Obama joins Nationals' Racing Presidents, challenges them to a race

WASHINGTON, June 12 (UPI) -- President Obama threw down the gauntlet at the annual congressional charity baseball game Thursday, announcing a challenge to the "Racing Presidents" mascots.

Obama made a surprise appearance at the 54th annual game at Nationals Park, nabbing a photo of himself with the five oversized mascots, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, William Howard Taft, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln and tweeting, "I challenged them to a race."

As he watched the ball game, Obama also took some time to schmooze with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle ahead of the House vote Friday on the trade bill.

The ballgame benefits the Washington Literacy Council, the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Washington and the Washington Nationals Dream Foundation. The Democrats won, 5-2.

I challenged them to a race. pic.twitter.com/FpEUTnYgoD

— President Obama (@POTUS) June 12, 2015