WINDHAM — President Barack Obama told voters they had a clear choice between two very different visions for America during his appearance at Windham High School on Saturday morning.

The event drew about 2,300 people, according to the Windham Fire Department. Cars lined London Bridge Road hours before the President's scheduled appearance. Chants of “four more years” filled the gymnasium as an upbeat crowd waited for the President to arrive.

Audience members joined in as Windham resident Emma Joanis. 12, sang the national anthem. The President was greeted by cheering and applause when he took the stage.

Obama told the crowd that the choices made in this election will affect their children, grandchildren and future generations. He ran in 2008 to restore the party and create opportunity for people to work hard, own a home, have access to health care, provide educational opportunities for their children and retire with dignity, Obama said.

“That's the American promise, that's the American dream, and we knew restoring it would not be easy,” Obama said.

He started his presidency knowing that restoring the American dream would take more than one year or one term, Obama said.

Obama told voters this election presents a clear choice between two fundamentally different visions on growing the economy, creating jobs and paying down the debt. He outlined a plan for restoring middle-class security by building from the middle out. Romney, he said, favors a return to the top-down economics that created problems in the first place.

The centerpiece of the Romney campaign's economic plan is a $5 trillion tax cut mostly benefiting the wealthiest Americans, Obama said. Congressman Ryan's plan would let Romney pay less than 1 percent in taxes each year, he said.

“Here's the kicker: He expects you to pick up the tab,” Obama said. “Governor Romney's tax plan would actually raise taxes on middle-class families with children by an average of $2,000. Not to reduce the deficit, or grow jobs, or invest in education, but to give another tax cut to people like him.”

Acknowledging the upcoming Romney-Ryan visit, Obama encouraged voters to question the Republican plan.

“Ask Governor Romney and his running mate when they're here in New Hampshire on Monday if they think that's fair. Ask them how it'll grow the economy, or strengthen the middle class. They have tried to sell us this trickle-down snake oil before. It didn't work then, and it won't work now. It's not a plan to create jobs. It's not a plan to cut the deficit. And it's not a plan to move our economy forward,” Obama said.

Both Romney and Ryan want to privatize Medicare while the current administration has strengthened the program and extended its life, Obama said. The reforms made saved seniors millions on prescription drugs and provided free health screenings, he said.

Over the past four years, Obama said, his administration has cut taxes for a typical New Hampshire family by $4,200.

The majority of middle-class families would not see a tax increase under his plan, Obama said. About 2 percent would pay a little more, he said.

The President touched on his desire to support home-grown energy companies and provide tax breaks for companies that invest in America rather than those outsourcing jobs.

The crowd chanted “USA” as Obama spoke of our military and wanting to bring veterans back to a strong economy.

He has grown fond of the term “Obamacare,” he said.

“It was the right thing to do. The Supreme Court has spoken. We are not going backwards, we're going forward,” Obama said.

After speaking, the President shook hands with people in the front row.

Pamela and Rob Hallock of Newton said one of the great things about New Hampshire is the accessibility of candidates during election time. Both Independents, they attend events for candidates of both parties to hear what they have to say.

“We don't necessarily run a straight Democratic ticket,” Rob Hallock said.

Pamela Hallock said she's hoping to see Obama in office for another four-year term. Compared with Romney, Obama has stronger foreign policy credentials as well as insight on domestic issues, she said.

“I think he has a deeper understanding of Middle America,” she said.

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Julie Hanson may be reached at Jhanson@newstote.com.