Mechanical problem forces Obama plane to land in St. Louis.

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, UNITED STATES (JULY 7, 2008) NBC -
U.S. presidential candidate Barack Obama's plane landed unexpectedly
in St. Louis on Monday (July 7) after experiencing a mechanical problem. 
    The pilot of the plane told passengers the problem had to do with
"controllability of the pitch" before landing safely in St. Louis.

    As the plane was descending, the pilot said the problem had been fixed.
The pilot reported having full authority of the aircraft. 
    Obama, an Illinois Democrat, was on his way from Chicago to Charlotte,
North Carolina, to give an economic speech. 
    "Anytime the pilot says something's not working the way it
supposed to, then you make sure you tighten your seatbelt," Obama told
reporters on board the plane as it sat on the tarmac in St. Louis.
    An Obama senior advisor Linda Douglas told reporters the landing was a
"precautionary move."
    The airplane, an MD-80, is a substitute for the usual plane used by the
campaign, which is being overhauled before the November election against
Republican John McCain.