At 2:05 pm on Friday, President Barack Obama stepped to the podium placed on the steps of Doheny Library at the University of Southern California.

It was a much-appreciated moment, especially for the several cheering supporters in the crowd of an estimated 37,000 who had arrived as early as 6 am. President Obama’s initial plea for his audience to get “fired up and ready to go” was met with resounding applause.

The President’s speech concluded the Democratic National Committee’s “Moving America Forward” rally. Before the President took to the stage, there was a host of high-profile California Democrats: Sen. Barbara Boxer, Gubernatorial candidate and current Attorney General Jerry Brown, Attorney General candidate Kamala Harris and Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

With just 11 days before the midterm elections, the theme of the rally was vote and vote Democrat.

“It is up to us to move the country forward, to not stay on the sidelines, and to at least vote,” Kal Penn, a former actor and current campaign field worker, instructed the crowd.

Kamala Harris, San Francisco’s reform-minded District Attorney, who is running against Los Angeles DA Steve Cooley for Attorney General, echoed that sentiment, saying that the election proved a forum for discussion. “It’s about our voice, and we’ve got a lot to say,” Harris said.

During his 25-minute speech, President Obama emphasized the need to move forward, to avoid the mistakes of his Republican predecessors, and for the audience, to recommit themselves to what he called a “difficult task.”

He also warned the audience that a return to a Republican-dominated government was essentially a return to the past.

“We tried it, we didn’t like it and we’re not going back to it,” Obama said.

Using the metaphor of a car and driver, Obama argued that Republicans had driven the country into a ditch. Jokingly, he added, “[Republicans] can’t have the keys back, [they] don’t know how to drive.”

While most of his speech drew comparisons between the ideologies of the two political parties, Obama reminded his audience that change takes time, and with change inevitably comes dissent.

“But don’t ever let anyone tell you that our fight hasn’t been worth it,” said Obama. “Don’t let them tell you we’re not making a difference. Because of you, there are people here in California who don’t have to choose between getting treatment for their cancer and going bankrupt.”

“Fight on,” he added to the roar of the Trojans and against a backdrop of students clad in cardinal and gold USC garb.

For the majority of the audience, Obama was the big draw to the rally. Supporters were adorned in “Yes We Can” T-shirts and Obama blankets.

Residents of the surrounding South Los Angeles neighborhood took special pride in having President Obama on their turf.

Sherall Preyer-Sumler, a South Los Angeles resident, attended the “Moving America Forward” rally because she still believes “Obama has a lot to offer us.”

“At USC, everyone can get to come and see him by bus, train or driving. It’s just a great location,” said Preyer-Sumler.

The choir from the Foshay Learning Center on South Harvard Boulevard sang for the crowd before the President’s appearance, and Crenshaw High School student Esaul Parra donned his military dress to stand on stage with the commander-in-chief.

For Preyer-Sumler, education was a key issue for Obama to address. Her 6-year-old daughter attends a charter school Lou Dantzler Preparatory Elementary on 53rd Street.

“I think it’s important that we have money to support schools more than anything else,” Preyer-Sumler said.

Education was also on the minds of several of the University of Southern California students in attendance.

“He promised to put so much money into education, and a lot of its been reallocated to things like Afghanistan,” said Jake Kennedy, a University of Southern California junior.

Pilar Posada, a West Covina resident, spoke out against the economic downfall.

“[Obama] needs to take the economy a little more seriously and evaluate everybody’s necessities equally,” Posada said.

While concerns about Obama’s policies lingered, many in the crowd expressed great appreciation for the ability to witness a presidential speech.

Keith Baker attended the rally with his young son Kamal. Kamal perched on the barricade in order get a glimpse of Obama, a president he hoped would be in office “forever.”

“I’ll probably never see this again in my lifetime,” Baker said. “So any chance I get, it’s so important that we can share this.”