Barack Obama held a brief and private meeting with a small group of Philadelphia labor leaders this morning, following his speech on America's racial divide at the National Constitution Center.
Among those present: John Dougherty, head of Local 98 of the electricans' union - and also a candidate for office.
Sitting at lunch later at the Marathon Grille on Chestnut Street, Dougherty recounted part of his exchange with the Democratic presidential candidate:
"I hear you're running for state Senate," Obama told him.
Yes, replied Dougherty.
Then Obama - who got his start as a state senator from Illinois - quipped: "That's not a bad place to start."
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