Gov. Scott Walker gave President Barack Obama a friendly tarmac welcome in Milwaukee, but opted out of accompanying him to a Master Lock factory during his visit.

After Air Force One landed and Obama deplaned, the governor presented him with a Milwaukee Brewers' jersey that bore the No. 1 and Obama's name.

The airport greeting was drawing special attention, given Democratic antipathy toward Walker and the tense exchange Obama had last month in Mesa, Ariz., with Republican Arizona Gov. Jan. Brewer.

But there was no drama on Wednesday. The two smiled and shook hands and Walker presented the jersey to Obama, who examined it and folded it in his arms.

Walker's spokesman Cullen Werwie said Wednesday that the Republican governor was recovering from a "nasty case of the flu" and canceled his plans to be with the president at the padlock maker. Walker said in a Tuesday message on Twitter that he was sick with an upset stomach.

Obama's visit to Milwaukee is his first to Wisconsin in more than a year.

Walker has been attempting to tie his fate in a probable recall election with Obama's chances of winning Wisconsin in November. In a recent fundraising letter, Walker said surviving a recall election would deliver a "devastating blow" to Obama's re-election.