similar town hall meeting today in Elkhart, Ind.

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