Obama family try to drum up trade on oil-spill coast

On a warm and muggy day, Mr Obama pledged to "keep up our efforts until the environment is cleaned, polluters are held accountable, businesses and communities are made whole, and the people of the Gulf Coast are back on their feet".

Mr Obama is in the region for a brief weekend trip with first lady Michelle Obama, daughter Sasha (her sister Malia is at summer camp) and family dog, Bo.

Their 27-hour stop in the Sunshine State is as much a family vacation as it is an attempt by the president to convince Americans that this region is safe for travel and that its surf is clean.

To reinforce that message, Mr Obama and Sasha swam in the sea. Mr Obama said his family planned to "enjoy the beach and the water – to let our fellow Americans know that they should come on down here".

After a lunch of fish tacos, chicken tenders and burgers and a quiet afternoon at their beachfront hotel, the Obamas headed into town for miniature golf outing.

Nine-year old Sasha stole the show, hitting a hole-in-one off the first tee.