President in Mount Vernon: Comments on Last Night's Debate, Criticizes Romney's Plans

President Barack Obama spoke to a packed crowd Wednesday at Cornell College, calling out political rival Mitt Romney and touching on Tuesday night's debate.

He reiterated criticisms of Mitt Romney’s economic plan in a 25-minute speech and made what seemed to be a tongue-in-cheek admission of his criticized debating skills.

"I’m still trying to figure out how to get this thing, debating," he said, with a smile. "I keep on improving as time goes on. We've got one left."

The crowd of about 2,000 people noticeably raised the temperature of Cornell College's Richard and Norma Small Multi-Sport Center in Mount Vernon. Audience members seemed torn between waving their bright blue campaign signs and fanning the heat from sweaty faces.

For their part, the partisan crowd seemed pleased by the president's debate performance, cheering enthusiastically when it was mentioned by the president and previous speakers.

Wednesday afternoon's speech centered on the president's record, including what he called policy victories in education, national security, the economy and energy.

One audience member said the speech was "wonderful."

"He looked really fired up and inspired," said 81-year-old Nan Riley, of Marion.

Obama in Iowa

The speech marked Obama's fourteenth visit to the state since June. It's his third visit to Linn County this year. 

New York Time reporter Jennifer Steinhauer called Iowa "one of the most contested states " for the 2012 election, despite Obama's modest lead. 

Both Romney and Obama have been active in the state. Since the president's last visit in August, the campaign has been sending everyone from Vice President Joe Biden to Jon Bon Jovi, Bruce Springsteen, Sandra Fluke and Parks and Recreation stars Adam Scott and Rashida Jones.

A Huffington Post average of 21 different political polls has Obama leading in Iowa by a little more than 3 percent, down from about 4 percent last week. 

Obama spoke on economic future of the United States and Iowa.

"Iowa you are the reason we've got shuttering factories in Newton, humming again." 

Women

Obama also referenced Romney’s now infamous remark about having "binders full of women" involved in his cabinet selection.

"We don't have to collect a bunch of binders to find qualified women to teach in these fields right now,” he said. 

His stance on women's reproductive rights rang true for one audience member, 27-year-old Marion resident Laura Bryant. She came to see her friend sing the national anthem but identified with the president's message.

"Barack Obama has a lot of the same views as mine when it comes to womens' rights and education," she said, then refrenced Republicans. "I don't think that people without uteruses should be making decisions for people with uteruses."

About 20 or so supporters of Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney set up on First Street Southwest to greet Iowans on their way to the campaign rally, The Des Moines Register reported. They were staged near a custom-painted red, white and blue bulldozer, a prop for their “we built this” theme, a rallying cry for those who believe small businesses have been undermined by Obama.