Monday afternoon, people from across several western North Carolina counties poured into Wilkes County to see President Barack Obama. He spoke in the gymnasium of West Wilkes High School as part of his effort to gain public support for his American Jobs Act.
Some visitors shared their opinions with WFDD News, including 61-year-old Gerry McBade, who is a retired court counselor in Boone. He says he has friends who can't retire yet and need a job.
Cindy Sellers owns and operates a small insurance company in Alexander County. And from her staff of eight, she's just laid off three because business is slow.
Both McBade and Sellers believe President Obama needs to stay in office in order to have time to push through initiatives they believe will help stabilize the economy.
As of September, 2011, unemployment in Wilkes County was 11.5 percent.
President Obama's next stop is at Guilford Technical Community College in Jamestown. Then, the President will continue his tour in Virginia, stopping in Emporia and Hampton.
