President Obama campaigns in VB

WAVY TV

Updated: Sep 27, 2012 8:18 PM

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — President Barack Obama continued his campaign for another four years in office in front of a crowd of thousands in Virginia Beach Thursday.

The president spoke to an estimated crowd of 7,000 after being introduced by Senator Jim Webb (D-VA).

Photos: President Obama at Farm Bureau Live

The president utilized his classic line of "Don't boo... vote!" several times throughout the course of his speech as attendees booed at the mention of the president's opponents. He continued driving his platforms of the military and the economy.

Chants of "Four more years, four more years" resonated throughout the amphitheater crowd several times.

Obama addressed his opponent Mitt Romney's 47 percent comment.

"I don't think we can get very far in this nation with a leader who writes off half the nation as victims who never take responsibility for their own lives... I see hard working Virginians. I see students trying to work their way through college," Obama said.

Romney's "47 percent" comment centered around an argument in which he claimed 47 percent of his supporters do not pay income taxes, depend on government handouts and will never even vote for him.

"We don't believe anyone is entitled to success in this country," Obama said. "We don't believe in a government who is trying to help people who wont help themselves, but we do believe in something called opportunity."

That campaign talk strongly resonated with Obama's supporters Thursday.

"Romney is saying things that do'nt pertain to me. Rich people are getting richer. I don't know anyone who makes over $20 million dollars a year.  I don't even know anyone who makes over $250,000 a year... that turns me off about Mitt Romney. It really does," Obama supporter Melanie Standifer said.

WAVY.com spoke with Romney Virginia campaign organizer Curt Cashour who said  the Romney plan for the middle class is to create 340,000 jobs.

"Unleashing Virginia's energy resources, reversing the President's tax on the coal industry and reversing the Presidents defense jobs that could eliminate 136,000 jobs here in the Commonwealth," Cashour said.

The President addressed the military, but did not mention possible severe defense cuts in Hampton Roads.

"President Obama has already proposed $487 billion dollars and that is in addition to his own defense cut plans. For President Obama to say that is out of touch."

Attendees of the campaign rally began lining up as early as 6 a.m. to secure their seats to see President Obama. Chopper 10 flew around the amphitheater Thursday morning and captured last minute preparations for the president's visit.

If you attended the event, please send your pictures to reportit@wavy.com.

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