Obama stumps for Murray in Seattle

Air Force One landed at Boeing Field at 11 a.m. -- a few minutes early -- to a cheering crowd of about 50 people. Flanked by Sen. Murray, local politicians and former Washington governor and current Department of Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, the president spent some time shaking hands of some who came to witness his arrival before he was whisked away in his motorcade.  (View photos of his visit >>>)  

Unlike his last raucous public appearance at KeyArena during his campaign for the presidency in 2008, this one was relatively low key.

The president's first stop was at Pioneer Square's Grand Central Bakery, where after having an "outstanding" turkey sandwich, he held a roundtable discussion at a small table in the cafe atrium with Locke, Murray, Joe Fugere of Tutta Bella Neopolitan Pizzeria, Gillian Allen-White of Grand Central and Tiffany Turner of Inn at Discovery Coast in Long Beach -- each with upbeat stories to tell.

Obama said he hopes their successes underscore his broader message that the sluggish economy is rebounding thanks to resilience and federal support, although more than 14 million remain out of work.

But after the meeting, Obama added: "Nobody here is getting too fat and happy. Everybody here is operating on very lean margins," he said afterward. "In the same way they're looking out for their employees, we need to be looking out for small businesses."

Obama has made help for small business a main focus of his campaign efforts to help Democrats in upcoming November midterm elections.

Small businesses account for two out of every three jobs created. Obama is backing a Democratic bill that would give small businesses a variety of tax breaks and incentives, including easier access to loans, deductions for small businesses and an elimination of capital gains taxes on investments in small businesses.

But Republicans repeatedly have blocked the legislation, suggesting it is misguided and would fall short of truly helping small businesses.

"They won't even let it go to a vote," Obama said. But he said the bill would be the first item of business when Congress returns from its summer recess next month.

"We've got a stake in helping our small businesses succeed. ... Our economic recovery depends on it," the president said.

Next stop was a private fund-raising event at the Westin in Downtown Seattle. 

"Make sure you send her back to Washington," Obama said of Murray to a friendly ballroom crowd of 1,400 people. The event and a separate fundraiser for Murray were expected to raise $1.3 million for her and other Washington Democrats.

Outside the hotel, demonstrators gathered calling for immigration reform, ending wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and creating jobs.

Among other afternoon stops, Obama held a private event at the home of  RealNetworks founder Rob Glaser before returning to Boeing Field for his scheduled departure just after 3:30 p.m.p.m.

Obama's arrival coincided with the day of the state's primary. Murray is on the ballot and was expected to advance, as was the principal Republican contender, Dino Rossi. Murray is a member of the Senate Democratic leadership and her contest is being closely watched by Democrats around the nation.

Aboard Air Force One on the way to Seattle, White House deputy press secretary Bill Burton said Obama believes Democrats "will hold on to both the House and the Senate" despite a stumbling recovery and polls showing vast voter discontent.

In the Washington primary, the top two vote-getters for the Senate seat, regardless of their party, will advance to the general election. Murray was vying for her fourth term.

But Republican Rossi has mounted a serious campaign and says Obama's visit is a sign of Murray's vulnerability.

"Well, I think it's pretty clear that Patty Murray is terrified," Rossi told KVI-AM. "She wasn't expecting to have a race like this," adding he doubts Democrats originally thought they'd need to have Obama come to help raise funds on her behalf.

Murray's ability to lure federal money to projects in her state has helped her win re-election before, but this year she is fighting against a growing voter distaste for the level of spending and debt adding up in Washington, D.C.

Obama, meanwhile, is choosing more ominous language to describe his vision of the leadership that Republicans would offer should they win control of the House or Senate. He characterizes that prospect as a reckless return to the past.

"They're offering fear and they're offering amnesia," Obama told an elite fundraiser in Los Angeles that generated $1 million for Democratic candidates for Congress. "They are counting on the notion that you won't remember what happened when they were in charge. I think the American people do remember."

Obama will end his day in Columbus, Ohio, pivoting to fundraising events there and in Miami on Wednesday before returning to the White House.