I think his trip serves two rolls.
1. He gains whatever sympathy vote he can squeeze out of the mushy headed undecided vote (a smarmy move if you ask me.)
2. He can get to Hawaii just in time to prevent anything from getting out about the nature of his REAL birth certificate.
I agree with both of your points. I was scanning a thread on FR earlier and Andy Martin thought it was interesting that 0bama was waiting to fly in on Thurs, since Andy is leaving Wed night.