'Exciting and historic'

About two hours after he arrived in West Airy to attend a private fund-raiser, President Obama and his motorcade departed leafy Huron Lane as an enthusiastic gathering cheered and clapped.

The friendly crowd, primarily West Mount Airy residents, had been gathered since shortly after 6 p.m. to see his arrival (around 6:15 p.m.) and his departure (about 8:30 p.m.).

Obama attended the fund-raiser at the home of Comcast executive David L. Cohen.

The motorcade drove past Rabbi Dayle Friedman's home on Mount Airy Avenue. "We want him [Obama] to move here. This is the kind of neighborhood we think he would like," she said.

"I was surprised because it's not a major street to have the presidential motorcade. It was exciting and historic," said Friedman, 54.

Mark Spiller, who lives on the 300 block of West Allens Lane, caught a glimpse of Obama's arrival.

Wearing a "Go Philles, Go Obama" T-shirt, Spiller said, "I saw his face through the car window. We were waving. My daughter was on top of our car."

Eugina Zalewski, 63, and her daughter, Diana, 25, also saw Obama's motorcade of 12 cars and 15 motorcycles.

"It's the first time in my life to see a motorcade. I was overwhelmed," said Eugina Zalweski. She said the crowd of about 40 clapped and cheered when the president arrived.

Tonya Wilson, 28, saw the commotion as she was walking home from work. She missed Obama's arrival but stayed until he departed.

"I wouldn't think that people would be enthusiastic," she said of the eagerness of people to see the president.