In a last-ditch get out the vote effort, President Barack Obama made a campaign swing through Bridgeport Saturday afternoon.
The President spoke before a crowd of about 9,000 people at the Arena at Harbor Yard. He tried to rally Democrats one final time before the election.
"If everybody who voted in 2008 comes out in 2010 then we will win this election," said President Obama.
Democrats hope the President's visit to Bridgeport will help push Richard Blumenthal, Rep. Jim Himes and Dan Malloy across the finish line. Both Himes and Malloy are in tight races. Mr. Obama said the road has been tough, but he defended his record. He stressed that Connecticut will turn backwards if Republicans take control of Congress.
"Have you ever noticed Connecticut?" The President asked the crowd. "If you're in your car and you want to go forward what do you do? Put your car in D. If you want to go back what do you do? Put it in R. We don't want to go backwards."
While the President's speech received huge applause from this largely sympathetic crowd, he was interrupted twice by a group calling for increased AIDS funding.
The President fired back and said, "We're funding global AIDS and the other side is not so I don't know why you think this is a useful strategy."
But the President's strategy is to rally his party, despite an uphill battle. He brought out the familiar chant of 'Yes we Can.'
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Republicans responded to the visit. State GOP Chairman Chris Healy said, “His appearance and the cast of tax and spend political characters joining him today, are a fitting reminder of what is at state in next Tuesday’s election."
Sunday, former President Bill Clinton is coming to Connecticut. He's set to hold 6 p.m. rally at the University of Hartford's Chase Arena to stump for Gubernatorial Candidate Dan Malloy. The event is free and open to the public.
