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Obama’s Westport Visit Met With Excitement

(UPDATED) WESTPORT, Conn. – More than a dozen spectators lined the shoulder of Sherwood Island Connector in Westport on Monday night and waited anxiously to catch a glimpse of President Barack Obama's motorcade.

President Barack Obama's motorcade makes its way along the Sherwood Island Connector as it goes on the overpass above Interstate 95 in Westport on Monday evening.

President Barack Obama's motorcade makes its way along the Sherwood Island Connector as it goes on the overpass above Interstate 95 in Westport on Monday evening.

Photo Credit: Nancy Guenther Chapman
People wait along the side of Sherwood Island Connector on Monday night to see President Barack Obama's motorcade pass by.

People wait along the side of Sherwood Island Connector on Monday night to see President Barack Obama's motorcade pass by.

Photo Credit: Vanessa Inzitari
President Barack Obama's motorcade heads to Westport on Monday evening for a campaign fundraiser.

President Barack Obama's motorcade heads to Westport on Monday evening for a campaign fundraiser.

Photo Credit: Nancy Guenther Chapman
President Barack Obama's motorcade travels on the Sherwood Island Connector in Westport on Monday evening.

President Barack Obama's motorcade travels on the Sherwood Island Connector in Westport on Monday evening.

Photo Credit: Nancy Guenther Chapman
Bridgeport resident Jean-Claude Jean is all smiles as he watches the presidential motorcade drive down the Sherwood Island Connector in Westport on Monday night.

Bridgeport resident Jean-Claude Jean is all smiles as he watches the presidential motorcade drive down the Sherwood Island Connector in Westport on Monday night.

Photo Credit: Nancy Guenther Chapman
Westport police officers talk with a secret service agent outside the Westport home of movie producer Harvey Weinstein Monday afternoon before President Barack Obama's arrival.

Westport police officers talk with a secret service agent outside the Westport home of movie producer Harvey Weinstein Monday afternoon before President Barack Obama's arrival.

Photo Credit: Vanessa Inzitari

At about 7:30 p.m., their patience paid off as the motorcade made its way down the connector before turning right on Nyala Farms Road.

"It was nice to see," Bridgeport resident Jean-Claude Jean said. "I didn't see the president, but it was exciting to see all the cars.

Obama first arrived in Westport at about 5:15 p.m., after the presidential helicopters landed at Sherwood Island State Park. Minutes later, his vehicle was escorted onto Interstate 95 south headed to Stamford, where he was attending a fundraiser at the Marriott Hotel & Spa.

Knowing Obama would be back in Westport after the Stamford event to attend a $35,800 per guest dinner party at movie producer Harvey Weinstein’s home on Beachside Avenue, Jean and others gathered along the side of Sherwood Island Connector before 7 p.m. to see the “most powerful man in the world” drive by.

Jean, president of First Class Driving Service, said he’s no stranger to presidential encounters. In the 1990s, when former President Bill Clinton visited Westport, Jean said he saw that motorcade. A few years later, he said he met former President George W.  Bush at the Hyatt Regency Greenwich, where the then-president signed Jean’s business card and shook his hand.

“It’s something I will always remember,” Jean said. “To me, it doesn’t matter if they are Republican or Democrat. That’s my president — our president.”

Hours before Obama arrived, a Secret Service agent was stationed outside Weinstein’s home. The agent, out of the Brooklyn, N.Y., field office, checked the identification of every person working the event, from the valets to the caterers driving in to drop off food.

A Connecticut State Police helicopter also looped above the area around Weinstein’s home several times during the afternoon.   

Mike Pierre, one of the at least 10 valets working the party, said he was thrilled when he found out he was assigned to work a presidential event.

“This is definitely the coolest valet job I’ve worked so far,” he said. “I’m excited to see the motorcade — I wonder if it looks like it does in the movies.”

Obama’s visit to Westport lasted less than two hours. By 9:15 p.m., Obama had reportedly left the party and Westport.

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