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Obama offers economic blueprint during stop in Cedar Rapids

President Barack Obama came to Iowa on Wednesday to launch a three-day tour to pitch his economic blueprint for the country.

President Barack Obama came to Iowa on Wednesday to launch a three-day tour to pitch his economic blueprint for the country.

As President Obama stops in Cedar Rapids, the presidential campaign comes home again to the Hawkeye state. Less than a day after delivering the State of the Union address, he's ready to talk more about jobs and the economy.

"It's an economy based on American manufacturing," he said. "More good jobs and more products made right here in the United States of America."

Speaking to about 400 people at Conveyor Engineering and Manufacturing, it becomes a perfect setting to pitch made in the USA manufacturing. President Obama calls for a new era with a different way of thinking.

"Getting people the education and training they need so they're prepared for the jobs of today and ready to compete for the jobs of tomorrow," he said.

President Obama's Blueprint for Economic Growth is a good match for this company. It started small 35 years ago. These days, it operates in an innovative, modern plant.

"He's putting an emphasis on investing, manufacturing and putting people back to work," said Davenport Mayor Bill Gluba, who was a specially invited guest. "Investing and exporting more products."

"I think it's exactly right," added Gov. Terry Branstad, (R) Iowa. "I just wish the president had a more aggressive policy to address the budget deficit and reducing the tax burden."

There's also a sense of history in this Cedar Rapids stop. President Obama kicked off his campaign to transform America here nearly five years ago. This time, it jump starts his bid for a second term.

That means calling back to values from the Heartland.

"Values that Iowa knows something about," he said. "Hard work, responsibility and the chance for a fair shot from Main Street to Wall Street."

From Cedar Rapids, President Obama is off to Phoenix, Las Vegas, Denver and Ann Arbor, Michigan.

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