Despite the intense media focus on tonight's Republican caucuses in Iowa, Democrats from Dubuque to Sioux City also headed to local caucuses tonight—where they each heard from a special guest via webcast: President Obama.
The President spoke to the caucus-goers before the voting took place, reminiscing about a cold Iowa night four years ago, reflecting on the reforms that he and his supporters were able to enact since taking office, and urging those at tonight's caucus to maintain the determination they felt four years ago when they stood up in support of Barack Obama.
Before taking questions from caucus-goers in Coralville and Cedar Rapids, the President told the caucuses:
"We were just remembering the incredible energy and excitement and the spirit of common purpose that those Iowa caucuses represent. It was an example of how the campaign was not about one person, but it was about all of us coming together to try to deliver the kind of change that had been talked about a long time in Washington, but all too often hadn’t been delivered on.
"And it's because of you that I had this extraordinary honor over the last three years of working to try to deliver on that change. … 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. …
"The only way we’re going to be able to do that is if all of you maintain the same determination, the same energy, the same drive, the same hopefulness, the same optimism about this wonderful country of ours as was on display four years ago. And I want you to know that because of you, because of all the memories I have of being in your living rooms or meeting you in a diner or seeing you over at a campaign office, I have never lost that same source of inspiration that drove me to embark on this journey in the first place. You guys inspire me every single day.
"And I want us to remind each other that as much work as there may be out there before us, there’s nothing we can't accomplish when determined citizens come together to make a difference."