Noting that Vermont has gone longer than all 50 states without a presidential visit – by President Clinton in 1995 – Barack Obama made a campaign stop at UVM, speaking to an audience of roughly 4,000, all standing shoulder-to-shoulder in the Athletic Campus Multipurpose Facility for a chance to see the sitting president and hear his case for reelection. 

Obama’s arrival, met by thundering cheers, followed a performance by Grace Potter and the Nocturnals and remarks by Gov. Peter Shumlin as well as Sens. Patrick Leahy and Bernie Sanders.

“It’s good to be at UVM,” the President said before outlining the achievements of his first term, including signing a law on pay equity for women, putting General Motors “back on top as the world’s number one automaker,” healthcare reform, the repeal of “don’t ask, don’t tell,” weakening al Qaeda with the death of Osama bin Laden and the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq.

The event was sponsored by the Obama Victory Fund 2012, a joint fundraising committee authorized by Obama for America and the Democratic National Committee. In a March 20 campus letter Interim President John Bramley stated that the event “does not reflect an endorsement of any particular candidate or political party by the University of Vermont. The Obama Victory Fund 2012 is paying to lease our facilities in the same manner that any other candidate or constituency is welcome to do. Please be assured that all costs of this event will be billed to the Obama Victory Fund 2012.”

Obama went on to note, calling for increased support, “I did say back in 2008, real change – big change – it’s hard.  It takes time.  It takes more than a single term and more than a single President.  What it takes is ordinary citizens who are committed to keep fighting and to keep pushing, and inching us closer and closer and closer to our country’s highest ideals. We will,” he said before closing and walking off stage to shake hands with the crowd, “finish what we started in 2008.”

Visit the University of Vermont’s Facebook page for posts during the events (including a photo of Air Force One flying over Living/Learning to close out the day) and look for the full story in the April 4 edition of UVM Today.