Politics on the Hudson

President Barack Obama will give a speech at an Albany-area community college this morning to discuss the economy and promote hi-tech investments as a way to boost business growth in the country.

The president, in his first trip to upstate New York since he was elected, is expected to discuss the use of stimulus money to bolster education and create an innovation economy. The stage at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy, Rensselaer County, where the president will speak has a backdrop of computer chips and other hi-tech equipment behind the podium.

The president is expected to tour a classroom and be joined by Dr. Jill Biden, an educator and wife of Vice President Joe Biden.

The president is scheduled to arrive at Albany International Airport at about 11 a.m. and give the speech at 11:30 a.m. He is then headed to New York City to tape an interview on David Lettermen’s “Late Show.” He will begin three days of meetings at the United Nations on Tuesday.

Obama’s visit to upstate comes amid involvement by the White House in recent days to advise Gov. David Paterson to not run for election next year. While no one-on-one meeting is planned between the two, Paterson is meeting Obama at the airport and will travel in the president’s motorcade to the event.