Obama's Indiana thank-you tour

by Mark Silva

President Barack Obama wasn't only addressing the graduates of Notre Dame in Indiana on Sunday. He also was raising money for his party at a "Keep Indiana Blue'' event in Indianapolis.

"We had a wonderful time up at Notre Dame, and I told Father John that of all the controversies surrounding my appearance, they paled in comparison to what to do about the football team,'' Obama told supporters who greeted him at The Westin. "That's an issue we may not resolve within my four years....''

"Eight,'' someone called out.

"All right, well, maybe in eight we might get it done,'' the president said.

(Photo of a supporter applauding President Barack Obama at a fundraiser for Indiana Democratic congressmen by Mandel Ngan / AFP / Getty Images)

" We've, obviously have been working very hard over the first 100 days to lay the foundation for the kind of economy that's going to work for all Americans,'' Obama said in one appearance at the Westin. "And we've seen the kind of crisis that we haven't seen since the Great Depression, and yet, despite the enormous challenges, I think that Washington has actually been a pretty energized and hopeful time because we're getting things done...

" We started my presidential campaign two and a half years ago with this crazy idea that the American people wanted change,'' he said. " And nobody thought we could accomplish what seemed unimaginable at the time. And yet here we are and not only did we win an election, but more importantly, we're starting to deliver on the promises that were made. ''

"Hello, Indiana,'' Obama said at the fundraiser, still reveling over that little election last year. "We spent a little time in Indiana. It reminds me of why I like getting out of Washington so much. People are friendly. It brings back a lot of memories from all those days out here on the campaign trail. So I want to start out tonight by saying thank you -- thank you to all of you here in Indiana.

" I know that I'm here tonight because of you, and folks like you across this country who made the phone calls, and knocked on the doors, and registered voters, and dug deep and gave whatever you could, because you were hungry for new ideas and new leadership and a new kind of politics. And that's what we are trying to deliver right now in Washington.

"You believed that after an era of selfishness and greed, we could reclaim a sense of responsibility from Main Street to Wall Street to Washington. You believed that instead of huge inequalities and bubbles that bust, we could restore a sense of fairness and stability to our economy, and build a new foundation for lasting growth and prosperity. You believed that at a time of war and turmoil, we could stand strong against our enemies, stand strong for our ideals, and show a new face of American leadership around the world. That's the change you believed in; that's the trust you placed in me, that's something that I will never forget. ''