Day 59
March 19, 2009
"It's like — it was like Special Olympics or something."
—President Obama, responding to a question from Jay Leno on NBC's Tonight Show about his shoddy bowling game
Obama calls Special Olympics chair Tim Shriver from Air Force One before his widely anticipated Leno interview even airs to apologize for the off-color joke. Shriver tells ABC's Good Morning America the following day that the President "expressed his disappointment and he apologized, in a way that was very moving."
But even as he is criticized for making too many media appearances, the President's trip to California isn't all a bust. Obama successfully shares the stage with GOP Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger at a Los Angeles town hall, where the governator proclaims, "I'm partnering with the White House," and thanks Obama for the "courageous leadership" he has shown in the past few months. Obama also visits an alternative-vehicle garage in Pomona and praises the Golden State for its technological innovation.
Obama manages to engage in some lighthearted trash-talking with Duke's Mike (Coach K) Krzyzewski, who jokes that the President should focus on the economy instead of his NCAA tournament bracket (Obama had picked Duke to lose in the Elite Eight). Obama's response? "Look, [Coach K] is a competitive guy. I just don't think they've got the inside game to go all the way."