At Reading Terminal, Obama has a lot on his plate

Raising money for Democrats was the first order of business for President Obama during his visit to Philadelphia on Monday evening, but the first order he placed was for a cheesesteak during a stop at the Reading Terminal Market.

The motorcade rolled to a stop on 12th Street just south of Arch Street at 4:30 p.m., surprising the late-afternoon crowd. Obama worked his way down the aisles, shaking hands, talking about the Eagles, asking, "How you doing?"

A crowd of about 50 people clustered beyond the security line. "Thank you, Obama!" a man shouted. "Thank you, my brother." He went over to the group to say hello. "President Obama - you da man!" someone shouted.

The president stopped at Carmen's Famous Italian Hoagies, where he asked about ordering a cheesesteak, said Mike St. Marie, who took the order.

"He asked me how I was, how's business," said St. Marie, 23, who replied that business was fine.

St. Marie said he asked Obama about his sandwich: "Would you like it your way or the Philly way?" At Carmen's, St. Marie explained, the Philly way included roasted sweet peppers, mushrooms, onions, and Cheez Whiz.

The cheese choice is crucial. Sen. John Kerry was criticized as being out of touch with Philadelphians while campaigning for president here in 2004, when he ordered Swiss. Obama made no such error. The president asked for one the Philly way, then asked people nearby if anybody wanted a sandwich, St. Marie said. "Somebody screamed, 'Yes!,' so he said, 'Make it two,' " St. Marie said.

As Obama was getting his sandwiches, Federico Santoyo shouted from the Fair Food Farmstand: "How about getting something local and healthy for after your cheesesteak?"

The president picked up four Gala apples, Santoyo said. Obama paid, though presidents carry only so much cash, so his assistant Reggie Love chipped in to cover the apple tab.

"He just seemed very comfortable and nonchalant with everyone," Santoyo said.

Obama moved toward the motorcade, but then headed back inside, where he bought a mint chocolate chip ice cream cone.