Obama tours Midwest, will visit Ill. Wednesday

August 15, 2011

During an event in Iowa, he announced that he will have a jobs plan in September.

The White House bills this tour as a chance for the president to talk to the American people about job growth and the effects of economic policy.

The head of the Republican National Committee says the trip is re-election campaigning under the guise of public service.

Newly announced GOP presidential candidate and Texas governor Rick Perry is also in Iowa, officially campaigning.

President Obama's tour continues Tuesday in Iowa. On Wednesday, he will be in Henry County in Illinois, near the Quad Cities.

ABC 7 political reporter Charles Thomas will be there as well, providing coverage throughout the day.

Obama is traveling on a new $1.1 million bus. The secret service has added two new buses to its fleet.

In the past, the agency leased buses and then retrofit them to make them secure.

The president's bus is black, has dark tinted windows and flashing red and blue lights.

The second bus will be used by other officeholders and candidates.

A spokesperson for the secret service says money for the buses was taken from a fund for transportation and armored vehicles.

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