WASHINGTON -- Drivers and airline passengers at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport could run into delays this afternoon as President Bush plans to visit South Florida to attend a GOP reception in Boca Raton.
Air Force One is scheduled to touch down mid-afternoon -- just before evening rush hour.
The airfield will be shut down for 15 minutes until the president's plane lands and again before he departs this evening.
Upon his arrival at the airport, Bush will present Plantation resident David Greenberger with a President's Volunteer Service Award for his work with Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Broward County.
Then Bush will visit Boca Raton for a fund-raiser where Republican incumbent U.S. Rep. Clay Shaw, of Fort Lauderdale, is facing state Sen. Ron Klein, a Democrat. There is no clear favorite in this race.
Although specific details of the president's travel route haven't been revealed due to security concerns, Bush will likely head north along Interstate 95 and return to the airport for a flight out this evening as rush-hour ends.
The Republican National Committee reception in Boca Raton is closed to the press.
Sgt. Mark Wysocky, of the Florida Highway Patrol, said drivers can expect delays as sections of Interstate 595 leading to the airport and I-95 are closed for about 10 minutes for the president's motorcade to pass.
Wysocky said the closures will only affect the direction the motorcade is traveling -- northbound en route to Boca Raton and southbound as Bush makes his way back to the airport.
Entrance ramps to I-95 also will be closed for the motorcade.
Earlier today, Bush was to visit Sarasota, where Republican Vern Buchanan is locked in a tight race with Democrat Christine Jennings in a matchup to replace U.S. Rep. Katherine Harris, R-Longboat Key.
Harris is running for the U.S. Senate against incumbent Democrat Bill Nelson. It's a Republican-leaning district, but Jennings recently has gained in polls and fund-raising. Bush will appear at the fundraiser for Buchanan.
Bush's return to Sarasota is the first since the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks. It was there at an elementary school that he was first told of the hijacked passenger planes and their crashes into buildings in New York and Washington , D.C.
On Friday, First Lady Laura Bush also plans to campaign in the state.
Coal From United States, joined Aug 2006, 941 posts, RR: 2 Reply 1, posted (2 years 3 weeks 6 days 14 hours ago) and read 1592 times:
So now the idiot will be clogging the roads, at rush hour? Ugh! Well, maybe I'll get the chance to go down to FLL to see AF1. Any idea where it's parked?
EMBQA From United States, joined Oct 2003, 7463 posts, RR: 10 Reply 4, posted (2 years 3 weeks 6 days 14 hours ago) and read 1535 times:
Quoting EmSeeEye (Reply 2): Well... certianly not as bad as the idiot before him that shutdown LAX for an hour to get his haircut aboard AF1...
LoL...!! You beat me to the punch....!! I was goning to add that but you beat me. Of course 'Bubba' got his hair cut by some big time hollywood stylist.
"It's not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog"
USAFHummer From United States, joined May 2000, 10685 posts, RR: 56 Reply 5, posted (2 years 3 weeks 6 days 14 hours ago) and read 1512 times:
AIRLINERS.NET CREW CHAT OPERATOR
Quoting KFLLCFII (Reply 3): Note: the viewing area was closed just prior to his arrival, and it's probably safe to say that it will remain that way throughout his stay.
I imagine they are chasing people off the garage roof as well? (if it isnt already swarmed by USSS snipers)...
Chief A.net college football stadium self-pic guru
Airfoilsguy From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 7, posted (2 years 3 weeks 6 days 13 hours ago) and read 1488 times:
Quoting AirTranTUS (Reply 6): The roads would be closed no matter who the President is.
Yes they will and for good reason, there are a lot of wackos out there. It does not matter if the president is a pervert who gets BJs in the white house or the son who uses his fathers name to get elected and does a piss poor job, the president of the USA needs protection. Hopefully, one of these days, we will get a president worthy of being called President of The United States.
Boca747 From United States, joined Sep 2006, 2 posts, RR: 0 Reply 11, posted (2 years 3 weeks 6 days 8 hours ago) and read 1226 times:
Anyone know what his fighter escorts were? Becuase I saw an F-15 fly right over head today, at an area thats about 15 minutes by car from FLL. That area usually has planes directed over it all the time when coming into to FLL. I was wondering why I saw that F-15 so if anyway knows what his fighter escorts were pleast tell. Thanks.
JetBlueNYFL From United States, joined May 2006, 274 posts, RR: 2 Reply 12, posted (2 years 3 weeks 6 days 7 hours ago) and read 1206 times:
Can FLL handle the 747? I was at BCT the other day (6,000 ft. runway) and my friend who is a student pilot there was telling me a few years ago they had a 757 AF1 land there.
Quoting Airfoilsguy (Reply 7): the president of the USA needs protection
TPAnx From United States, joined Aug 2005, 1021 posts, RR: 1 Reply 13, posted (2 years 3 weeks 6 days 7 hours ago) and read 1200 times:
As far as I know,AF1 does not usually travel with fighter escorts..at least, over the CONUS. There is a big exercise underway at the Avon Park Bombing range ( in south central Florida) involving several of the armed forces..it's forward air control training in urban areas for people heading to Iraq. Perhaps the fighter you saw was involved in it.
TPAnx
Tommy777 From Norway, joined May 2005, 89 posts, RR: 0 Reply 18, posted (2 years 3 weeks 6 days 2 hours ago) and read 1051 times:
Quoting Fedexexpress (Reply 17):
You just made my respected list sir....... that was a good come back President Clinton was not a fan of mine!!!! LONG LIVE BUSH!!!!!!!
I'm sure you fell out of pretty much everyones respected list with this quote
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