A summer without Obama: Martha's Vineyard in mourning

President Obama's White House has confirmed that the First Family will not be making their annual trek to Martha's Vineyard in Massachusetts this year.

Why?

According to the New York Times, one official chalked up the decision to the "demands of the re-election campaign calendar."  More than likely, the president's reelection campaign would prefer Mr. Obama seem more approachable and down-to-earth while they try to portray GOP challenger Mitt Romney as wealth and out-of-touch. The White House had reportedly booked the Obama's usual 28.5 acre compound for a stay in August, but cancelled the reservation in May.

This will surely be sad news for the Obamas' affluent neighbors.  The Boston Globe reports the tragedy:

The State Police detachment on the island has been told that the president will not be coming; extensive bookings to house the president’s staff and security have been canceled by the White House travel office; and the 28-acre waterfront ­estate in Chilmark where the Obamas stayed the last three years has been sold to a British couple.

Darn.  No pics this year of Obama riding a bike in mom jeans...

But Obama's cancelled vacation is not all sad news:

As a result, tee times in mid-to-late August might be easier to book on the Vineyard’s golf courses; meals at Nancy’s in Oak Bluffs and the Beach Plum Inn in Menemsha might be uninterrupted by a presidential visit complete with the Secret Service; and traffic might be slowed only by the normal congestion that makes summer driving on the Vineyard a stop-and-go endurance test.

After spending the 4th of July BBQing at the White House, President Obama is now setting off on a campaign bus trip through the battleground states of Ohio and Pennsylvania.