Obama talks to Iowa supporters on caucus night
(CNN) – President Barack Obama addressed via video conference several Democratic caucus sites in Iowa Tuesday, four years after winning the state's contest in a surprise victory that fueled his campaign on a path to the nomination.
"We've still got a lot of work to do. But think about the change that was accomplished because of those caucuses four years ago," Obama said.
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Among the accomplishments he listed since taking office, Obama touted the withdrawal of troops from Iraq, the passing of health care reform and the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."
The president joked that he has since grown more "gray" but said he's more optimistic about the ideas of "hope and change" that he trumpeted in his last run.
"We've already seen change take pace," Obama said. "2012 is about reminding the American people how far we've traveled."
Obama took part in the video conference from the Capital Hilton in Washington, using a system called Adobe Connect.
His comments came as results poured in from the Republican Iowa caucuses, the first GOP presidential nominating contest of the cycle.
Taking questions from supporters, Obama took a shot at Republicans for supporting "tax cuts for the wealthiest among us."
"It's going to be a big battle, though," he added. "I hope you guys are geared up. I'm excited."
While the Republican candidates have been campaigning heavily in the Hawkeye State for much of the last year, national Democrats and the Obama re-election team have also been laying down a strong network across the state ahead of the general election in November.
In 2008, Obama won Iowa by nine percentage points over Sen. John McCain.
According to the Iowa Democratic Party, more than 25,000 Democrats turned out to caucus on Tuesday, with more than 7,500 people signing up to volunteer for the Obama team.
"We not only saw how excited Iowans are to support President Obama, but to also work for his reelection. The Iowa caucus was a great opportunity to test our campaign organization and expand our volunteer base as we move toward November," said the party's Iowa chairwoman, Sue Dvorsky, in a statement.
- CNN's Jessica Yellin contributed to this report.
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If he wants to tout something, he should try something that has had a positive effect on the nation.
^ Ending the Iraq War is positive.
Its the GOP that is negative.
That's why you're going to lose......again.
We see everything Barack, and we have your back. The republican leadership and party obstructionist tactics of self inflicting chaotic behavior is nothing short of treason and it will not prevail. Go get em!
Dream on Mr. Divisive-in-Chief. You are going to need more than Teleprompters, partisan attacks, lies and your newest attack pet, (Whats-her-man), to win the 2012 election. You promised so many things and have failed at 99.5% of them. Especially, our beloved country is now more divided than under any other president in history.
Thank you fellow Democrats and especially YOU, Mr. President!
Man, he looks very gray there. Should have dyed his hair, lol.
There are three GOP candidates that claim God personally told him or her to run.
Obviously God is messing with two of them.
President Obama is going to win in 2012 – Santorum and MITTens will allow that!!
Is it me, or Is it a Fact that everyone running for President..including the President "Stinks!"
We don't need a new President. We need a new Congress! Throw the bums out.
As a republican I look forward to voting for President Obama again. The GOP has wasted their terms in office fighting this president instead of working with him. I vote based on merit. I don't recall anything positive coming from the GOP in years....it's all about obstruction.
Obama has got no where. Time to admit our mistakes and get someone new in the drivers seat.
He smells blood already. It looks like the Republican congress will have to redouble their efforts in gridlocking Obama to make him look bad since their "perceived" candidate Mitts won't be able to pull off an overturn. Sad. The country will lose out as we always do. All those kids coming out of college with no jobs – where are the jobs, Barack?
CNN doesn't like my first post. The Republican congress will have to redouble their efforts to gridlock Obama to make him look bad – since Mitts won't be able to pull off an overturn. Sad. The country will lose out as we always do.
Obama gets my vote for another 4 years, and I'll be voting out many in Congress, and the Senate. Both Democrats, Republicans, but especially Tea Party members!
ive been a obama fan from day one and ron paul is to old obama2012 yes we can!
Obama is good for nothing. He said, he killed osama, but osama never existed, it was a usa goverment big lie. Obama pulled out troops from irak, but is provoking a war against iran. Obama is socialist and is against us citizens will. The suprem court will rule agaist him the obamacare and favor anti-illegal immigrants states laws. Obama is destroying the usa!!!....
A do nothing congress? Obama had the house and senate in his pocket for two years, and had to break the law to get anything passed. That's bad. The majority of this country has lost faith in Obama. We do need a change
Sure, pulled them out of Iraq and sent over half of them over to Afghanistan. And the Patriot Act that took us into Iraq, that stupid mess, he uses it to keep us in profitless wars.. Nope, not Obama again. As soon as Santurom falls, Perry pulls out, and the other minors flush away, Paul will take those votes to the bank. Romney will fall, and Obama will be hard put to dislodge Paul from rolling over him and the rest of congress that are trying to suppress his thunder