Two months after a summer stop in a Clintonville family’s yard, President Barack Obama will visit Ohio State’s backyard.
Obama will speak on the Oval at 6:15 p.m. Sunday accompanied by First Lady Michelle Obama, White House officials announced Sunday. His speech will be open to the public.
Student political leaders began lobbying the White House to bring Obama to campus two weeks ago when they heard that the president would visit Columbus, said Micah Kamrass, president of Undergraduate Student Government.
That group and OSU’s branch of College Democrats will host the visit. Kamrass’ running mate in last spring’s election, Brad Pyle, is treasurer of College Democrats.
“We really lobbied to get it here, and the university stands on this: that the university doesn’t usually host events, student organizations do,” Kamrass said in an e-mail.
“So the College Democrats and USG are hosting this. We’re going to be working with university administration to plan out on the details over the week.”
He said some classrooms will be off-limits to the public during Obama’s visit and that more details will be available as planning meetings continue.
University officials said they knew little about the president’s visit and would not release further details.
Drivers near campus will face road closures throughout the day because of the Columbus Marathon in the morning and the president’s visit in the afternoon. OSU Police Chief Paul Denton said he did not know yet which roads will be closed. His department will help coordinate security with the Secret Service on Sunday.
Police will close portions of major campus roads such as High Street, Indianola Avenue, 12th Avenue and Woody Hayes Drive for the marathon, which begins at 7:30 a.m. and ends by 3 p.m.
Obama has ramped up his campaign in the months leading up to the Nov. 2 mid-term election, with stops at universities such as Bowie State University in Maryland and the University of Wisconsin. Kamrass said he expected Obama to encourage students to vote and support the Democratic ticket.
State Democratic leaders, including Gov. Ted Strickland, will also stop on the Oval Sunday.
“Ted is honored to join both President Obama and the First Lady in Ohio next week,” said Allison Kolodziej, a spokeswoman for Strickland, in an e-mail. “They make a great pair on the campaign trail and Ted is looking forward to highlighting how he has worked with the President to create good jobs here in Ohio and ensure the state emerges from this global economic recession stronger than ever.”
Rob Nichols, spokesman for Ohio Republican gubernatorial candidate John Kasich, said the more Obama visits Ohio, “the more excited our supporters become to vote against Ted Strickland.”
“This year’s governor’s race in Ohio is a referendum on Barack Obama’s failed policies — the same type of failed, ineffective policies pursued by Ted Strickland,” Nichols said in an e-mail.
Obama’s last visit to Columbus was Aug. 18, when he spoke about the economy to neighbors in a Clintonville family’s backyard.
Ashley Dingus contributed to this story.
