Shore residents welcome Obama, encouraging words

    Thousands of people waited out in the rain for hours to hear President Barack Obama’s speak in Asbury Park Tuesday.

     

    “For somebody who hasn’t seen their home rebuilt yet or is still trying to get their business up and running again after those losses, we don’t want them to think that somehow we’ve checked a box and we’ve moved on,” Obama said. “That’s part of the reason I came back to let people know we’re going to keep on going until we finish.”

    Long Branch resident Olly Davenport said he’s pleased that the president said the federal government is committed to helping the Shore rebuild.

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    “It shows that he is going to own up to his commitments. He said that he was going to help the shore, and he helped the shore,” he said. “So I think that was a good thing.”

    Belmar resident Cathy Quinn is delighted Obama and Gov. Chris Christie, who toured areas of the Shore together Tuesday, are working together to help the state recover from Sandy.

    “They’re not pointing fingers at one another and they’re doing stuff so we can get stuff done. They’re on the same team. So it’s good,” she said. “We need them.”

    Security did not allow umbrellas at the event, and even though many people in the crowd were soaked by the rain, they said they were glad to be there and were inspired by the president’s remarks.

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