Obama Gives St. Louis Area Crowds The Hard Sell

Raising money and getting ready for a fight. President Barack Obama came to St. Louis to garner support for health care reform, Thursday. It's an uphill battle with the issue dividing the country. At a downtown fundraiser for Senator Claire McCaskill, Obama made his pitch to supporters both for McCaskill, and his health care plan.

In front of supporters in a "preaching to the choir" atmosphere, the president told the Renaissance Hotel audience he was more interested in doing what's right for the country than, as he termed it, "doing what is popular." He went on to vow that he wouldn't grow weary of the fight that he believes is vital to the well-being of Americans.

"It can't be if it's gotta be when we are going to get it done and we're going to get it soon," said the President.


Earlier in the evening he had a private dinner that raised money for both McKaskill's 2012 campaign and for the democratic committee that funds other senate campaigns.

The President told supporters not to give up on health care and that, "This economy cannot work if we've got a broken health care system." He went on to promise, "we are going to have health care reform done this year, right now."

After the speech some supporters felt energized and hoped the President's message would give the chances of health care reform passing an extra boost.

"He needs us to be sure that we contact our congressman so that they don't just hear the loudest voices, they hear all the voices," said one supporter.

There was no word on Wednesday how much money the event raised.

Outside the hotel where he was speaking there was a different kind of fight going on. Protestors against the President's health care plan faced of with supporters in the streets. At one point things got so heated, police were forced to intervene.

Demonstrators went "eye -to-eye" in the middle of the intersection of 9th and Washington in Downtown St. Louis, outside the Renaissance Hotel as President Obama was speaking.

An estimated 500 demonstrators from both sides of the health care debate packed the corners.

Not long after Obama arrived, demonstrators left the corners and squared off face to face in the street for several minutes.

"Health care now ! Health care now ! Health care now !" chanted supporters of Obama's plan.

"Kill the bill ! Kill the bill ! Kill the bill !" countered the plans opponents.

"It's not about Obama," yelled one demonstrator. "It's about being able to go do your doctor and not having to mortgage your house to do it."

"Can I just say something … let me just saying something," answered a woman, trying to argue her side, but unable to drown out the other party.

There were much uglier exchanges. At one point opponents chanted get a job at supporters repeatedly.

Police eventually moved in and cleared the intersection. It had been closed to vehicle traffic for the presidential motorcade.

One contingent, members of the Tea Party movement, remained silent, with tape over their mouths