PINELLAS COUNTY - What started out as an ordinary work week with summer coming to an end quickly turned as spectacular as fall colors for those who had the opportunity to meet Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama.
Obama was in town for an announced public campaign rally at Knology Park in Dunedin Wednesday, but other details of his visit were a closely guarded secret until Tuesday.
With 15 minutes notice, the mid-day lunch staff at O’Keefe’s suddenly found themselves hosting Obama, along with his legion of Secret Service protectors and lots of media.
“We were in the middle of lunch rush. I noticed all these guys in suits walking around. When I asked if I could help them, I noticed one was wearing an earpiece in his ear,” said O’Keefe’s manager Danielle duQuesnay. “They were checking out exits and things. Then as soon as we said it was OK for him to come here, the place was mobbed with police and Secret Service.” Obama spent about an hour at O’Keefe’s, talking with staff and customers.
“His real personality came out,” duQuesnay said. “He was really friendly and spent time with each person, asking them their name and what they do. He didn’t talk about politics at all.”
Before heading out, Obama paid for a “Cheeseburger in Paradise” to go with no mayo and no onions.
Then it was off to the Belleview Biltmore in Belleair where Obama was “rumored” to be staying. What is confirmed is that the Secret Service blocked off an entire wing at the Biltmore and Obama has been coming and going since Tuesday, taking some time to relax and prepare for Friday’s first debate with John McCain.
“He talks to the staff and guests. He is really polite,” said Martin Smith, Belleview Biltmore’s managing director and vice president.
Smith notes that the Biltmore poses a bit of a challenge to Obama’s Secret Service entourage, with no less than 53 ways to get in and out of the historic resort hotel complete with its underground tunnel dating back to the Biltmore’s early days of rail transport for its winter residents.
“We are a secure, quiet location. There is no better place to relax,” said Smith.
Obama has taken time to view Legg Mason’s elaborate new design renderings for the Biltmore, which are displayed in the old art gallery, as he walks by, Smith said.
“This has been great for the staff really mind boggling for them and very good for the hotel,” Smith said. “He talks to everybody and we are all respectful to him, but he is just a regular gentleman like everyone else here.”
