LAS VEGAS - At an Organizing for America viewing party Tuesday night, Democrats who helped elect President Obama noted the unity seen on Capitol Hill.
"I think he struck a nice bipartisan tone," said Organizing for America Field Director Dave Osolnick. "I think working together is what people really want right now. People are hurting, and they want answers. They want a government that's going to work for them, and I think that's the message he delivered tonight."
The crowd erupted when Obama called for doing away with tax breaks for oil companies, advocated stopping tax cuts for the rich, and defended health care reform.
"I also liked that he really challenged Congress to come up with immigration reform," said immigration attorney Vicenta Montoya. "He talked about education, and how we need to be innovators, and being at the top of the list, and being able to go and do things once again, and drawing on that American heritage we have. I thought he was fabulous."
Chrissy Gronau is a realtor in Las Vegas who is concerned about the housing crisis and the fact Nevada has the most foreclosures in the nation.
"I'm not here as a Democrat. I'm not here as a Republican. I'm here as an American. I'm trying to help people stay in their homes," she said. "Nothing was addressed about the banks tonight. Nothing was addressed that when you lose your home, you become homeless or you move in with somebody else."
Beverly Cardozo, author of "Dear Mr. President" gave her take on the speech.
"The most important thing in that speech is unity," she said. "Let America unite as one, and if we continue to unite as one, we will move on to bigger and better things. That's what I heard Barack Obama say tonight."
The largest applause at the viewing party came when the camera showed U.S. Sen. Harry Reid (Nevada-D) watching the president's speech. Most of the attendees at the viewing party are staunch Democrats.
