Obama: 'We need a plan for the economy'

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - The President walked into the backyard of the South Valley home just after 10 a.m. on Tuesday and was greeted by a round of applause. He started shaking hands immediately and informally chatting to residents of the city before his official discussion started at 10:15 a.m. New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson arrived just minutes before the President did.

President Obama started the discussion out saying that America needs a "long-term plan for [the] economy." The President was quick to mention that the U.S. "had problems before [the] crisis hit our country, and that's why [he] ran."

The President began talking about some economic crises facing our country. He mentioned that the U.S. is working our way out of housing crisis, and that we need to get to more traditional, common-sense thinking.

President Obama started talking about breaks that small businesses are eligible for. He said they knit community together.

He transitioned later to the importance of education in the U.S. The President said the U.S. needs to "stay competitive" and "allow our next generation to succeed." The President said education is key. Public schools need help, early childhood education is important, as well as affordable higher education, he iterated.

One of his hopes for American children was that they could improve on science on math so that U.S. is number one in world on those subjects. The President's basic message is that education - prioritizing children's success - is plan for long-term success.

When someone in the crowd in Albuquerque said that his students are scared they cannot afford college, the President responded that college should be "a given" in this country.

After an hour of speaking, the son of the man hosting President Obama in his backyard said his father, who is a veteran, needs more medical help. One commenter during a live chat on KRQE.com said "I believe that the medical care for these veterans needs a lot of improvement," said user Gutierrez. "My husband is a Vietnam veteran and he has been fighting for his pension since 1972. He needs help and better care." The President said improvements will be coming to veteran vetners and hospitals.

The President left the discussion just after 11:17 a.m.