Obama's day off: haircut, gym, Sun-Times
SHOOTS HOOPS | Skips political events for quiet family time
Sen. Barack Obama spent a quiet day with family and friends in his hometown Sunday, in between campaign events in Washington, D.C., on Saturday and Independence, Mo., today.
As Game 6 of the Cubs-Sox series loomed Sunday night, Obama traveled around Hyde Park and downtown wearing his White Sox allegiance on his baseball cap.
(AP)
Obama ducked into his local barbershop to keep his trademark close crop.
"He was in a good mood, very relaxed," said his barber, "Zariff." "It was his regular cut. He comes in every week or two. If I let him go too long, it gets kind of bushy."
Obama first perused the Sun-Times, then the Tribune and finally the New York Times as he was trimmed, Zariff said.
He took his wife and daughters downtown to the East Bank Club, where he shot hoops with, among others, Chicago Public Schools CEO Arne Duncan.
There were several political events he could have hit, including the Pride Parade, the Democratic Leadership Council National Convention -- where some of his potential vice-presidential candidates were appearing -- but having spent Father's Day giving a public speech and facing a daunting campaign schedule as the general election approaches, Obama opted for a family day.
He wrapped up the day with a barbecue at the South Shore home of his friend Dr. Eric Whitaker, whom he has known since his Harvard days.
Whitaker served as director of the Illinois Department of Public Health after Obama recommended him for the post through Obama's friend Tony Rezko, who was advising Gov. Blagojevich on whom to hire for top state posts.
Whitaker later served as executive vice president for strategic affiliations and associate dean for community-based research at the University of Chicago Medical Center, where Michelle Obama was also a vice president.