Under sunny skies, Obama hits the links

President Obama took advantage of gorgeous weather around Washington on Saturday morning to hit the golf course, his third round this year.

The president and his entourage – Vice President Joe Biden, White House staffer Mike Brush and Marvin Nicholson, the trip director – arrived at the Andrews Air Force Base Golf Course a little after 11 a.m., when temperatures were hovering just below 80 degrees.  

The outing is the latest indication Obama doesn't intend to steer clear of the links in the face of recent criticisms from Mitt Romney that the president should be focusing more on the economy and less on the greens.

"I must say I scratch my head at the capacity of the president to take four hours off on such a regular basis to go golfing," Romney told conservative radio host Bill Cunningham on Wednesday. "I would think you could kind of suck it up for four years, particularly when the American people are out of work."

The White House has defended Obama's golf outings, arguing that the president has ever right to take a break from the daily grind for some R&R. 

The foursome might have to race. Local forecasters are predicting afternoon thunderstorms at Andrews.

---