The Presidential Motorcade left South Tampa Thursday night after President Obama spent roughly an hour and a half with about 50 guests who paid $20,000 a plate at a private home and on his way back to Air Force One, a few young children got the chance to see the President.
"We saw the President in the second car and he waved to us," one young child told Bay News 9 as he watched with his family from their neighboring house.
Air Force One touched down around 5:30 p.m. Thursday, about an hour ahead of schedule. A line of greeters, including Mayor Bob Buckhorn and City Councilman Charlie Miranda, gathered to welcome the President to Tampa.
The Ali brothers were among the VIP's invited to take part in the receiving line.
"My mom signed me out of school at 3 and we got showered and came down here as fast as we could,” Shane Ali said.
"It was very nice to shake his hand,” Chase Ali said.
Military families were also on the guest list. Ronald and Betty Wilson said they wanted to thank the President for what he's done for the troops.
"It's just such an awesome feeling to meet the President in person,” Betty Wilson said.
Before the President's arrival at the fundraiser, there were some last-minute preparations. Meantime, security was at an all-time high not only in the air but also on the ground, including the Secret Service, Hillsborough County Sheriff's deputies, Tampa Police, and even the bomb squad.
Among the guests at the event-- former Gov. Charlie Crist and Tampa Bay Bucs player Ronde Barber.
One attendee of the event said the ticket price was definitely worth it.
"I would love to see victory for President Obama," said Dr. Mona Mangat. "That would be a wonderful thing."
Mangat has thrown her support behind the President because as a St. Petersburg-based physicians, she feels that without Obama in the White House, health care will never be the same again.
"If President Obama is not re-elected we have a great chance of losing a lot of advances we have made in creating a better health care system," she said.
The group was treated to food by Chef Tyler Florence from the Food Network, while rocker Eddie Vedder played a set.
Vedder also talked about why he supported Obama. He said he took part in a government training program, which helped him become a security guard. That job helped him support his music career.
Vedder said he heard about the comments Mitt Romney made at a fundraiser back in May. He felt that if Romney won the White House "none of those 47 percent of people would have a voice."
The President told the crowd that he was a bit nostalgic about his early campaigns, run out of his kitchen in a small Chicago condo, and acknowledged that this would be his last campaign.
Obama said the reason he is running now is no different from those early campaigns.
"I've traveled a long way," Obama said, "but it's been an unlikely journey, and the reason that I'm here is because this country, alone among any other country on Earth, is able to pluck the son of a single mom, without fame, without fortune, without resources, without connections, and give him the kind of education and doors of opportunity that allowed me, as long as I was willing to work hard and make some sacrifices, to make something of myself."
A block away from the fundraiser, there were a handful of peaceful protestors.
Chris Ernesto, who represents St. Pete for Peace, held a sign saying Obama has gotten the United States into wars the country does not need to be in and, he says, our troops have killed innocent people.
"Anybody who is anti-war needed to protest both and that's what we do," said Ernesto.
And not to be outdone, the Republican faithful even showed up, complete with a Romney bus, while demanding the economy be turned around.
"I lost money in the last four years and plenty of it," said one Romney/Ryan supporter.
While neighbors lined the streets to catch a glimpse of the Commander-in-Chief, some neighbors said the inconvenience was really no big deal.
'Kind of entertaining," one neighbor said. "Hope my kids come out and see it."
While a crowd of onlookers came out not only hoping to get a glimpse of the President but also to show their support.
"Tell him we love him and we want him to stay strong and move forward," said Paula Ravest-Webster who traveled from Westchase to see Obama.
There were similar sentiments from another woman who drove down from West Chase.
"Obama's my all-time favorite President ever," she said.
The Obama campaign later sent out an email that for the first time since April, they have outraised Romney and the Republicans when it comes to campaign contributions.