Is that where the deficit's hiding? Obama whips out massive wad of cash to pay for sausages at deli

By Daily Mail Reporter

Published: 20:10 EDT, 22 September 2012 | Updated: 05:10 EDT, 23 September 2012

Wherever Barack Obama goes, he is accompanied by a huge entourage of aides, Secret Service and campaign staff.

But when the President goes shopping, he still has to handle his own cash, as he showed on Saturday when he bought sausages from a Wisconsin store following a campaign stop in key swing state.

Mr Obama pulled out a wad of bills that looked almost large enough to make a dent in the national debt as he browsed for pork treats alongside Milwaukee mayor Tom Barrett.

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Flush with cash: Barack Obama, pictured with Milwaukee mayor Tom Barrett, pulls out a wad of bills to pay for a purchase of sausages at a Wisconsin deli

Bonanza: Despite his huge entourage, the President clearly has no one to carry his wallet for him

After his visit to Usinger's Famous Sausage, the President was given a bratwurst hot dog in a pretzel roll with spicy mustard by a local deli worker.

The commander-in-chief appeared to enjoy his meaty snack, giving an emphatic thumbs-up to supporters and photographers as he chowed down on the delicacy.

He also managed to meet deli customers who were visiting from Ohio - another swing state seen as a must-win if Mr Obama is to stay in the White House after November's election.

During an earlier campaign speech, the President criticised his Republican rival Mitt Romney for advancing a top-down economic approach that 'never works.'

'The country doesn't succeed when only the folks at the very top are doing well,' he said. 'We succeed when the middle class is doing well.'

Shopping: Mr Obama browsed at Usinger's Famous Sausage following a campaign appearance

Try before you buy: The President chews on a sample sausage during his deli visit

With just six weekends left before Election Day, both candidates were devoting considerable time to raising cash to continue bankrolling the deluge of ads already saturating hotly contested states.

Baseball great Hank Aaron supplied the star power at Mr Obama's Milwaukee fundraisers.

'As one who wore the number 44 on his back for decades, I ask you to join me in helping the 44th president of the United States hit a grand slam,' said Mr Aaron.

Mr Romney, who is expected to launch a more aggressive campaign schedule in the coming week, hunted for West Coast cash at a private fundraiser near San Diego and then headed for another in Los Angeles.

Some Republicans have grumbled that he is not spending enough time with voters in swing states, and Mr Romney seemed to take note of that sentiment.

'I've got good news: This is the last fundraiser in San Diego,' he told supporters. 'I'm not even going to be able to go home today. We're just coming to town to see you and keep the campaign going. It's nonstop.'

Delicacy: Outside the store, Mr Obama was handed a bratwurst in a pretzel bun with spicy mustard

Chowing down: The President was happy to try out the pork snack on the campaign trail

Success! The Democrat poses with Andy Fronek, who gave him the sausage from Milwaukee Brat House

Romney adviser Kevin Madden said the GOP nominee would begin 'a really intense battleground state schedule.' The former Massachusetts governor will campaign in Colorado, Ohio and Virginia in the coming week.

With running mates Joe Biden and Paul Ryan campaigning in New England and Florida, respectively, the presidential campaign was spread far and wide - both geographically and strategically.

Mr Biden revved up union activists poised to canvass for votes in New Hampshire while Mr Ryan appealed to Hispanic voters in Miami and discussed space policy in Orlando.

Mr Obama won Wisconsin easily in 2008, but Mr Ryan is popular in his home state and recent polls have the President's lead down to single digits.

With absentee voting already under way in the state, first lady Michelle Obama will campaigning there next week.

Speech: Mr Obama addressed supporters at an event at the Milwaukee Theater on Saturday

Looking for cash: GOP challenger Mitt Romney was fundraising in southern California

Running mates: Joe Biden and Paul Ryan were also busy doing their bit towards election success

Mr Obama made the case against his opponent before a crowd at the Milwaukee Theater, countering Mr Romney's call to change Washington from the inside with an appeal to voters to help him break through partisan gridlock with pressure on Congress from the outside.

He said that despite economic troubles, his administration has made progress and has made 'practical and specific' proposals to create jobs.

'The choice now is - do we reverse this?', he said.

In advance of the President's visit, Mr Romney's campaign made the argument that the Democrat's failure to turn around the economy had Wisconsin voters looking for a different path.

Governor Scott Walker said the President had a 'Wisconsin problem.' The state's 7.5 per cent unemployment rate is below the national average, but its manufacturing industry has been hit hard in recent years.

The Republican National Committee released a web video, 'Since You've Been Gone,' highlighting recent GOP organising efforts in the state and Mr Walker's success in fending off a recall attempt earlier this year.

VIDEO: After lunch Obama rallied the crowds in Wisconsin...