Could Michelle and Barack Obama Join the Romneys as La Jolla Residents?

Barack Obama and Mitt Romney—neighbors?

So suggests Michelle Obama.

In the first lady’s opening remarks at a $1,000-a-plate La Jolla fundraiser Friday attended by 100 people, she said: “It is just such a beautiful city. It’s one of those we’re kind of looking at when this is all over, don’t you think?”

The crowd of supporters reportedly cheered the remark made at the home of some of Obama’s biggest financial supporters—Qualcomm co-founder Irwin Jacobs and his wife, Joan.

Mitt Romney, the Republican candidate for president, also owns in La Jolla. And 2008 presidential candidate John McCain’s wife, Cindy, has property in La Jolla Shores.

Although possibly said in flattering jest, Michelle Obama’s remark reflects a history of presidents seeking retirement respite on the California coast—such as Richard Nixon and his Western White House in San Clemente.

The visit was the first lady’s third third visit to San Diego since her husband became president in January 2009.

The event raised money for President Barack Obama’s 2012 Victory Fund.

The Jacobses recently were listed as the second-largest contributors to the president’s campaign and political action committees, giving more than $2.1 million, according to U-T San Diego.

The largest Obama campaign benefactor, at $2.56 million, is reported to be DreamWorks Animation CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg.

The event brought a heavy law enforcement presence to the normally quiet neighborhood, plus a few protesters.

Here is a portion of Michelle Obama’s speech at the Jacobses’ La Jolla home: 

So now that we’re at 11 days out—and I know you’re going to be out there, right? You’re going to be taking to people. When people ask you what this president has done for our country, when you run into people who are still deciding which of these guys is going to be the best one to help keep America moving forward, a few things you can tell them.

In addition to everything he has done for our economy, for health care, for education, for women, I want you to tell them how Barack ended the war in Iraq. Tell them how he took out Osama bin Laden. Remind them how he is fighting every day to get veterans and military families the benefits that they have earned.  

Tell them about all the young immigrants in this country who will no longer have to live in fear of being deported from the only country they have ever called home. Remind them, tell them about the brave service members who will never again have to lie about who they are to serve the country they love.

And remind them of the concrete plans—do you hear me? I emphasize “concrete”—real plans that Barack has laid out for the next four years.

Send them to our website. We’ve got one. BarackObama.com/plans. And there, they can learn how he’s going to create millions of new jobs, train the best workforce in the world, boost American-made energy, reduce our deficit, end the war in Afghanistan so—did I say Afghanistan? I do know how to say the word—so that we can do some nation building here at home.

And tell them, please—this is the most important thing that I want you to tell them about their president. I want you to tell them that Barack Obama knows the American Dream because he’s lived it. He has lived it. And he is fighting every day so that every single one of us in this country can have that same opportunity—no matter who we are, or where we’re from, or what we look like, or who we love. 

But let’s be very clear. While he is proud of all that we have achieved together—and we have done this together—my husband is nowhere near satisfied. Of all the people on this planet, Barack knows that too many people are still hurting.  He knows very well that there is plenty of work left to be done.  As President Clinton said, it’s going to take a lot longer than four years to finish rebuilding an economy from the brink of collapse.

On Thursday, the first lady attended a campaign event at the Los Angeles-area home of actors Will and Jada Pinkett Smith, and taped an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live.

After leaving the Jacobses’ home just after noon, the first lady flew to Las Vegas. Nevada is one of the closely watched swing states.

—City News Service contributed to this report.