This week, President Barack Obama returns to New Jersey for the first time since last November when he came to support Governor Jon Corzine's re-election campaign. The White House says the President will discuss the economy at a small business in Edison, New Jersey, on Wednesday, July 28.

Obama’s visit comes on the heels of a discouraging analysis from the New York Federal Reserve Bank that New Jersey lags behind the rest of the region in emerging from the prolonged recession. Looming public sector layoffs and the ongoing consolidation of the pharmaceutical industry continue to hobble the pace of new job creation.

Polls indicate the President has lost some ground with independent voters, but he still has traction with his base Democratic voters. This presidential visit is at least in part about motivating that base to start working now in order to boost voter turnout come November.

After his event in New Jersey, the President will travel to New York City for a taping of “The View” -- billed as the first time a sitting U.S. President will appear on a daytime talk show -- before attending two Democratic National Committee fundraisers.