Obama: 'My Fellow Citizens, You Were the Change'

A good three hours before President Obama was scheduled to take the podium at the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, NC, the party faithful were already gathering at more than 60 "watch party"  outposts around the state, to listen together. 

They were not disappointed.

Obama's message for the next four years continues where his original platform left off.

"I was a younger man, I was a senate candidate from Illinois who spoke about hope – not blind optimism, not wishful thinking, but hope in the face of difficulty; hope in the face of uncertainty," Obama said.

"Eight years later that hope has been tested by the cost of war, by one of the worst economic crises in history and by political gridlock," Obama said.

And from there, Obama reinforced his retooled message, of moving the country forward through nation building, by reviving U.S. manufacturing and the jobs that will follow; and by investing in education and preserving middle class values by protecting the middle class.

"We don't think the government can solve all of our problems, but we don't think the government is the source of all our problems, either," Obama said.

"The election four years ago wasn't about me; it was about you. My fellow citizens, you were the change," Obama said, building momentum about a half-hour into his address.

He reflected on the past four yeas in office, the challenges he's met – and criticism – and how it has shaped his platform for 2012 and beyond.

"I know what it means to send young Americans off to battle because I've held in my arms the mother and fathers of those who didn't return from battle," Obama said.

"I now know exactly what Lincoln meant when he said 'I've been driven to my knees many times by the overwhelming conviction that I had no place else to go," Obama said. But as I stand here tonight I have never been more hopeful about America, not because I think I have all the answers, not because I'm naive about the challenges ... I am hopeful because of you."

Obama supporter JoAnne St. John said she'd never seen Obama so emotional as he was during Thursday night's speech.

"And I find myself emotional, as well, because I know he feels the importance of this election for all of us," St. John said.

Nashua City Democrat Chairman David Tencza said Obama's second term will allow him to travel around the country and be "the people's president"

"It was a classic inspiring speech by the president. He hit all the major issues,  and it was the perfect start to the general election," Tencza said. "Tonight cast the choice, between the president and what he wants to do, stay the course, and what Mitt Romney and Ryan want to do, which is dismantle government programs that assist middle class families," Tencza said.

Tencza and St. John were watching Obama speak at Thousand Crane II, one of three separate parties going on in Nashua – Thursday.  The other two were at Clocktower Place and Martha's Exchange, and together drew upwards of 70 people out for the convention watch party.

Dennis Nyhagen, 63, of Nashua, who stopped by Martha's Exchange, said he's got plenty of reasons for sending Obama back to the White House for four more years.

"I'll be 65 in November, so Medicare kicks in for me as of November 1. That's a big one. I'm also retired Air Force and trying to get back into the job market, and I see things opening up in my field, which is computer data base specialist," Nyhagen said.

"But it's hearing the constant lies form Ryan and Romney that irritates the heck out of me," he said.

"That's what scares me," said Katy Dutton, 35, also of Nashua, who said she recently relocated to the area after living in Vermont.

"This is my first time getting involved, because I think it's really important I'm kind of frightened of the Republican agenda," Dutton said.