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Obama Hitting Road For Stimulus

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By JEFF ZELENY

The New York Times

Published: February 9, 2009

WASHINGTON - The presidential campaign trail often loved Barack Obama more than he loved it. When he was sworn in last month, he told friends he was eager to tackle the rigors of the Oval Office.

But a road trip is suddenly looking more appealing.

And it comes as lawmakers and the nation were awaiting an announcement from Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner on the new bank bailout plan.

Geithner's announcement was postponed so lawmakers and the administration could concentrate on getting the stimulus plan through the Senate.

In an effort to build support for his signature economic stimulus plan, Obama is setting off for Indiana today, holding his first prime-time news conference tonight and heading to Fort Myers on Tuesday.

BAILOUT PLAN: Geithner's announcement, once planned for noon today and now delayed until Tuesday, had been widely anticipated as lawmakers and others waited to see how the new administration's approach to the crisis would differ from that of the Bush administration.

FORT MYERS VISIT: Tickets to President Barack Obama's town hall meeting in Fort Myers, where he will discuss his economic stimulus plan, will be available today.

The tickets for Tuesday's event will be distributed at the Harborside Event Center, 1375 Monroe St., on a first-come, first-serve basis. People in line - about 60 by Sunday night - would receive tickets starting at 9 a.m. today. Doors to the event will open at 10 a.m. Tuesday.

WHAT'S NEXT: Obama plunges into a difficult test of his leadership this week, struggling to get Congress to agree on his economic recovery package while pitching a new plan to ease loans to consumers and businesses.

Information from The Associated Press and McClatchy-Tribune was used in this report.

More coverage, Page 13

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