Obama tells Tampa audience 'I won't stop fighting'

Saying that "creating jobs has to be our number one priority in 2010," President Barack Obama this afternoon pointed to the award of high-speed rail money as an example of a way to do that.

Florida will receive $1.25 billion in recovery money set aside for high-speed rail that will help build a Tampa-to-Orlando line. The project is expected to create 23,000 construction jobs and energize business development, along with improved mobility planned by late 2014.

Speaking at the University of Tampa, Obama called high-speed rail "building our infrastructure of the future ... . We want to start looking deep into the 21st century. There is no reason why other countries can build high-speed rail lines and we can't. That's what we're going to do here in Tampa, putting people to work. I'm excited. I'm going to come back down here and ride it. Y'all have a date."

Vice President Joe Biden said Florida received some of the $8 billion available for high-speed rail because "You are most ready, your plans are the most advanced."

Obama argued that high-speed rail is "good for the economy of the region, good for individual lifestyles, because people won't be stuck in traffic for two hours."

Of high-speed rail trains, he said, "Those things are fast, they are smooth, you don't have to take off your shoes."

As he did last night, Obama defended his administration's policies and said he was not going to govern by poll results.

Repeating to a cheering crowd what he said during his presidential campaign, "Change never comes without a fight. That was true then, it's true now. .... I won't stop fighting."

Wrapping up his speech, Obama said everyone should be ready to roll up their sleeves and play their part in rebuilding America.

A man in the crowd shouted, "Yes we can."

Obama smiled and responded, "Yes we can."

He then took off his jacket and started taking questions from the audience.

At least 2,600 people were able to get into the Bob Martinez Sports Complex to see Obama.

But hundreds who had tickets were turned away.

Tampa Fire Marshal Russell Spicola, who is on site and other fire inspectors determined the building was at capacity.

Alice Ortlieb, 20, a junior at University of Tampa, also was turned away after waiting in line since 10:30 a.m. That's in addition to waiting seven hours on Wednesday to get her ticket.

She said hundreds of people were turned away.

"He was the first president I ever voted for. I helped get him into office, and it's heartbreaking that I can't see him," she said.

People turned away and directed to the stadium did not see video of the president, just heard the audio of the speech over the stadium speakers.

When he arrived at MacDill Air Force Base around noon, Obama poked his head deep inside the turbine engine of a parked KC-135 Stratotanker, and nodded in approval as mechanics pointed out vital parts opened for repair.

There an open cowling. There a hydraulic line.

Behind him, Biden shook hands with smiling Airmen and dignitaries standing on the highly polished floors of Hangar 2 of MacDill Air Force Base.

"Thank you," the president said, to Senior Airman Dave Griffin of Macon, Ga., part of the maintenance crew.

Later, Griffin admitted the president looked younger than he does on TV, and rubbing his forehead said, "I joined the Air Force to better myself. I surely never thought I'd have the opportunity to meet and shake hands with the president."

Crews were part of the 6th Air Mobility Wing, the 927th Air Refueling Wing and the 45th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron.

Obama and Biden met local politicians, including Gov. Charlie Crist, Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink and Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio.

Crist was one of the first to greet Obama, offering him a firm handshake and leaning in to speak to him for about a minute.

Earlier, Crist told reporters he would thank Obama for approving stimulus finding to create a high-speed rail linking Tampa and Orlando. "I want to thank him on behalf of my fellow Floridians," Crist said. "To be able to generate tens of thousands of jobs right now is mission number one."

The governor also said he would urge Obama to promote more bipartisanship in Washington and "less bickering," and he said he would make a plug for Race to the Top education funding.

When asked about rumors that he did not want to appear with the president, Crist said, "If that were true, I wouldn't be here."

Crist went on to say, "We don't agree on everything, but we agree when it comes to fighting for jobs for my fellow Floridians. I have an opportunity as governor to fight for them every day, and damn it, I'm gonna do it."

After greeting some other public visitors, the 25-car motorcade left at about noon for an event at the University of Tampa.