President Obama was left stranded without a copy of his speech Friday as he prepared to give a short presentation about the importance of Californians enrolling in his health-care program.

As Mr. Obama walked on stage at the event in San Jose, Calif., he immediately noticed that a paper copy of his speech wasn’t on the podium with the presidential seal. The president was working without a teleprompter, and he tried to stall for time until aides could rescue him.

“Good morning everybody, it is wonderful to see all of you,” Mr. Obama said to the audience. “I want to thank everybody who is here. I think there’s only one problem, and that is that my remarks are not sitting here.”

Looking offstage, the president called out to aides: “People?” There was no immediate response.

Then the president turned back to the audience and said, “By Friday afternoon, things get a little challenged.” Even telling time was a challenge; it was about 9 a.m. local time in California.

Still without a script, Mr. Obama called offstage again. “People? Oh, goodness.”

Finally, an aide appeared with the speech. As some in the audience laughed, Mr. Obama said, “Folks are sweating back there right now.”

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