Sonic booms, fundraisers mark Obama Seattle visit

President Barack Obama had an "outstanding" turkey sandwich, raised money for U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, and prompted hundreds of people to protest and gawk at the presidential motorcade during his visit to Seattle Tuesday.

To top it all, sonic booms rattled Secret Service agents' nerves as two fighter jets were scrambled to inspect a plane intruding the no-fly zone set for the president's visit. The aircraft turned out to be a float plane returning from eastern Washington and landing on the north end of Lake Washington. The pilot meant no harm.

Obama was in Seattle as part of a heavy fundraising tour, touching just about every region of the country in three days. The tour underscores the stakes of the November election - one that will be seen as a referendum on Obama and on Democratic control of Congress.

Obama's first stop in his four-hour visit was at the Grand Central Bakery, where he praised the food after speaking with the owner, Gillian Allen-White, and two other small business operators. In a brief speech, Obama said Murray had been him with "every step of the way" in promoting tax cuts, loans and other incentives for small businesses. He urged Republicans to stop blocking a jobs bill.

Outside, people lined the streets to catch a glimpse of the president, and they cheered once his motorcade arrived.

"They're in the heart of liberal Seattle. They obviously want to leverage as much support from their base as possible," said 44-year-old Jennifer White, who stood outside Grand Central Bakery to see Obama.

The president, however, entered the bakery mostly out of sight. "I didn't catch a glimpse, not even a hair on his head," White said.

From the Pioneer Square bakery, Obama went downtown for a fundraiser for Murray at the Westin hotel and a second Murray fundraiser at the home of RealNetworks Inc. founder Rob Glaser.

Outside the Westin, a large crowd of demonstrators gathered, including a contingent of people protesting Obama's immigration policies.

"The goal was to bring attention to the lack of real immigration reform," said Sandy Restrepo, 26, one of the protest's organizers. "If the Democrats can't do it, then maybe the Republicans will."

The demonstrators also called for ending wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and for creating jobs.

A small group of people who identified themselves as tea party activists gathered nearby. One man held a sign that said "Pork Patty" with a drawing of a pig with Murray's likeness.

Obama "is not doing Murray any favors by coming her to support her," said Matt Martin, 42, of Kenmore. "Everybody was protesting for both sides. He tries to placate everybody and he doesn't stick to his guns, even for his constituency. He's awash somewhere in the middle."

Shortly before Obama left the downtown hotel, sonic booms from two Air National Guard F-15s could be heard throughout the city. The fighter jets were scrambled to check on a plane intruding the no-fly zone established for the president's visit.

North American Aerospace Defense Command spokesman John Cornelio said the civilian aircraft had left the restricted area before the jets arrived from the Portland, Ore.-based 142nd Fighter Wing. The Secret Service interviewed the pilot after he landed on the north end of Lake Washington.

Passenger Laura Joseph, of Normandy Park, said the Cessna 180 float plane was flying to a seaplane base on the lake next to Seattle from Lake Chelan in Eastern Washington.

"I saw a jet, just a white jet going by," she said. "I thought it was kind of odd to see a military jet."

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Associated Press Writers Ben Feller and Doug Esser contributed to this report.