Obama plays down row with governor

President Barack Obama said his encounter with Arizona governor Jan Brewer has been “blown out of proportion” and was not a big deal.

Mr Obama spoke with ABC’s Diane Sawyer about the Wednesday incident at the airport tarmac in Mesa, Arizona.

After the two were observed in intense conversation, Ms Brewer told reporters Mr Obama had complained to her about his depiction in her book Scorpions for Breakfast.

The governor wrote that the president lectured her condescendingly about immigration.

Mr Obama said it is good publicity for a Republican to argue with him – but that it was no big deal and that he told Ms Brewer in response to her request that he would be happy to meet with her.

He said it was a classic example of things getting blown out of proportion.