President Obama Is Coming to Boston

Photo via Associated Press

President Barack Obama is making a return trip to Boston.

The last time the President was here, he was trying to drum up support for his health care reform policy—Obamacare—and accompanying website. He picked the historic Faneuil Hall as the backdrop for the special event in Downtown Boston.

This time around, however, Obama will be in the city to push the democratic platform as the race for the gubernatorial seat heats up in Massachusetts, and try to raise money for the Democratic National Committee in order to pay off debt incurred during his presidential run in 2012.

According to White House officials, Obama will be in the city on March 5 “to participate in DNC events.” Obama will arrive at Logan Airport in the afternoon, attend a round-table discussion in Cambridge followed by a dinner in South Boston with 70 supporters, and leave not long after the events. The purpose of the round-table will be to discuss raising the national minimum wage.

While Obama is in Cambridge, several streets will be shut down to accommodate the president’s arrival. In an email sent out to the Harvard University community, officials said JFK Street to Mt. Auburn Street, South at Dunster Street, Winthrop Street, Dunster to Mt. Auburn Streets, Eliot Street, University Road, and parts of Memorial Drive near JFK Street would be closed off to vehicles.  Pedestrians will be allowed to travel in the area.  Bicyclists will be asked to walk their bicycles while in the area.

Both Obama and Vice President Joe Biden have been ramping up fundraising efforts and support for Democratic nominees this year. Biden will not be with Obama on this trip.

Besides his appearance before supporters at Faneuil Hall in October of last year, Obama also made a pit stop in Boston in June 2013, when he was stumping for U.S. Senator Ed Markey at a rally in Roxbury. After the rally, Obama stopped for a burger at Charlie’s Sandwich Shoppe and left workers a big tip.

The President was also in Boston in April, following the marathon bombings. He was the guest speaker at a special vigil held in the South End at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross on Washington Street.