Live Blog: Obama Speaks at Grassroots Campaign Event in Woodbridge

On Sept. 21, President Barack Obama campaigned in Woodbridge at a grassroots event held at the Potomac Nationals Pfitzner Stadium near the County Complex. 

For a live blog of the event, see below. 

4:22 p.m.: The Prince William County Fire Marshal's office said approximately 11,000 people were in attendance today. The Obama campaign said 12,000 people were at the stadium. 

12:40 p.m.

Obama addressed the Republican perception that Democrats rely too much on what the government can do for them. 

"We don't think government can solve all our problems, but we don't think the government is the source of all our problems," he said. 

He concluded with a message of unity and bipartisanship. 

"We believe here in American, we're in it together," Obama said. "I don't know how many people will vote for me this time around, but I'm telling the American people I will be fighting for you no matter what. I will be your president no matter what." 

In education, he said, he's "not fighting for red state schools or blue state schools." 

"I'm fighting for American schools," Obama said. 

"I'm asking for you to keep believing in me. I'm asking for your vote." 

12:30 p.m.

Obama reflected on his time in office. 

"Four years ago, I promised to end the war in Iraq and I did," he said. "30,000 more troops have left Afghanistan. I promised to wind down in Afghanistan and we have." 

Caring for U.S. troops went beyond bringing them home, he said. 

"When our troops come home and take off their uniform, we will fight for them as hard as they've fought for us," Obama said. 

Ending involvement in wars overseas would have a positive impact on the deficit, he said. 

"I'll use the money we are no longer spending on war to pay down the debt," he said.  

12:25 p.m. 

"We've got to reduce our deficit," Obama said. "If we keep middle class taxes low, what do you do with the extra money?" 

"Spend it!" the crowd shouted. 

Obama expressed a desire to work across the aisle with Republicans to reduce the deficit. But his desire for compromise doesn't mean he'll just assent to whatever Republicans propose.

"I promise you, I will refuse to turn Medicare into a voucher," he said, in a nod to Republican vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan's thoughts on budget reform.

12:20 p.m.

"I want us to control more of our own energy," Obama told the crowd. "We can develop nearly 100 years of natural gas below our feet." 

"I want to give more Americans the chance to gain the skills they need to compete," he said.

12:15 p.m.

President Obama began speaking, amid the crowd's chants of "Four more years." 

The election is about two fundamentally different plans, he told the crowd. "Top down economics don't work," he said, criticizing the GOP's "trickle down" economic strategy.

When the crowd booed Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, he said, "Don't boo. Vote." 

"I see hardworking Virginians," Obama said. "Some of you may be students working your way through college. Some are single moms like my mom. Some are senior citizens, soldiers." 

He can't promise an easy or quick path to success, Obama said. 

"There's not a country on earth that wouldn't change places with us," he said.

12:05 p.m.

To kick off the event, the Woodbridge Little League team sang "Take Me Out to the Ball Game." Senator Mark Warner then gave an introduction.