President Barack Obama made a long-awaited appearance in Maine Friday on a New England campaign swing.

“Hello Maine,” said Obama, with a smile, to kick off his appearance before 1,700. “I’m here because the country needs your help.”

Obama’s speech centered mainly on the economy and higher education, with a strong negative eye toward policies that Republican front-runners for the 2012 presidential nomination frontrunners have been presenting as mainstays of their own future plans.

“The last thing we need to is go back to the policies that got us into this mess in the first place,” said Obama on opponents’ plans. “Their philosophy is simple, you’re on your own. That’s their view. The only way the economy can grow is, if you’re out of a job, tough luck.

“If you don’t have healthcare, too bad, you’re on your own … pull yourself up by your own bootstraps, even if you don’t have any boots.”

The past actions of his opponents party was a strong point he referenced back too often, including the actions leading up to his own election.

“This same old, worn out, you’re on your own economics, that the other side is peddling. I mean they act like we haven’t tried it. We’ve tried it. I was tried back before the great depression, it didn’t work then. It was tried for the last decade, it didn’t work,” Obama said. “The idea that you would keep on doing the same thing over and over again even though it’s been proven not to work, that’s a sign of madness.”

The president touched strongly on the divide between the rich and poor in America, urging everyone in attendance to think carefully in the next election, citing that the economic future of the country depends on the decisions made in the next few years.

“That’s the choice in this election, different visions of America,” Obama said. “This is not just another political debate, this is the defining issue of our time and a make or break moment for the middle class in this country.”

Furthering his stance with the middle class, Obama also mentioned a leveling of tax rates, with tax increases for individuals earning more than $250,000 a year.

“If you’re doing really well, you can do a little more,” said Obama. “This is not class warfare. This is simple math.”

Obama also touched heavily on the state of education in the country, as well as that of young Americans seeking higher education.

“When Americans owe more in tuition debt than in credit card debt you know that’s a problem,” Obama said. “Higher education can’t be a luxury.”

Obama also mentioned securing the financial future of students in the country, referencing his efforts to pass legislation to keep student loan interest rates down. Currently, if no legislation is put forth, the interest rates on student loans could double in the next few years.

Students in attendance felt the speech was well worth the price of attending.

“He appeals to values,” Frances Leslie, a Bates College student. “He’s very relatable. I feel like the audience can connect with him.”

A group of students from UMaine also made the two and a half hour trek south to see Obama’s speech.

“It was absolutely worth the drive,” said Noel Madore, a third-year public management student at UMaine. “He’s a great leader, he knows how to talk to countries and citizens alike.”

All of them felt the trek was worth the trip, especially for the chance to see Obama in person.

“I think that trust is really important with a person, especially someone running for office,” said Madeline Shaw, a first-year liberal studies student. “Seeing him on TV, you don’t really get that trust, but seeing him in person really made me have that trust in him.”

Obama’s speech, as well as the attitudes of his audience, portrayed confidence Democrats have that the president will be re-elected in the fall.

“We will continue to show that America is the greatest nation on earth,” Obama said. “We will finish what we started in 2008.”