Pres. Obama expected to stay overnight in Utah


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SALT LAKE CITY — President Barack Obama is set to arrive at Hill Air Force Base late Thursday afternoon for a Friday event at the military base on the economy, the White House has confirmed.

What will be Obama's first visit to Utah as president will follow a Thursday afternoon stop in Louisville, Kentucky, where he is scheduled to tour Indatus, a technology company, and deliver remarks on the economy.

When Air Force One touches down at Hill AFB about 5:30 p.m., Utah Republican leaders Gov. Gary Herbert and Sens. Orrin Hatch and Mike Lee are expected to be on hand to greet the president.

Also likely to be at the arrival is Rep. Rob Bishop, R-Utah, whose northern Utah congressional district includes the base. Bishop is also likely to attend the president's speech at HAFB on Friday morning.

Few other details were made public about Obama's trip, including where he will spend the night, though preparations were underway at a downtown Salt Lake City hotel for what appeared to be a special guest.

"We never talk about any of our guests. The way to say it is we respect the privacy of all our guests," Jason Ford, general manager of the Sheraton Salt Lake City Hotel, said as dozens of people carrying walkie-talkies strode around the property.

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While Ford had no comment on who might be coming to stay, he acknowledged the Sheraton has a presidential suite.

"I think every hotel has a presidential suite," he said.

Near the hotel's convention center, a massive parking lot was closed to vehicles for the next two days, according to an employee who directed a visitor back to the lobby area.

There, a pair of Salt Lake City police officers who had toured the grounds were deep in conversation with someone else who appeared to have a walkie-talkie.

Outside, road and sidewalk closure signs were ready to set up along 500 South, and orange cones were being placed along 200 West, where a construction project was already underway across the street from the hotel.

At the Ski 'N See rental shop next door, employees said the road closure signs appeared earlier in the day.

"We have no idea what that's for," Drew Richards said from behind the counter. He was surprised to hear the president could be staying so close.

"I think that's sweet," Richards said.

Meetings between Utah officials may take place while the president is at his hotel. Those officials could include the governor as well as some Democrats, such as Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker and state Democratic Party Chairman Peter Corroon.

Rep. Chris Stewart, R-Utah, said he did not receive an invitation from the White House to join the president during his Utah visit. He said that was an example of the problems with the administration's outreach to Congress.

"I'm not particularly anxious to share the stage with President Obama," Stewart said, adding that while he would have liked to have an opportunity to talk with the president, he wasn't going "to lose any sleep over it."

Still, Stewart said, the state's all-GOP congressional delegation welcomes any presidential trip to Utah. "I'm sincere when I say all of us are pleased to see any president visit the state," he said.

No public appearances are anticipated during Obama's Utah visit. The Jordan High School Young Democrats announced they hope to meet with the president to discuss the wage gap between male and female workers.

And Utah Latino immigrants and other supporters of the president's executive orders on immigration are holding a rally in Liberty Park from 6-10 p.m. Thursday.

Hill AFB issued a news release Wednesday announcing the Hill Aerospace Museum will close Thursday and Friday "for a special event." It is scheduled to reopen on Saturday.

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Lisa Riley Roche

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