By Salena Zito

Published: Tuesday, November 27, 2012, 9:22 a.m.
Updated: Tuesday, November 27, 2012

President Barack Obama will begin a different type of campaigning this week in Pennsylvania, to try to convince congressional Republicans to work with the White House on a strategy to avoid the pending fiscal cliff.

The president will begin a tour to talk about the issue on Friday in Hatfield, Montgomery County. He'll make his case for tax increases on the wealthy and extending tax cuts for families earning $250,000 or less.

It marks the president's first public trip outside the nation's capital since winning re-election.

Obama is scheduled to visit The Rodon Group manufacturing plant — which employs 150 people — using the Pennsylvania business as an example of a company that depends on middle-class consumers during the holiday season. The company makes parts for K'NEX Brands, a toy company whose products include TinkerToy and Angry Birds building sets.

Josh Shapiro, a Democratic Montgomery County commissioner, said he's proud the president chose to visit the county at a critical time during fiscal cliff negotiations.

“I look forward to welcoming him on Friday and showing off one of our premier businesses in the county,” Shapiro said.

U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey, a Lehigh Valley Republican, told the Tribune-Review last week that he opposes Obama's proposal to increase taxes on wealthier Americans and anticipates hearing what the president has to offer to avoid “fiscal disaster.”

“Considering the financial challenges our nation faces, we urge President Obama to get to work with Congressional Republicans to find a solution that prevents our economy from falling over the fiscal cliff,” said Pennsylvania GOP spokeswoman Valerie Caras.

Salena Zito is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. She can be reached at 412-320-7879 or szito@tribweb.com.

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