LAS VEGAS -- President Obama on Friday tried to reassure unemployed Nevada workers that help is on the way.
"Nevada, I know we've been through tough times, and I can't promise you the difficult days are all behind us," the president said. "I can't promise you there won't be more times to come. But, I can promise you this. We are headed in the right direction. We are moving forward. We're not going to move backwards."
The president moved to policy issues, using a Nevada business as an example of job creation. "A solar power company called Amonix received a roughly $6 million tax credit for a new facility they're building in the Las Vegas area," President Obama said.
The president's speech to a hand-picked audience at UNLV's student union was designed to promote both his agenda and to bring support to U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, who faces a tough re-election bid this year. The president said Senator Reid is the best person to fight for Nevada.
Reid took the stage before President Obama. He highlighted his accomplishments as Senate Majority Leader, giving special attention to health care reform. "No longer will insurance companies be able to willy-nilly deny insurance because of pre-existing disability," Senator Reid said. "If a kid has diabetes or some other problem, that's no longer the law in America. We changed it."
Many of those who attended reacted positively. "I like the calmness of the president and the fight, the determination that he has," said William Johns of the New Life Christian Center. "It was very informative for me as a teenager what they're doing to help out schools," said Las Vegas Academy Junior Malia Civetz. "I was very impressed. It was amazing."
"I am absolutely confident that if we're willing to keep on moving forward; and if we refuse to turn backward; if we're willing to show a little of that same fighting spirit Harry Reid has shown throughout his career, then we will make our way through these storms to brighter days ahead," the president concluded.
Ticket to hear Obama speak at UNLV.
