Carney: We’re Not Hiding That Obama Is Engaged In “Some Campaign Activities,†We’re Just Blocking The Press From Covering ItQ And just one final question. Any reason why you kept cameras away from the President visiting his campaign reelection headquarters?
MR. CARNEY: It was an OTR. I think it was a brief -- a brief drop-by.
Q You guys love when we cover OTRs at delis, at barbeque restaurants.
MR. CARNEY: I think this was --
Q Campaign reelection headquarters, that’s not --
MR. CARNEY: -- on the fly and brief. The President was very gratified to have the opportunity. I think it underscores the point I’ve been trying to make from here in answer to questions about the President’s reelection campaign, which is that he is here in Washington focused on doing his job as President. He is --
Q So you weren’t concerned that pictures of this would make it look otherwise?
MR. CARNEY: Well, no. I mean, look, he obviously had campaign events last night in Chicago that you all covered. I mean, we’re not hiding the fact that he is engaged in some campaign activities. But as a --
Q A little bit. You try to minimize it.
MR. CARNEY: Mark, I try and tell you -- give you the facts, which is, the fact is, the President’s reelection campaign isn’t across the river in Rosslyn, isn’t in Washington. It’s in Chicago, halfway across the country. And that reflects the President --
Q And Chuck’s point is that if he makes a rare visit to his campaign headquarters --
MR. CARNEY: Well, look, we can debate campaign access. We made clear that he went there. We made clear that he -- you guys come into his -- pools come into his -- when he speaks at these campaign events and will continue to do so.
We release, the campaign releases information about its campaign goals. And we’re not -- we’re obviously -- there is a robust effort underway, based in Chicago, to ensure that this President is reelected so that he can continue to take action to help the American economy grow, to help it create jobs, to protect the middle class and protect the country as a matter of national security. So we’re not at all shy about that.
Q Can I follow up on Chuck’s question?
MR. CARNEY: Let me move around. Julia.