Las Vegas Weekly

February 19, 2010 · 9:25 AM

Photo Galleries: Obama arrives in Las Vegas, speaks at Aria this morning

By Robin Leach

President Obama addresses the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority and guests at CityCenter's Aria on Feb. 19, 2010.

Photo: Erik Kabik/Retna/www.erikkabikphoto.com

Our colleague Las Vegas Sun political guru Jon Ralston sent an email this morning with the following headline: “Ralston Flash -- Maloof: Obama ‘truly loves the city.’ ”

Jon’s column reports that those words come from Palms mogul George Maloof shortly after he hosted a Democratic National Committee fundraiser with President Obama as the guest of honor. George said Obama stayed for about two hours and gave one-on-one attention to the 40 guests who came to his house and paid $30,000 for the privilege.

George said no one confronted Obama about his comments in New Hampshire about Las Vegas and blowing a bunch of cash here. He said he believes that Obama’s comments “were brutal on Vegas. … People are sensitive in our town. This is our livelihood. … He probably didn’t feel it was too big a deal.”

But, George said, after the event, he is convinced that the president “really loves Las Vegas.” Nevada Congresswomen Dina Titus and Shelley Berkley greeted Obama upon arrival yesterday at McCarran International Airport, and contributing photographer Erik Kabik was on the tarmac for the president’s visit.

Other attendees of note: Senate Majority Leader Steven Horsford, an early Obama supporter; Tyreke Evans of the Maloofs’ Sacramento Kings; Ken Solomon, CEO of The Tennis Channel; Byron Georgiou, a member of the federal panel looking into the financial crisis; and Robert Angel, who created the game Pictionary. Most of the guests were California visitors.

Photo: Erik Kabik/Retna/www.erikkabikphoto.com

President Obama arrives aboard Air Force One at McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas on Feb. 18, 2010.

This morning, it’s believed that Obama will give Las Vegas its much-needed boost -- and a possible photo opportunity against the backdrop of the gleaming new CityCenter -- when he addresses business and tourism leaders at Aria. Our Senior Editor John Katsilometes will be covering the president’s appearance and tweeting from there. Many believe Obama will apologize for two recent slams against Las Vegas and pronounce it a great place for business, conventions and vacations.

Our contributing photographer Erik Kabik and videographer Richard Corey covered the president’s visit to Las Vegas, his second since being elected, for Vegas DeLuxe.

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

Follow Robin Leach on Twitter at Twitter.com/Robin_Leach.

Follow Vegas DeLuxe on Twitter at Twitter.com/vegasdeluxe.

Follow VDLX Editor Don Chareunsy on Twitter at Twitter.com/VDLXEditorDon.

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