Obama, Kaine to Attend Democratic Retreat

Posted January 28, 2009 at 11:09am

House Democrats are set to get their first face time with President Barack Obama — more than a week after their Republican counterparts held their first huddle with the new commander in chief. Obama is scheduled to attend the House Democrats’ issues conference, held Feb. 5-7 at the Kingsmill Resort in Williamsburg, Va., a House Democratic leadership aide said. The appearance follows Obama’s hourlong meeting with House Republicans on Tuesday, and later, with GOP Senators — a rare visit to Capitol Hill by a president, designed to build support for the economic stimulus package. Also slated to attend the retreat next week: Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine, the new Democratic National Committee chairman; New York Gov. David Paterson; North Carolina Gov. Bev Perdue; and a still-undetermined lineup of Cabinet secretaries.