ELKHART, Ind. — President Barack Obama's efforts to promote his economic stimulus plan will include a stop in central Illinois.
Obama visited Indiana on Monday, and White House press secretary Robert Gibbs says the president plans to be in Peoria on Thursday.
Gibbs says Obama will visit a Caterpillar plant. The heavy equipment maker has announced 22,000 job cuts in recent weeks.
Originally, aides had insisted that Obama's time would be better spent remaining in Washington to shepherd the stimulus bill rather than taking the more traditional route of traveling the country to pressure lawmakers.
But as difficulties with the legislation increased, trips have been added to Obama's schedule.
While in Indiana, Obama said the nation is facing "an economic crisis as deep and as dire as any since the Great Depression."
______
Copyright 2009 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Obama visited Indiana on Monday, and White House press secretary Robert Gibbs says the president plans to be in Peoria on Thursday.
Gibbs says Obama will visit a Caterpillar plant. The heavy equipment maker has announced 22,000 job cuts in recent weeks.
Originally, aides had insisted that Obama's time would be better spent remaining in Washington to shepherd the stimulus bill rather than taking the more traditional route of traveling the country to pressure lawmakers.
But as difficulties with the legislation increased, trips have been added to Obama's schedule.
While in Indiana, Obama said the nation is facing "an economic crisis as deep and as dire as any since the Great Depression."
______
Copyright 2009 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
