Obama talks at Missouri town hall meeting for Day 100

ARNOLD — President Barack Obama spent part of his 100th day in suburban St. Louis, telling a crowd that Americans have begun to "pick ourselves up and dust ourselves off" from the economic downturn.

Obama marked the milestone today with a town hall meeting at Fox Senior High School in Arnold. He recalled visiting Missouri days before the election in November, and said he came back "at the beginning of another long journey" — this one aimed at righting the economy.

Obama told the crowd of several hundred that his administration inherited the most serious economic downturn since the Great Depression, saying "I'm not a miracle worker."

The former Illinois senator said it was great to be back in the Midwest, "where common sense often reigns."

The Democrat paid several visits to Missouri while running for office, but it wasn't quite enough. Republican John McCain narrowly carried the state. It was just the second time in more than 100 years that Missouri sided with the loser in the presidential election.