Jarrett: Obama to spend more time outside of Washington in 2011

[Rheo]

The Hill:

President Obama will spend more time outside of Washington, D.C. next year engaging with the public, according to a top White House adviser and close friend of the president.

One year before Obama faces reelection, he is expected to make a greater effort to connect with potential voters after facing charges being too aloof during his first two years in the Oval Office.

The president's "biggest regret" was that because of economic turmoil, "He had to spend almost every waking hour in Washington working on solving that crisis," senior adviser Valerie Jarrett said during an interview on NBC's "Meet the Press" on Sunday. "And what he missed sorely was engagement with the American people.

"He said right before he left for vacation was, 'When I get back, I really want to figure out a way where I can spend more time outside of Washington listening, learning and engaging with the American people,'" she added. "We're determined in the new year to make sure that his schedule reflects his priority."

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This just struck me as funny. Every waking hour in Washington....between all the vacations.