President Obama and Elkhart

Chuck Todd: In 2009, President Obama twice visited Elkhart to tout his economic agenda in an area in desperate need of a boost, according to MSNBC. The unemployment rate in the city in early 2009 A crushing 20 percent, up from 5 percent two years earlier. But for some observers, the northern Indiana city of Elkhart became a unique symbol of America troubles – and its opportunities. At the time, the president spoke to NBC Chuck Todd before an event in the community, and Todd asked if it’d be fair to use the city as a case study – if what happened to Elkhart in the Obama era could credibly represent the success or failure of the White House agenda. In the months that followed, MSNBC created an online venture called The Elkhart Project, monitoring the city progress as Obama policies started to take effect. Absolutely, the president replied. (news.financializer.com). As reported in the news.