Charlottesville is preparing for a visit from the commander-in-chief. President Barack Obama will make a campaign stop in Charlottesville next Wednesday, August 29.
This will be the president's eighth campaign stop in Virginia this year. The University of Virginia chapter of University Democrats say they will help host President Obama on grounds next week.
While both the Obama and Mitt Romney campaigns have made stops in Roanoke, Richmond, and on the Virginia coast, this will be the first time either campaign visits Charlottesville.
NBC29 is told the University Democrats at UVA are still hammering out details with administrators over next week's presidential visit. It's part of a three-stop campus town campaign tour, taking place just days after students return to UVA.
UVA has not been approached by the Obama campaign, and does not independently sponsor campaign stops. But the university does say it is working with students to figure out logistics.
Administrators will meet with members of the University Democrats, UVA police, UVA student affairs, and UVA special events sometime Thursday.
This also comes almost exactly a month after first lady Michelle Obama was forced to cancel a campaign stop in Charlottesville after shootings at a movie theater in Aurora, Colorado.
The Charlottesville Democratic Party says next week's stop will be a ticketed event. Those affected by the first lady's cancellation will receive priority.
As Charlottesville gears up for the presidential visit, area Republicans are also weighing in. GOP leaders in Charlottesville and Albemarle County say this latest visit is another illustration of Virginia's role in this campaign.
58th District Delegate Rob Bell (R) says that the president's frequent stops are a sign of desperation as he works to maintain a foothold in the commonwealth.
"President Obama carried the state four years ago. It's clear he's not confident he's going to carry it again. So he's making the circuit around the state," Bell said.
After next week, the president, vice president and first lady will have made a collective 13 stops in the commonwealth during this campaign. That's just ahead of the 11 stops made by Romney and Paul Ryan in Virginia.
