Nov 21, 2008 6:14 pm US/Central
Obama Surprises Crowd At Manny's Deli
President-Elect Orders Up Some Corned Beef And Schmoozes With Diners
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
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President-elect Barack Obama made a stop at Manny's on the Near West Side for a sandwich Nov. 21 and greeted supporters.
CBS
President-elect Barack Obama made a surprise lunchtime visit to the famed Chicago deli Manny's on Friday. The appearance sent everyone in the popular joint into a tizzy.
CBS 2 Political Editor Mike Flannery reports fitness fanatic that he is, Obama ordered his corned beef extra-lean, with Manny's mayo and mustard mix on the side.
The lunchtime crowd rose to applaud, and some abandoned their own sandwiches in an effort to shake the 44th President's hand. Obama was obliging and even said hello to one customer's wife in his cell phone.
And when the cashier told the president-elect his order was on the house, he respectfully declined.
Obama left his Loop transition offices at about 12:20 Friday afternoon for Manny's, 1141 S. Jefferson, where he ordered a sandwich at the counter and shook hands with dozens of supporters.
"We got the corned beef," Obama said as he made his way around the counter at Manny's deli. Asked by a reporter what he thought about the auto industry, he responded with a smile: "I got the corned beef."
This was at least the fourth time Obama's invited cameras along to record a visit to Manny's. The Chicago media has watched him and Mayor Richard M. Daley eat there twice, and Obama brought then-Vice Presidential nominee John Edwards to Manny's four years ago.
Deli Owner Ken Raskin said the Secret Service gave him less than 15 minutes advance notice of Obama's visit.
"Everyone was extremely thrilled they got to see him," Raskin said. "It was unbelievable. Really, he's warm and gracious, he's a real guy, an amazing person."
The president-elect indicated he was at Manny's Friday as America's highest-ranking sandwich delivery man. He ate one of the three corned beef specials. The second went to senior adviser Valerie Jarrett, who accompanied him. The final one he carried back to transition headquarters in the Loop for his chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel.
"Rahm Emanuel sends his regards," Obama told deli workers, referring to his chief of staff. "I ordered him his corned beef."
CBS 2's Mike Flannery contributed to this report.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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