INDIANAPOLIS | Will Gary be on the itinerary the next time President Barack Obama comes to Indiana?
State Sen. Earline Rogers, D-Gary, hopes so.
During a private meeting between the president and a dozen Indiana Democrats -- including Rogers -- before Obama's Indianapolis speech Friday, Rogers said she invited the president to visit the Steel City.
"I reminded him that he only lives about 30 minutes away," Rogers said.
The president owns a home in Chicago's Hyde Park neighborhood.
Obama campaigned in Gary several times during the 2008 Democratic primary and general election races, defeating Hillary Clinton for the nomination and becoming the first Democratic presidential candidate to win Indiana since Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964.
He has yet to return to Gary as president, and Rogers said Friday's meeting was the first time she had seen Obama in person since his election.
Rogers said she hugged Obama, took a photo with him and told him she's proud of the work he has done as president.
They did not did not discuss political issues during their brief chat, she said.
"We'll wait until he comes to Gary, and then we'll talk about all the jobs we need," Rogers said.
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