Sen. Obama Reintroduces Himself to Florida Voters

TAMPA | In his first public appearance in Florida in nine months, Sen. Barack Obama sought to reintroduce himself in a state where he has been defined largely by his boycott.

"It's good to be back in Florida," Obama told 16,000 screaming supporters at the St. Pete Times Forum. "I know you guys have been holding down the fort."

Obama's 40-minute speech was perhaps most notable for the nearly five minutes he spent talking about his own family and political history, reminiscent of the early speeches Obama delivered before the first primary contest in Iowa.

"Let me tell you, if you need to know what I stand for, let me tell you quickly a little bit about myself," Obama said.

By talking about being raised by a single mother and grandparents from Kansas who battled through the Great Depression, Obama said he hoped to counter efforts by Republicans to sow doubts about his "funny name" and what he stands for.

"A lot of Floridians are just getting to know him, who he is and what he stands for," said former Florida gubernatorial candidate Jim Davis, who, after the speech, announced he was endorsing Obama.

In August, Obama, Sen. Hillary Clinton and other leading Democratic candidates agreed to boycott Florida because of the state's decision to hold its primary election on Jan. 29, earlier than national party rules allowed.

Obama's only appearances in the state were fundraisers, including one in Sarasota in November.

State Rep. Keith Fitzgerald, of Sarasota, who had a one-on-one meeting with Obama on Wednesday, described the Illinois senator as calm and engaged.

Although Clinton continues to press her plea to count Florida's primary, which she won convincingly, Obama spent little time talking about the dispute or how to reinstate Florida's delegates.

Obama praised Clinton for a breaking of barriers that will help his own daughters in the future, but focused his remarks on the general election, noting that he is on the "threshold" of becoming the Democratic nominee.

He told the crowd not to be worried about lingering effects of the long primary battle.

"We can't afford four more years of George Bush foreign policy. That is why we can't afford John McCain, and that's why Democrats are going to be unified in November."

McCain has criticized Obama for being willing to meet with Iranian leaders.

But Obama shot back Wednesday, saying that to avoid seeking diplomatic solutions with Iran would "perpetuate the same errors that George W. Bush has made."