Obama’s Ohio host dies hours after meeting president
US President Barack Obama shakes hands with patrons at Ann’s Place in Akron, Ohio, on July 6, 2012, while on a bus tour of Ohio and Pennslyvania.
Hours after hosting the president for breakfast at her Akron, Ohio, restaurant, 70-year-old Josephine “Ann” Harris died of an apparent heart attack.
The Akron Beacon Herald said Harris died in hospital about 11:18 am local time.
“She loved Obama,” Frankie Adkins, Harris’s sister told the paper. “I’m sure this was her highlight.”
The president stopped at Ann’s Place for breakfast as he continued his two-day tour through Ohio and Pennsylvania, key swing states in the November election.
CBS News said Harris showed genuine joy at meeting the president, giving Obama a hug.
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The president then dined with three Goodyear Tire employees; CBS said the White House would make a statement later today about Harris.
According to The Associated Press, Harris died of natural causes and there’s no plan for an autopsy.
She became ill at home, complained of fatigue and called an ambulance, the AP said.
Harris went into cardiac arrest while traveling to the hospital, forensic investigator Jason Grom told the AP.
Obama’s “Betting on America” tour traveled from Ohio to Pennsylvania, where he made a campaign stop in Pittsburgh.
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