ELKHART — It started out as a typical Sunday afternoon for Jody Coleman.

"I'm sitting at home online, just dealing with a new pet. It starts barking and I look out," she explained.

And this is what he saw: a swarm of cop cars, a line of buses, and flashing cameras.

"Then I'm on the phone talking to my mom, saying, 'I think Barack Obama is on my street corner!' And she's like, 'Really, are you joking?' And I'm like, 'No I'm not joking!' So it's a once in a lifetime opportunity," said Coleman.

Sen. Obama, along with his wife and daughters, canvassed the streets, going door-to-door to gain support.

Obama's campaign says small, intimate stops like these are important. It gives the senator a chance to have a conversation with voters and hear about the challenges they face.

"When my truck used to cost me $25 to fill up, now it's costing me $65 to fill up to go to work for a week. You know 15 miles away, there's obviously something wrong," said Coleman.

"I work for the RV industry. We make the paint mast kits for the RVs and when they're slow, we're slow," said Elkhart resident Kristy Ecker.

The senator may have spent only a few hours with voters. But some say the effects of his visit will last a lifetime.

"He just shook my hand. It was amazing, something I never dreamed of, him being here. It's so cool," said Elkhart resident Brandon Beckwith.

"It makes the candidate much more tangible. And I think it works for him. I think people can say I actually met him and he is a real person. He's willing to come down here and see us and I think it's fantastic," said Elkhart resident Audra Smith.

After Obama finished canvassing he stopped by a nearby park to shoot a few hoops. Then he hopped on the bus and headed to Fort Wayne.

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