Obama’s dine and dash in the Emerald City

President Barack Obama is coming to Seattle today for his first visit to the state since his 2008 presidential campaign.

Here’s what’s on tap for him, according to the White House:

Upon arrival at Boeing Field-King County International Airport he will be greeted by Gov. Chris Gregoire, U.S. Sen. Patty Murray and U.S. Rep. Jim McDermott. Traveling with the president is Gary Locke, the U.S. Commerce Secretary and former governor.

Then it’s on to the Grand Central Bakery in Pioneer Square where he will meet with some small business owners: Gillian Allen-White, a co-owner of Grand Central Bakery; Tiffany Turner and her husband, Brady, who own the Inn at Discovery Coast in Long Beach, and Joe Fugere, founder of Tutta Bella Neapolitan Pizzeria in Seattle.

Obama is expected to make comments to the press around 12:20 p.m.

From there it’s to the Westin Hotel for a fund raiser for Murray and to a second money raising event at the home of Rob Glaser, founder of Real Networks.

Republican U.S. Senate candidates Clint Didier and Paul Akers attended a GOP rally in Seattle Monday evening at which they cast the president’s visit as evidence of the incumbent Murray’s vulnerability.

Here’s an account of the rally from seattlepi.com.

Republican Dino Rossi did not attend the rally. This morning he is in Seattle to address the Emerald City Rotary and it’s a good bet he’ll be making the same point.