WASHINGTON (AFP) — Barack Obama's aides are often praised for their seamless political operation, but have stumbled into a major gaffe, after losing their present for the White House hopeful's 47th birthday on Monday.
Obama was celebrating his birthday by unveiling a new energy plan in Michigan, and holding a fundraising event in Boston.
But his communications director Robert Gibbs said plans by his campaign team to mark the boss's special day in style had gone awry.
"We got him a present that he really needs. And one of our guys was bringing it back and left it in the trunk of the cab last night," Gibbs told MSNBC.
The Republican National Committee also rushed to mark the Illinois Senator's birthday -- by unveiling a new attack on his energy plan.
The RNC was delivering tire gauges to reporters in Washington "in celebration of Barack Obama's special day."
The gift was a reference to a comment by Obama last month that drivers could save gas by properly inflating their tires and servicing their cars, which Republicans now claim represents the totality of his energy plan.
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