President Obama touches down at Toledo Express Airport

President Obama greets people Sunday night at Toledo Express Airport. The wheels touched down at 7:12 p.m.

President Obama touched down at the Toledo Express Airport tonight as he prepares to celebrate Labor Day in Toledo as one of his final stops before the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte.

The President greeted a group of about 75 invited guests when he arrived at 7:12 p.m. and was then whisked away in his presidential limousine, a black Cadillac, to a Toledo hotel for the night.

Mr. Obama is to address supporters at Scott High School on Monday. Nearly 3,000 tickets have been distributed. The visit is the President’s second to the Toledo area in two months.

PHOTO GALLERY: President Obama arrives at Toledo Express Airport

VIDEO: Obama motorcade coming into Toledo, courtesy John Powers

One of those greeting the President’s plane was Paulette Dewey, a retired Toledo Public Schools English teacher who said she’s a neighborhood team leader in Ward 16 in South Toledo.

“I got a hug! I got a hug,” Ms. Dewey crowed. She said she told him “We’re working for your re-election,” and that he replied, “Thank you very much; keep up the good work.”

She said she supports Mr. Obama because of the Affordable Care Act.

U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D., Toledo) and area United Auto Workers Director Ken Lortz held a news conference to welcome the President to Toledo and thank him for the auto industry bailout of 2009.

“The President ignored pundits and politics and stepped up to save the American auto industry. We are seeing the benefits of that decision every day,” Miss Kaptur said.

Mr. Lortz, who heads the UAW locals in Ohio and Indiana from an office in Maumee, attacked Republican nominee Mitt Romney as someone who opposed the $80-billion, taxpayer-funded auto industry rescue.

“Do we want a President who rescued the auto industry and bet on American workers? Or do we want a President who would let Detroit go bankrupt? I think the decision is a pretty easy one,” Mr. Lortz said.

Lucas County Republican Party Chairman Jon Stainbrook said he and volunteers waved placards for Mr. Romney and GOP running mate Paul Ryan at Heatherdowns Boulevard and Byrne Road as the motorcade drove by.

He said the goal was to show that Lucas County “is not just for Democrats” and to “let him know there’s people who support Romney-Ryan here.”

The President arrived from Boulder, Colo. The Scott High School appearance is part of a swing-state tour of Ohio, Iowa, Colorado, and Virginia on the President’s way to Charlotte where he is to accept the nomination for a second term on Thursday.

The President was in the Toledo area most recently on July 5. Stops then included the Wolcott House in Maumee; Sandusky; Oak Harbor, and rural Ottawa County.

Union members and others are expected to march in the 9 a.m. Labor Day parade in downtown Toledo Monday. National UAW President Bob King will be participating in the parade.

Contact Tom Troy at: tomtroy@theblade.com, or 419-724-6058.