The presumptive democratic presidential nominee had a warm welcome as he took the stage this morning in Elkhart County.

Barack Obama spoke to a packed house of about 14-hundred supporters, touching on his plan to break America’s addiction to foreign oil.

Obama promised a $1,000 energy rebate to middle class families, as he promised to invest some $150-billion over 10-years in alternative energy.

Today’s campaign stop would have been fairly routine had it not taken place in the State of Indiana, which has been a political no man’s land for some six decades.

“We haven't had a fall campaign for president that's really been contested in our state for sixty years,” said U.S. Senator Evan Bayh as he introduced Obama. “Since Harry Truman’s famous train went back and forth across Indiana several times.”

When asked by a seven year old girl why he started running for president, Obama quipped, “I got hit in the head with a rock.”

Obama said he has been campaigning for nearly two years now, and that babies who were born when his race began are now walking and talking.

Obama focused his words on what he called America’s addiction to foreign oil. Senator Obama has a ten year plan designed to break it.

“We’re going to double the amount of energy that comes from renewable sources by the end of my first term and that means investing in solar and wind and biodiesel,” the candidate said.

“I need your help Elkhart, I need your help Indiana, let’s go grab that better future for America, you and us together.”