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President Obama visits Fort Myers

Naples resident Chris Halaschak expresses his frustration with being unemployed outside the Harborside Event Center on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2009, in downtown Fort Myers. Halaschak was disabled in an elevator accident where he fell four floors. Workers compensation has run out and he cannot find new work. David Albers/ Staff

Photo by DAVID ALBERS

Naples resident Chris Halaschak expresses his frustration with being unemployed outside the Harborside Event Center on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2009, in downtown Fort Myers. Halaschak was disabled in an elevator accident where he fell four floors. Workers compensation has run out and he cannot find new work. David Albers/ Staff

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  • After camping overnight for a ticket and arriving in line in the pre-dawn hours, Lehigh Acres resident E'noch Troup waits for admission to a town hall meeting at the Harborside Event Center with President Barack Obama on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2009, in downtown Fort Myers. David Albers/ Staff
  • Michelle Cook tries to stay warm while waiting in line outside of the Harborside Convention Center to see President Barak Obama in Fort Myers, Fla. on Feb. 10, 2009. Greg Kahn/Staff
  • An attendee shows off a ticket he camped overnight to attain while waiting in line to be admitted to a town hall meeting at the Harborside Event Center with President Barack Obama on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2009, in downtown Fort Myers. David Albers/ Staff
  • Naples residents Ray Boucher and Tina Adiska wait in line to attend a town hall meeting with President Barack Obama at the Harborside Event Center on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2009, in downtown Fort Myers. David Albers/ Staff
  • Police and secret service monitor the crowds gathering to attend a town hall meeting with President Barack Obama at the Harborside Event Center on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2009, in downtown Fort Myers. David Albers/ Staff
  • Fort Myers resident Rufus Lowe, in red, leads a chorus on friends he made waiting in line in a song he wrote for President Barack Obama as they wait for admission to a town hall meeting at the Harborside Event Center on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2009, in downtown Fort Myers. David Albers/ Staff
  • Rufus Lowe, 18, also known as 'Lil Rufus, center, leads others, including Susan Mills, in line waiting to enter the Harborside Convention Center in his song called 'The Year of Obama' on Feb. 10, 2009. Lowe, who recorded the song on Nov. 5, was hoping to get everyone in line to learn the song, 'I'm just trying to get Obama to hear it,' Lowe said. Greg Kahn/Staff
  • Irene Schauwecker, right, and Lois McCammon, left, get some sleep in there car outside of the Harborside Convention Center in Fort Myers, Fla. on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2009. Both didn't have tickets to see President Barak Obama, but still arrived at 2:30 a.m. to see the all the fanfare. Greg Kahn/Staff
  • Fort Myers Police Officer Wolfgang Daniel stands guard outside of the Harborside Convention Center before a town-hall meeting by President Barak Obama in Fort Myers, Fla. on Feb. 10, 2009. Greg Kahn/Staff
  • Drew Mason, 20, takes photos from a parking garage of people in line outside of the Harborside Convention Center to see President Barak Obama in Fort Myers, Fla. on Feb. 10, 2009. Greg Kahn/Staff
  • President Barack Obama landed at Southwest Florida International Airport Tuesday where he greeted a number of supporters before heading out to Harborside Convention Center for his town hall meeting on the economy. Michel Fortier/Staf
  • President Barack Obama landed at Southwest Florida International Airport Tuesday where he greeted a number of supporters before heading out to Harborside Convention Center for his town hall meeting on the economy. Michel Fortier/Staf
  • President Barack Obama landed at Southwest Florida International Airport Tuesday where he greeted a number of supporters before heading out to Harborside Convention Center for his town hall meeting on the economy. Michel Fortier/Staf
  • President Barack Obama landed at Southwest Florida International Airport Tuesday where he greeted a number of supporters before heading out to Harborside Convention Center for his town hall meeting on the economy. Michel Fortier/Staf
  • President Barack Obama landed at Southwest Florida International Airport Tuesday where he greeted a number of supporters before heading out to Harborside Convention Center for his town hall meeting on the economy. Michel Fortier/Staf
  • President Barack Obama landed at Southwest Florida International Airport Tuesday where he greeted a number of supporters before heading out to Harborside Convention Center for his town hall meeting on the economy. Michel Fortier/Staf
  • President Barack Obama landed at Southwest Florida International Airport Tuesday where he greeted a number of supporters before heading out to Harborside Convention Center for his town hall meeting on the economy. Michel Fortier/Staf
  • A screen shot of a sign asking President Barack Obama for help in Lehigh Acres.
  • President Barack Obama landed at Southwest Florida International Airport Tuesday where he greeted a number of supporters before heading out to Harborside Convention Center for his town hall meeting on the economy. Michel Fortier/Staf
  • A member of the Secret Service stands watch over the Presidential Limousines Tuesday prior to the arrival of President Barack Obama at Southwest Florida International Airport. Michel Fortier/Staff
  • President Barack Obama landed at Southwest Florida International Airport Tuesday where he greeted a number of supporters before heading out to Harborside Convention Center for his town hall meeting on the economy. Michel Fortier/Staf
  • Motorcycle officers from several Southwest Florida agencies wait for the arrival of President Barack Obama at Southwest Florida International Airport Tuesday before escorting him to the Harborside Convention Center for his town hall meeting on the economy. Michel Fortier/Staf
  • President Barack Obama landed at Southwest Florida International Airport Tuesday where he greeted a number of supporters before heading out to Harborside Convention Center for his town hall meeting on the economy. Michel Fortier/Staf
  • President Barack Obama landed at Southwest Florida International Airport Tuesday where he greeted a number of supporters before heading out to Harborside Convention Center for his town hall meeting on the economy. Michel Fortier/Staf
  • A member of the Secret Service stands watch as President Barack Obama and Air Force One roll into position at Southwest Florida International Airport Tuesday before heading out to Harborside Convention Center for his town hall meeting on the economy. Michel Fortier/Staf
  • After landing at Southwest Florida International Airport on Tuesday, President Barack Obama exits Air Force One and approaches a handful of supporters before heading off to Harborside Convention Center for a town hall meeting. Michel Fortier/Staff
  • President Barack Obama exits Air Force One Tuesday at Southwest Florida International Airport before heading out to Harborside Convention Center for his town hall meeting on the economy. Michel Fortier/Staf
  • A member of the Secret Service stands watch over the Presidential Limousines Tuesday prior to the arrival of President Barack Obama at Southwest Florida International Airport. Michel Fortier/Staff
  • President Barack Obama slips on a pair of sunglasses after entering the Presidential Limousine Tuesdayat Southwest Florida International Airport before heading out to Harborside Convention Center for his town hall meeting on the economy. Michel Fortier/Staf
  • President Barack Obama landed at Southwest Florida International Airport Tuesday where he greeted a number of supporters before heading out to Harborside Convention Center for his town hall meeting on the economy. Michel Fortier/Staf
  • President Barack Obama and Air Force One taxi down the runway at Southwest Florida International Airport Tuesday before heading out to Harborside Convention Center for his town hall meeting on the economy. Michel Fortier/Staf
  • A member of the Secret Service stands watch as President Barack Obama and Air Force One roll into position at Southwest Florida International Airport Tuesday before heading out to Harborside Convention Center for his town hall meeting on the economy. Michel Fortier/Staff
  • Doug Gaymon Jr. watches President Barack Obama from Ms. Ellen's Place on MLK Boulevard in Fort Myers as the president holds a town hall meeting at the Harborside Event Center on Feb. 10.
  • President Barack Obama and Governor Charlie Crist are greeted by the crowd during the town hall meeting held Tuesday, February 10, 2009 at Harborside Events Center in Fort Myers, Fla. Lexey Swall-Bobay/Staff
  • People line the street as they wait on MLK Boulevard for the arrival for President Barack Obama for a town hall meeting on Feb. 10, 2009 at the Harborside Event Center.
  • A woman covers her face after President Barack Obama passes in his motorcade in route to the Harborside Event Center in Fort Myers on Feb. 10 for a town-hall meeting.
  • People line the street as they wait on MLK Boulevard for the arrival for President Barack Obama for a town hall meeting on Feb. 10, 2009 at the Harborside Event Center.
  • Pre-kindergarteners from Dunbar Christian preschool wait on a bus bench on MLK Boulevard with their teacher Enid Torres, right, for the arrival for President Barack Obama for a town hall meeting on Feb. 10, 2009.
  • President Barack Obama steps off the stage to take a question from Henrietta Hughes, during a town hall style meeting, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2009, at Harborside Event Center in Fort Myers, Fla. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
  • President Barack Obama kisses Henrietta Hughes after he takes a question from her during a town hall meeting to discuss the economy, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2009, at the Harborside Event Center in Fort Myers.
  • President Barack Obama listens to a question asked by an audience member during the town hall meeting to talk about his stimulus package Tuesday, February 10, 2009 at Harborside Events Center in Fort Myers, Fla. Lexey Swall-Bobay/Staff
  • President Barack Obama tells audience member Henrietta Hughes, right, to talk to members of his staff after she tells him that she is homeless and asks him for help during a town hall meeting to talk about his stimulus package Tuesday, February 10, 2009 at Harborside Events Center in Fort Myers, Fla. Lexey Swall-Bobay/Staff
  • Secret Service stand watch as President Barack Obama addresses a crowd during the town hall meeting held Tuesday, February 10, 2009 at Harborside Events Center in Fort Myers, Fla. Lexey Swall-Bobay/Staff
  • President Barack Obama addresses the audience during the town hall meeting to talk about his stimulus package Tuesday, February 10, 2009 at Harborside Events Center in Fort Myers, Fla. Lexey Swall-Bobay/Staff
  • during the town hall meeting held Tuesday, February 10, 2009 at Harborside Events Center in Fort Myers, Fla. Lexey Swall-Bobay/Staff
  • President Barack Obama addresses the audience during the town hall meeting to talk about his stimulus package Tuesday, February 10, 2009 at Harborside Events Center in Fort Myers, Fla. Lexey Swall-Bobay/Staff
  • President Barack Obama addresses the audience during the town hall meeting to talk about his stimulus package Tuesday, February 10, 2009 at Harborside Events Center in Fort Myers, Fla. Lexey Swall-Bobay/Staff
  • President Barack Obama addresses the audience during the town hall meeting to talk about his stimulus package Tuesday, February 10, 2009 at Harborside Events Center in Fort Myers, Fla. Lexey Swall-Bobay/Staff
  • Marcela Rice, top center, takes pictures President Barack Obama while he speaks on the topic of the stimulus package during the town hall meeting held Tuesday, February 10, 2009 at Harborside Events Center in Fort Myers, Fla. Lexey Swall-Bobay/Staff
  • President Barack Obama quiets the crowd as he is greeted with a standing ovation during the town hall meeting to talk about his stimulus package Tuesday, February 10, 2009 at Harborside Events Center in Fort Myers, Fla. Lexey Swall-Bobay/Staff
  • President Barack Obama and Florida Governor Charlie Crist are greeted by the crowd with a standing ovation during the town hall meeting held Tuesday, February 10, 2009 at Harborside Events Center in Fort Myers, Fla. Lexey Swall-Bobay/Staff
  • Shirley Williams claps as she watches President Barak Obama take the stage from Ms. Ellen's Place, a restaurant on MLK Boulevard in Fort Myers, Fla. as the President holds a town-hall meeting at the Harborside Event Center on Feb. 10, 2009.
  • Darius Wilson, 11, and Aaron Wilson, 5, climb on their mother, Christina Ojeda's car for a better view after she pulled them out of school to witness the arrival for President Barack Obama on MLK Boulevard for a town hall meeting on Feb. 10, 2009 at the Harborside Event Center.
  • Kerry Geiger, a student at FGCU, waits on MLK Boulevard for the arrival for President Barak Obama for a town hall meeting on Feb. 10, 2009 at the Harborside Event Center.
  • Emma Smith sits as Katherine Vandal, left, historian at the Lee County Black History Society, hangs a sign on MLK Boulevard as they prepare for Barak Obama to pass by in route to a town hall meeting on Feb. 10, 2009 at the Harborside Event Center.
  • From left, Hubert Smith, Jay Parson, Clyde Battle, Richard Parson and Tony Thompson, wait on MLK Boulevard for the arrival for President Barak Obama for a town hall meeting on Feb. 10, 2009 at the Harborside Event Center.
  • From left, Vernestine Lias, Omari Love, 3, Johnnie Mae Vixamar, and Catherine Gary prepare as they wait on MLK Boulevard for the arrival for President Barack Obama for a town hall meeting on Feb. 10, 2009 at the Harborside Event Center.
  • Sedrick Harris, left, helps blow up purple balloons to symbolize the coming together of Democrats and Republicans as J.J. Bellamy holds his own balloon as they wait on MLK Boulevard for the arrival for President Barack Obama for a town hall meeting on Feb. 10, 2009 at the Harborside Event Center.
  • Members of the public listen to a man ask questions of President Barack Obama during the town hall meeting held Tuesday, February 10, 2009 at Harborside Events Center in Fort Myers, Fla. Lexey Swall-Bobay/Staff
  • President Barack Obama addresses the audience during the town hall meeting to talk about his stimulus package Tuesday, February 10, 2009 at Harborside Events Center in Fort Myers, Fla. Lexey Swall-Bobay/Staff
  • Holding a sign pleading for help for Haiti, Naples resident Marie Jerome waits for the arrival of President Barack Obama outside the Harborside Event Center on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2009, in downtown Fort Myers. David Albers/ Staff
  • Fort Myers residents Guerda Michel, Mila Saila and Violet Pierce, left to right, hold their signs up at the sight of a circling helicopter as the wait for the arrival of President Barack Obama outside the Harborside Event Center on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2009, in downtown Fort Myers. David Albers/ Staff
  • Holding a sign pleading for help for Haiti, Fort Myers resident Louis Kinson, 22, waits for the arrival of President Barack Obama outside the Harborside Event Center on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2009, in downtown Fort Myers. David Albers/ Staff
  • Jules Joseph, president of the Haitian American Community of Lehigh Acres, waits for the arrival of President Barack Obama outside the Harborside Event Center on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2009, in downtown Fort Myers. David Albers/ Staff
  • Naples resident Chris Halaschak expresses his frustration with being unemployed outside the Harborside Event Center on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2009, in downtown Fort Myers. Halaschak was disabled in an elevator accident where he fell four floors. Workers compensation has run out and he cannot find new work. David Albers/ Staff
  • Liberty Tax Service road waver Eric Anderson, of Cape Coral, waits for the arrival of President Barack Obama outside the Harborside Event Center on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2009, in downtown Fort Myers. David Albers/ Staff
  • Naples residents Ray Boucher and Tina Adiska wait in line to attend a town hall meeting with President Barack Obama at the Harborside Event Center on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2009, in downtown Fort Myers. David Albers/ Staff
  • Police and secret service monitor the crowds gathering to attend a town hall meeting with President Barack Obama at the Harborside Event Center on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2009, in downtown Fort Myers. David Albers/ Staff
  • Lyrics to 'The Year of Obama' written by Fort Myers resident Rufus Lowe circulate around the line for admission to a town hall meeting at the Harborside Event Center on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2009, in downtown Fort Myers. David Albers/ Staff
  • Fort Myers resident Ingrid Francoeur signs a petition by the Coalition of Immokalee Workers urging protection for migrant workers during the recession in the line for admission to a town hall meeting with President Barack Obama at the Harborside Event Center on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2009, in downtown Fort Myers. David Albers/ Staff
  • Healing from a broken ankle suffered in a mortar attack in Iraq, U.S. Army Cpl. Quran Pettyjohn waits in line to attend a town hall meeting with President Barack Obama at the Harborside Event Center on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2009, in downtown Fort Myers. Tuesday was also Pettyjohn's birthday. David Albers/ Staff
  • Police and secret service monitor the crowds gathering to attend a town hall meeting with President Barack Obama at the Harborside Event Center on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2009, in downtown Fort Myers. David Albers/ Staff
  • After camping overnight for a ticket and arriving in line in the pre-dawn hours, Lehigh Acres resident E'noch Troup waits for admission to a town hall meeting at the Harborside Event Center with President Barack Obama on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2009, in downtown Fort Myers. David Albers/ Staff
  • Fort Myers resident Rufus Lowe, in red, leads Fort Myers resident Vivian Lampkin, Oxford, Mich. resident Carol Bodell and Marco Island resident Shirley Brzezinski, left to right, in a chorus of his song 'The Year of Obama' while waiting in line for admission to a town hall meeting at the Harborside Event Center on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2009, in downtown Fort Myers. The group became friends camping out for tickets to the event. David Albers/ Staff
  • An attendee shows off a ticket he camped overnight to attain while waiting in line to be admitted to a town hall meeting at the Harborside Event Center with President Barack Obama on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2009, in downtown Fort Myers. David Albers/ Staff
  • Air Force One and it's crew wait for President Barack Obama to return from Harborside Convention Center where he held a town hall meeting. Michel Fortier/Staf
  • The Presidential limousine speeds up Chamberlin Parkway on it's way to Air Force One Tuesday after President Obama's town hall meeting in downtown Fort Myers. Michel Fortier/Staf
  • The Presidential limousine speeds up Chamberlin Parkway on it's way to Air Force One Tuesday after President Obama's town hall meeting in downtown Fort Myers. Michel Fortier/Staf
  • President Barack Obama makes his way up the steps to Air Force One Tuesday after speaking to Southwest Floridians during a town hall meeting on economic woes at Harborside Convention Center. Michel Fortier/Staf
  • President Barack Obama makes his way up the steps to Air Force One Tuesday after speaking to Southwest Floridians during a town hall meeting on economic woes at Harborside Convention Center. Michel Fortier/Staf
  • President Barack Obama waves goodbye Tuesday before boarding Air Force One and departing Southwest Florida where he spoke to an emotional crowd at Harborside Convention Center about his economic recovery plan. Michel Fortier/Staf
  • President Barack Obama waves goodbye Tuesday before boarding Air Force One and departing Southwest Florida where he spoke to an emotional crowd at Harborside Convention Center about his economic recovery plan. Michel Fortier/Staf
  • The flight crew for Air Force One prepares to depart from Southwest Florida International Airport on Tuesday afternoon. Michel Fortier/Staf
  • Air Force One passes by the terminal at Southwest Florida International Airport Tuesday before departing with President Barack Obama who spoke to an emotional crowd at Harborside Convention Center about his economic recovery plan. Michel Fortier/Staf
  • Air Force One lifts off from Southwest Florida International Airport with President Barack Obama Tuesday after speaking at a town hall meeting on economic woes at Harborside Convention Center. Michel Fortier/Staf

President Barack Obama spoke at a town hall meeting Tuesday, Feb. 10 at Harborside Events Center in Fort Myers.

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