Obama in Minnesota to Talk Veterans’ Jobs, Raise Funds

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - President Barack Obama is visiting Minnesota to unveil a job initiative for veterans, and to attend fundraisers in Minneapolis.

Obama is scheduled to speak at noon Friday at Honeywell's International Campus in the Minneapolis suburb of Golden Valley. He is expected to tout an initiative to help veterans more easily qualify for high-demand jobs in manufacturing and other fields such as logistics and information technology.

Administration officials say many soldiers and sailors get on-the-job training that make academic or vocational degrees unnecessary.

Later, Obama is attending three fundraisers at the downtown Minneapolis restaurant owned by the sons of Gov. Mark Dayton. Luncheon tickets cost $5,000, followed by two small roundtables with respective costs of $40,000 and $50,000 per person.

Proceeds go to Obama's campaign and other Democratic campaign efforts.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved)