Updated 06/15/2012 12:27 AM
Obama Honors WTC Rebuilding Efforts With Governors, Attends Fundraisers
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President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, Govs. Andrew Cuomo and Chris Christie and Mayor Michael Bloomberg signed the "topping out" beam of One World Trade Center this evening to celebrate the skyscraper's near-completion.
The elected officials joined Port Authority executives to check out rebuilding efforts, tour the 22nd floor of the 104-story building and view renderings of the finished building.
The visiting dignitaries then signed the beam, which will be incorporated into the construction.
"We couldn't be prouder of you guys, this is what the American spirit is all about," Obama said to the construction workers gathered at One World Trade Center.
The president remarked on how Lower Manhattan is more of a retail and residential center than when he attended college in the city in the 1980s.
It was the president's first visit to the site since the 10th anniversary of the September 11th attacks.
After the ceremony, Obama attended two fundraisers. One was at the Manhattan home of actress Sarah Jessica Parker. The other was at the Plaza Hotel.
Ahead of his arrival in the Big Apple, Obama delivered a speech on the economy at a community college in Cleveland where he pushed his jobs plan which is currently in the hands of Congress.
GOP rival Mitt Romney was just 250 miles away in Cincinnati at a manufacturing company.
The Republican presidential candidate is expected to lay out a plan for his first 100 days in office should he win the November election.
Spending cuts, an overhaul of the tax system and the Keystone XL pipeline are said to be part of his plan.