RALEIGH, N.C. -- The Tar Heel State is getting a presidential visit Thursday afternoon.

President Joe Biden is making his way to Raleigh. White House officials say the president aims to encourage vaccinations and mobilize vaccine education and outreach efforts.            

He is expected to visit the Green Road Community Center to meet with front line workers and volunteers. Earlier this week, the Biden administration announced it would likely fall short of its goal to have 70 percent of American adults partially vaccinated by July Fourth.

White House officials insist they’re unconcerned. “We don’t see it exactly like something went wrong,” press secretary Jen Psaki said earlier this week, stressing that Americans’ lives are still better off than they were when Biden announced the goal.

A half-dozen officials involved in the vaccination campaign, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss the missed target candidly, pointed to a combination of factors, including: the lessened sense of urgency that followed early success in the vaccination campaign; a decision to reach higher than a play-it-safe lower goal; and unexpectedly strong recalcitrance among some Americans toward getting a shot.

When the 70% goal was first announced by Biden seven weeks ago, on average more than 800,000 Americans were getting their first vaccine dose each day — down from a high of nearly 2 million per day in early April. Now that figure is below 300,000.

Spectrum News 1 is closely following the president's visit and will keep you updated throughout the day. Make sure to download our app.