PORTLAND, Ore. — South Dakota is losing a special distinction.

Until Friday it was the only state still awaiting a visit from President Barack Obama.

But there is no Mount Rushmore on the schedule. The president is delivering the commencement address on the eastern end of the state at a two-year technical institute, a chance to promote his proposal for free community college and to become the fourth president to set foot on all 50 states.

It was a milestone the White House was observing by posting an online exhibit of photographs from each state taken by White House photographer Pete Souza. In at least one case, a visit is a liberal description. Obama flew into Nebraska in August 2012 to make a drive to Council Bluffs, Iowa. He was in the Cornhusker state less than a half hour.

At the start of the year, Obama had visited 46 states. The White House promptly set up appearances in two of the four remaining states — Idaho and South Carolina — followed by Utah in April. It’s no coincidence that the four are reliably Republican states.