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Published November 29, 2014

Nov. 29, 2014: President Obamashops with daughters, Sasha, center, and Malia, at Politics and Prose bookstore, in Washington, D.C.(AP)

President Obama tried to garner support Saturday for independently-owned businesses with a family shopping trip to a local, favorite bookshop, but most anything in Washington comes with a political concern.

For the second straight year, Obama and daughters Malia and Sasha visited Politics and Prose, where the president left with an armful of books.

"Hope you can close Guantanamo," said one patron, referring to the presidents efforts to close the U.S. detention center in Cuba, which was opened in the aftermath of the 9/11 terror attacks.

"We're working on it," Obama replied, then jokingly added to the nearby crowd of shoppers: "Any other issues?"

The president bought 17 books at the popular bookstore, known for its selection and authors readings. The shop is owned by a former Washington Post reporter and his wife, also a former Post reporter who later worked for Hillary Rodham Clinton at the White House and State Department.

Saturday after Thanksgiving is increasingly being marketed as "Small Business Saturday."

It's designed to drive foot traffic to independent, mom-and-pop-type stores in between the frenzy of Black Friday sales at mass retailers and the Cyber Monday deals available online.

Obama also held one shopper's baby.

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