PORTSMOUTH — President Barack Obama brought his “Moving Forward” message to Strawbery Banke Museum Friday, less than 24 hours after accepting the Democratic nomination for President in North Carolina.

The campaign speech given by Obama in New Hampshire and heard by about 6,000 people at the museum was not much different from the one heard by millions of Americans during the Democratic National Convention Thursday night. It included a plea to New Hampshire voters for their support.

With the historic homes of the museum behind him donned in large red, white and blue bunting, Obama sought support from those gathered, whether it be by making phone calls or knocking on doors, reminding them that it will be a close election in November.

“I need your help, New Hampshire. I need your voices,” Obama said, with several people in the crowd responding, “you've got them.”

Obama was joined in Portsmouth by Vice President Joe Biden, who uncharacteristically spoke for just a few minutes, before introducing New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch, who spoke considerably longer before introducing the President.

Earlier in the day, unemployment numbers were released, and Obama did not hesitate to address them, seeking to put them in perspective.

The monthly report showed a decrease in the unemployment rate nationally to 8.1 percent, down from 8.3 percent in July, while showing a gain of only 96,000 jobs for August.

“Today we learned that after losing around 800,000 jobs a month when I took office, business once again added jobs for the 30th month in a row … but that's not good enough. We know it's not good enough,” Obama said. “We need to create more jobs faster. We need to fill the hole left by this recession faster. We need to come out of this crisis stronger than when we went in, and there's a lot more that we can do.”

He then said if GOP is serious about addressing joblessness, a million jobs could be created if the Republican-controlled Congress passes the jobs bill he sent them a year ago. He encouraged members of Congress returning next week to show the middle class they will not be increasing taxes on them, he said.

He said his vision for how to strengthen the American economy is a path forward and does not rely just on tax cuts, which he said are what Republicans appear focused on.

“All they've got to offer is the same prescriptions they've had for the last 30 years: tax cuts, tax cuts, gut some regulations, oh, and more tax cuts,” Obama said. “Tax cuts when times are good, tax cuts when times are bad, tax cuts to help you lose a few extra pounds, tax cuts to help you improve your love life. It will cure anything according to them,” Obama said.

He said taxes should be cut for the people who need it, namely middle class Americans and small businesses, a promise he said he has kept.

He said the choice in November is not just about two different candidates, but two different paths for America.

“I'm not going to pretend that this path is quick or easy, and by the way, I never have,” Obama said, before laying out a five-point plan he said would keep the nation moving forward.

He said he wants to export more products, not outsource more jobs, to reward companies that invest in the United States, to control more of the nation's own energy, to improve education from early childhood to college and to reduce the nation's deficit without “sticking it to the middle class.”

“I am not just asking for your vote. I am asking the entire country to rally around a set of goals for our country. Goals in manufacturing, energy, education, national security and the deficit, and this is a real achievable plan that will lead to new jobs,” Obama said.

“I need four more years, and we're going to move forward,” he said.

He said as commander in chief, he will maintain a strong military.

“We are going to make sure we have a strong Navy, and what goes on here at the (Portsmouth Naval Ship)yard and all across the country … where we have people not only in uniform but people working, we're going to make sure they have the support,” Obama said.

He said he also will continue to support returning soldiers who have served the country.

Attendees finally got a glimpse of Michelle Obama and Jill Biden as they joined their husbands on stage at the end of the event, and all of them, introduced by Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-NH, earlier in the event as the “Fab Four,” spent about 20 minutes shaking hands and talking to voters before taking off from Pease International Tradeport for a campaign stop in Iowa scheduled for Friday evening.

gmacalaster@newstote.com