Obama Tells Cedar Rapids Crowd: 'Our Economy is Getting Stronger'

President Barack Obama just concluded a speech on the shop floor of a conveyor belt plant in Cedar Rapids.

It was his first chance to fight back in Iowa since being bashed for months by GOP presidential hopefuls campaigning for the Iowa Caucus. Iowa will be a critical state for both Democrats and Republicans in the 2012 election.

The speech was the president's first stop on a five-state tour following on Tuesday night.

"Our economy is getting stronger," Obama said to an applauding crowd. "We have come way to far to turn back now."

He again focused on jobs and the economy while tossing a few jabs at Congress, such as, "Washington has collective amnesia."

Obama spoke for about 30 minutes.

Check back later for more coverage from the event.

Roughly 400 people attended. Prior to his arrival, the crowd sat still and silent, sandwiched between two fences, separating them from the media in the back and the presidential area in the front.

An enormous American flag hung as a backdrop, while people in suits walked back and forth between see-through red screens.

At around 11:36 a.m., the crowd silenced in anticipation of the president. Presidential theme music started playing at 11:40 a.m., prompting another anticipatory silence. At 11:45 a.m. Jeff Baxter, an official from Conveyor Engineering and Manufacturing, introduced the president to raucous applause.

The event started about 15 minutes before it was expected.