President Obama urged supporters at a campaign stop on Sunday at the University of Colorado to campaign "from dorm room to dorm room."
Just like his earlier visit to Colorado State University, over 13,000 people crowded the Norlin quadrangle on the CU, Boulder campus to hear President Obama. The President is looking to create momentum going into the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte later this week.
“On Thursday night I'm going to offer you what I believe is a better path forward. A path that will grow this economy and create more jobs and strengthen the middle class. And the good news is, you get to choose the path we take. And you can go with their plan to give massive new tax cuts to folks to have already made it. Or we can go forward with my plan to keep taxes low for every American who is still trying to make it,” Obama said to an enthusiastic crowd.
In his speech the president touched on American job creation, clean energy, women's reproductive rights and healthcare, where he surprised supporters by embracing the popular nickname of the Affordable Care Act.
“Governor Romney promised that on his first day of office he going to sit right down and grab a pen and end Obamacare. What that means is right away he'd kick nearly 7 million young people off their parent's plan, he'd take hope away from tens of millions of Americans with preexisting conditions by repealing reform. You know he calls it Obamacare and you know, I like the name....I do care,” said Obama.
The president criticized Romney for not putting more emphasis on the middle class, which resonated with Courtney Ervin, a CU sophomore who stood in line for hours to see Obama speak.
Ervin said she was "just so happy when he [Obama] spoke about all of the issues like health care, that really hit home for me, women's issues, gay marriage, I'm in favor of all of that stuff."
Republicans staged a counter rally at the University Memorial Fountain during Obama's speech. Senator Hank Brown participated and was optimistic about Romney's chances in Boulder county, though organizers admitted less than 15 people attended the rally.
“It's not a central control economy mentality here, its more of a liberty loving, independent flavor in Boulder, and that's why I think you're going to see Republicans do better here this time,” said Brown.
