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March 29, 2024

President Barack Obama arrives in Las Vegas, is greeted by Goodman

President Obama Arrives in Vegas

Christopher DeVargas

President Barack Obama arrives at McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas on Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2012.

Updated Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2012 | 10:09 p.m.

President lands in Las Vegas

KSNV coverage of President Barrack Obama landing in Las Vegas on a five day, three state tour to discuses job creation, Jan. 25, 2012.

President Obama Arrives in Vegas

President Barack Obama arrives at McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas on Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2012. Launch slideshow »

President Barack Obama received the warm welcome of one on Wednesday night when he arrived in Las Vegas and was once again greeted by the mayor.

Air Force One safely touched down at McCarran International Airport just before 6:40 p.m. after leaving Phoenix.

Obama was not wearing a coat when he stepped off the plane after lingering on board for 20 minutes.

The president is in Las Vegas promoting income equality and manufacturing jobs on a five-state tour through Friday and is scheduled at a United Parcel Service facility Thursday morning.

But that’s not what the president and Mayor Carolyn Goodman stood for a minute talking about after he descended the stairs.

Goodman acts as a one-woman welcome wagon. She’s known to give Obama a Las Vegas-themed souvenir.

“Last time I gave him a mayor good luck chip,” Goodman said. Since then she’s given the president a few extra chips for his daughters.

“This time we have our little blinker,” said Goodman, showing off a twinkling lapel pin in the shape of the Las Vegas welcome sign. “It promotes Las Vegas.”

Along with sharing the gift, a quick kiss on the cheek and a friendly embrace, Goodman shared what was on her mind.

Foreclosures and the mortgage crisis were the issues Goodman wanted to talk about.

“Help us free up the money from the private lenders,” Goodman said she had asked the president.

She had met early today with Secretary Shaun Donovan of the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Donovan was in town meeting with Goodman and other elected officials at the Consumer Credit Counseling Service.

The mayor wasn’t sure if Obama had known Donovon was in town, but the president was all too aware of the housing issue, having announced a plan in his State of the Union address that would assist millions of Americans whose home values declined after the housing bubble burst.

Click to enlarge photo

Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman speaks to reporters after greeting President Obama upon his arrival to Las Vegas at McCarran International Airport Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2012.

“And while government can’t fix the problem on its own, responsible homeowners shouldn’t have to sit and wait for the housing market to hit bottom to get some relief,” Obama said Tuesday night in his speech.

“That’s why I’m sending this Congress a plan that gives every responsible homeowner the chance to save about $3,000 a year on their mortgage, by refinancing at historically low interest rates. No more red tape. No more runaround from the banks. A small fee on the largest financial institutions will ensure that it won’t add to the deficit, and will give banks that were rescued by taxpayers a chance to repay a deficit of trust.”

It’s unclear if the president will spend any time in Las Vegas talking about housing.

“I know he has an affinity for this place,” said Goodman, hopeful that Obama will return to Las Vegas.

“He’s got to come back and talk about Nevada,” Goodman said. “He’s the president of the United States, and we need his help.”

Not much is known of the president’s visit besides his scheduled appearance at the UPS facility. According to Goodman the president won’t be staying on the Strip.

Obama is scheduled to travel to Denver Thursday afternoon.

He'll stop Friday in Ann Arbor, Mich.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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