Live blog: President Obama campaigns in Oregon

President Barack Obama is speaking at a campaign fundraiser at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland today. 

Follow along with the KATU.com live blog to get the latest details about the president's visit, his speech and other impacts the trip will have in Portland.

You can also follow @KATUNews, @KATUPolitics or the hashtag #obamapdx for the latest on the campaign stop. And if you have pictures from the president's visit, share them on YouNews.

5:13 p.m.: That's it for our live blog folks - check out our main story on the president's visit by KATU.com Political Editor Steve Benham for a complete wrap-up.

5:10 p.m.: Air Force One leaves Portland. Next stop, Seattle.

4:54 p.m.: Quick traffic alert from ODOT:

Freeway closures are in place in anticipation of the president's departure from Portland.  Eastbound Interstate 84 and eastbound on-ramps are closed to traffic from Interstate 5 to Interstate 205. In addition, northbound Interstate 205 is closed prior to Interstate 84, as are on-ramps to the northbound lanes.  Ramps and freeways will re-open when the president leaves the area. Motorists should expect significant delays during the afternoon commute.

4:51 p.m.: Wrapping up our coverage of the president's speech and will have a story online soon. We're also working on posting the entire video online and will have that shortly as well.

President Barack Obama greets the crowd during a fundraising event at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland, Ore., Tuesday, July 24, 2012. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

4:37 p.m.: Keep in mind that traffic will likely be a mess this afternoon with the president's departure. CHECK OUR TRAFFIC MAP before you head out.

4:28 p.m.: President Obama has wrapped up his speech.

4:27 p.m.: President's speech - talked about negative campaign. “When folks are writing 10 million dollar checks to run negative ads against you it gets your attention.” "What gives me hope is that when it counts, the American people can cut through the nonsense.”

4:23 p.m.: President's speech: Biggest applause so far - "Fairness is a hallmark of this country. Mr Romney disagress when it comes to Don't Ask Don't Tell, but we’re not moving backwards, we’re moving forward.”

4:03 p.m.: President's speech: Says he disagrees with the cynics who say America's best days are behind us. 

"Anybody who thinks our bestdays are behind us haven’t met the small business owners who sacrificed their perks and pay so they wouldn’t’ have to lay off a single employee," he said.

"There are no easy solution to economic problems that have built up over decades," he added, saying that we're equipped to fix it and make it better. "There is not a country on earth that wouldn't trade places gladly with the United States of America."

3:30 p.m.: We've got a live stream of the event at the Oregon Convention Center up now.

2:58 p.m.: Wondering what Mitt Romney is up to today? He's in Reno, Nev. where he accused the president of leaking classified information about the Osama bin Laden raid to gain a political advantage. Read more about his campaign stop here.

2:48 p.m.: Advocates demanding tougher gun-control laws were among several dozen demonstrators who greeted President Barack Obama outside a fundraising stop in Oregon on Tuesday.

In the wake of a mass shooting that killed 12 and injured 58 others in Aurora, Colo., last week, demonstrators said Obama needs to stand up to the deep-pocketed National Rifle Association. They want him to push Congress to reinstate an expired ban on assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines that expired in 2004.

"He hasn't been aggressive about promoting change in the culture of violence," said DeEtte Waleed of Portland, who added that she'll nonetheless vote for him because "the alternative is just too scary to contemplate."

Protesters were kept far back from the entrance to the Oregon Convention Center, where the president was scheduled to hold a fundraiser Tuesday afternoon for his re-election campaign. His motorcade did not pass them.   -Associated Press

2:42 p.m.: Overheard in the press room: Members of the national media pool are fascinated by the "bacon maple bar" from Voodoo Doughnut.

It appears President Obama is meeting with people who donated to the campaign right now. We're still expecting his remarks to start at 3:50 p.m.

2:10 p.m.: Our freelance photographer, Kai Hayashi, snapped some pictures of the protesters that have gathered outside the Oregon Convention Center. Check out our photo gallery for a look.

1:36 p.m.: KATU Political Editor Steve Benham on the security at the Oregon Convention Center:

"Intensive. Bomb sniffing dog at Hoyt and Grand sniffed bags. Escorted to convention center. Check in, credentials, another bomb dog, sniff bags again. Secret service wands us. Go through our bags."

"Now in holding room waiting. Campaign staffer also appears to be wanded each time she leaves check in spot and returns. Not sure if that's the drill just saw that one time."

1:33 p.m.: Just a heads up that we plan to carry the president's speech at his fundraising event live on KATU News and KATU.com. It's scheduled to start around 3:50 p.m.

1:28 p.m.: From KATU Political Editor Steve Benham - there are about two dozen protesters at Hoyt and Grand right now.

1:23 p.m.: KATU Reporter Bob Heye sent in this cell phone video of the president's arrival at the Oregon Convention Center.

1:07 p.m.: If you missed the arrival of Air Force One this morning, we've got the video online now.

12:50 p.m.: I-84 shut down for the presidential motorcade.

12:32 p.m.: Obama paid a surprise visit to folks at the Gateway Breakfast House in Northeast Portland. Can you imagine sitting down to have some breakfast and the president shows up?

President Barack Obama greets people during a stop at the Gateway Breakfast House in Portland, Ore., Tuesday, July 24, 2012. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

President Barack Obama visits with military veterans Dean Dilley, back to camera, Mark Peterson, background, right, and Thomas Foeller, right, during a stop at the Gateway Breakfast House in Portland, Ore., Tuesday, July 24, 2012. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

12:17 p.m.: Where is Michelle Obama? She's working the campaign trail in Ohio today while her husband is here in Portland.

First lady Michelle Obama speaks during a campaign rally, Tuesday, July 24, 2012, in Westerville, Ohio. The first lady thanked volunteers for their hard work and spoke about what's at stake for Ohioans in this election. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)

11:48 a.m.: Another shot of the president on the tarmac at PDX.

11:44 a.m.: President Barack Obama at Portland International Airport.

11:36: A cool photo of Air Force One arriving in Portland.

11:33 a.m.: Protesters are gathering outside the Oregon Convention Center.

11:31 a.m.: Air Force One arrives.

11:29 a.m.:

Craig Robinson, OSU's head coach, on the tarmac. President Obama's brother-in-law.

11:15 a.m.: Invited guests being taken out to the tarmac ahead of Pres. Obama's arrival.

11:12 a.m.: A photo of the media gathered at the airport for the president's arrival. We've also got our live camera up and ready to go at the tarmac. You can watch it here, although there's not too much happening at this point.

11:10 a.m.: The airport is starting to buzz with activity in anticipation of the president's arrival.

11:01 a.m.: A reminder about the traffic/bus/MAX impact today - steer clear of the Oregon Convention Center if you can. Here's the notice we got from police:

Traffic in the immediate area around the Convention Center will be affected from approximately 9:00 a.m. through the evening commute. Northeast Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard will be closed to all traffic from Multnomah Street to the I-84 overpass. Area businesses will have some access for foot-traffic only.

TriMet will close the Convention Center MAX platform and trains will not stop. The Rose Quarter Transit Station and the Northeast 7th and Multnomah stops both will be open. People attending the event should only get off MAX at the 7th Avenue stop to walk to the entrance.

Any freeway closure will substantially impact traffic throughout the Portland metro area. Commuters and residents may be affected by street and/or freeway closures during the day and should consider alternate routes to avoid traffic.

10:55 a.m.: The president is on his way - this is an Associated Press photo of him leaving the airport in San Francisco on Air Force One.

President Barack Obama waves as he boards Air Force One before departing from San Francisco International Airport in San Francisco, Tuesday, July 24, 2012, to Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)

10:40 a.m.: Steve Benham, our KATU.com Political Editor, just arrived at the station. He's gearing up to head to the Oregon Convention Center this afternoon to cover the president's speech.

10:17 a.m.: Traffic isn't looking bad out there right now. Of course, the president isn't actually here yet. KATU Traffic Map

10:13 a.m.: KATU Reporter Lincoln Grave's first ever White House press pass. He's pretty excited.

9:58 a.m.: The KATU News camera is ready to go at PDX for the president's arrival.

9:57 a.m.: Tight security for the KATU News rig. Photo sent in by KATU Reporter Lincoln Graves.

9:54 a.m.: Cannabis activists will be among those demonstrating at the Convention Center today. They plan to meet outside the center at 10 a.m.

6:30 a.m.: We will be updating traffic and other developments when the president arrives. We don't know what his route will be when he gets to town so check back here later this morning for updates.