Wednesday afternoon, President Barack Obama made a campaign stop at the nTelos Wireless Pavilion in downtown Charlottesville. The president's visit to Charlottesville was all about rallying young voters.
He landed at the Charlottesville Albemarle Airport just after 2:30, where he was greeted by Charlottesville Mayor Satyendra Huja and members of the city council. After walking down the steps of Air Force One the president was presented with a key to the city by the mayor.
Shortly after shaking hands and greeting around 50 supporters at the airport, the president and his motorcade left the tarmac and headed down Route 29 to the nTelos Wireless Pavilion.
According to the Charlottesville fire marshal 7,500 people gathered at the pavilion to hear Obama. The line to get in reportedly stretched all the way to the Omni Hotel on the downtown mall. Though the Obama campaign was unable to speak at the University of Virginia, behind the podium were supporters decked out in blue and orange and UVA attire, evoking a collegiate atmosphere.
Prior to addressing the crowd, former governor and Senate candidate Tim Kaine, former Congressman Tom Perriello, and rising UVA fourth-year student Mathias Wondwosen rallied supporters.
Once on stage, the goal was to reach out to students at UVA and across the country, urging young voters to take the time to register to vote.
The president arrived shouting "Wahoowa" with the crowd erupting in cheers. He referenced that this was the third time he has spoken at the location and exclaimed, "I love coming to this pavilion."
On a more serious note, he started his remarks by asking those in attendance to pray for those in the Gulf Coast region affected by Hurricane Isaac. "When these things happen," he said, "There are no Democrats or Republicans, just Americans, and we stand by Americans."
Wednesday is the second and final stop on the president's two-day college tour. Obama acknowledged just like in 2008, the youth vote is going to be critical in holding on to the White House.
"You have more at stake in this election than anybody. When you step in the voting booth, your choice will shape the world not just the country," he stated.
The president also took aim at his now-official Republican challenger Mitt Romney. Obama said, "You will decide whether we can keep making college more affordable, or whether we take my opponents advice and just have your parents lend you money."
The president made it very clear to those in the pavilion Wednesday afternoon - chanting, clapping, and cheering won't do anything if those young people don't register and vote.
Right after Obama finished his speech at the pavilion, he went to the Herman Key Recreation Center and took to the web to reach more young voters on the popular website Reddit. Starting shortly after 4 p.m., the president answered questions for about an hour in a Reddit "Ask Me Anything" (AMA) forum.
The president then made an unscheduled stop into the Obama for America campaign office on the Charlottesville downtown mall.
Obama and his staff boarded Air Force One for departure around 5:45 p.m. and left Charlottesville shortly after.
