Rumor control: President Obama to visit Asheville on Oct. 17 as part of bus tour

Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

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The rumor spreading on Twitter is that President Obama will stop in Asheville on Oct. 17 as part of a three-day bus tour to tout his jobs bill.

According to the news reports, the White House is only confirming that Obama will travel to Virginia and North Carolina for a bus tour Oct. 17-19.

A senior Democrat told The Associated Press that the four cities are part of Obama’s pitch to voters in key battleground states to pressure congressional Republicans to approve his $447 billion economic revitalization bill.

Obama campaigned in Asheville in 2008, speaking to a large crowd gathered outside Asheville High School’s football stadium. Obama and the First Lady also vacationed in Asheville last year. The couple stayed at the Grove Park Inn, where the president golfed and Michelle Obama treated herself to some spa time. During both visits, Obama stopped at 12 Bones barbecue restaurant in Asheville’s River Arts District.