President Obama’s motorcade becomes parade for Mt. Airy residents

Mt. Airy residents Thursday night enjoyed a personal parade of sorts as President Barack Obama’s motorcade made its way to a private fundraising event on Huron Lane.

Just after 6:20 p.m., a solid stream of close to 40 flashing vehicles cruised down West Allens Lane before hanging a left towards the home of David L. Cohen, Comcast’s executive vice president.

Close to 50 spectators bunched together along the north side of the residential street as the spectacle unfolded. Many cheered and snapped photos. Some said they saw the President wave to the crowd from the backseat of his black limousine.

Coreen Davis, who lives feet from the Huron Lane intersection, had theater tickets the last time President Obama visited Cohen, a high-profile fundraiser for the Democratic Party.

“So tonight I staked myself out with my camera and everything,” said Davis. “I’m excited.”

So was Debbie Garrett, who was hoping to catch a glimpse of the President as he rode down the normally quiet stretch. Either way, she was pleased Obama was back in a city she expects will support his bid for re-election.

“Philadelphia came out for him [in 2008] and I think they’ll come out again,” said Garrett.

Before, during and after the presidential entourage, police could be seen directing traffic away from the 300 block of West Allens Lane at Emlen Street and Lincoln Drive.

The fundraiser –which reportedly had a minimum buy-in of $10,000 – served to bolster both Obama’s re-election campaign and the Democratic National Committee, both leaving with an equal share. The Washington Post reports that 120 donors turned out for the Mt. Airy event.

The President also spoke Thursday at the Hyatt at the Bellevue. There, before a crowd of about 800, he focused his comments on the economy.

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney was also in Pennsylvania Thursday, stopping in Allentown.

(Editors note: The voices you hear in the background of the motorcade video are of bystanders not of the NewsWorks videographer)