PORTLAND, Ore. -- President Barack Obama spent two days in Portland during his fourth visit to Oregon as president.
Obama was last in Oregon in July 2012 while campaigning for re-election.
Traffic impact: Expect major delays as Obama visits Portland
During this trip he is raised money for Democrats during a Thursday evening fundraiser and highlighted trade during a visit to the Nike campus in Beaverton.
The president arrived late Thursday afternoon at Portland International Airport. He was greeted by Oregon Governor Kate Brown, U.S. Reps Earl Blumenauer and Suzanne Bonamici, Portland Mayor Charlie Hales, as well as military personnel and a throng of Oregon residents, who shook Obama's hand from behind a gate on the tarmac.
Obama's motorcade arrived downtown just after 6 p.m. after passing hundreds of cheering people lining downtown
streets. Several protesters held signs that said "No Fast Track."
Two louder protests were beyond the fundraising site. Several hundred people chanted and waved signs such as "No Fast Track to Hell" and "No Fast Trick."
The crowd also included a few anti-Keystone pipeline signs.
The fundraiser was organized by the Democratic National Committee for the "White House Victory Fund," according to Andrew Gorry with the Democratic Party of Oregon. More than 300 people purchased tickets, which ranged from $500 up to $10,000.
During the event, Obama remembered his May 2008 visit to Portland as a pivotal moment in his first presidential campaign, and said that while America has made big strides from the great recession since he took office, we have a lot of work still to do.
On Friday, Obama promoted free trade through the Trans-Pacific Partnership at Nike headquarters in Beaverton. He also said the Oregon company has pledged to create 10,000 jobs if the trade deal passes.
Obama wants Congress to approve so-called "fast track" trade authority, giving him leeway to negotiate a trade deal with Asian countries that would be subject only to an up-or-down vote, without amendments.
Many labor unions and other liberal groups have come out against fast-track authority, and critics are planning to protest outside Obama's events on Thursday and Friday.
The president left Portland around noon Friday, but not without some new footware. Here's a full description from Nike about Obama's new kicks:
"As part of the President's visit, Nike gave the White House some special footwear. Mark Parker, our President and CEO presented President Obama with Flyknit shoes made in Oregon, as well as the first-ever pair of MTM shoes, designed by Mark, Tinker Hatfield and Michael Jordan.
Nike also created a one-of-a-kind hybrid Air Force 1 for the President – a red, white and blue pair with a Jordan outsole and an AF1 upper. The unique shoes came in a handcrafted box laser-etched with the presidential seal and an insignia made for Obama based on his initials. The insignia also appears on the shoes."
KGW put in a request on Friday for photos of the shoes.
