SALT LAKE CITY (AP) – President Barack Obama’s visit to Utah isn’t just the first time he’s been to the state while in office. It’s also the latest stop on his tour of Republican “red” states.
Obama has traveled to 10 Republican states since the GOP took control of both houses of Congress in January.
He has visited nine states that voted to give him a second term.
The White House says there is no concerted effort to put Obama in Republican states.
Spokesman Eric Schultz says important policy reasons explain the president’s frequent stops in GOP states. Schultz says some of Obama’s ideas were inspired by activities in these states and that it was appropriate for Obama to show up there to promote them.