ROSEBURG - Barack Obama touched on a lot of hot-button issues with a crowd of about 15-hundred at Roseburg High School Saturday.

Obama promised to provide universal health care. He also drew big cheers when he talked about propping up rural economies in places like Douglas County.

Obama spent some time talking about the 'dust-up' Friday between him and President Bush and John McCain over foreign policy.

"If George Bush and John McCain have a problem with direct diplomacy led by the president of the United States then they can explain why they have a problem with John F. Kennedy because that's what he did with Kruschev or Ronald Reagan because that's what he did with Gorbachev or Richard Nixon because that's what they did with Mao," said Obama. "That's exactly the kind of diplomacy we need to keep us safe."

After the rally in Roseburg, David Walker had a chance to visit with Senator Obama. He asked the senator about coming from a large city, Chicago, to campaign in smaller rural towns. He asked about how Obama feels he relates to voters in the smaller areas.

"Well you know we've got a lot of small rural communities in Illinois and I represent that whole state and when you go to down state Illinois it looks a lot like Oregon except we don't have as many mountains and hills. It's a little more flat but i really enjoy coming to these communities and people. They work hard, they believe in family and community. Obviously here in Oregon people are very close to the land and natural resources and so making sure we straighten out this county timber payment issue making sure that we are bringing sustainable development to this area with things like bio-fuels and clean energy. Enormous opportunity here, making sure that we're educating our kids so that they can succeed, but also that they can come back to these communities and help build them as doctors and teachers. you know that's what people talk to me about and that's why I really enjoy coming to these areas.

Obama is coming to the end of a grueling campaign, yet always appears refreshed, energized, ready to go.

You know I'm pretty diligent about working out everyday and that I think relieves a lot of stress and that's been important. I insist on my staff that I see my kids and my wife at least once a week and every time I do that, that's a hug boost to my morale. In fact they're actually going to be in Oregon for the next day and half because my brother in law is the new basketball coach at Oregon State, so we can get a family visit along with some campaigning. But the main thing that really keeps me going is what I hear from the American people. The stories I hear about their struggles but also their hopes and their dreams and their generosity towards each other, it makes you want to work for universal health care. It makes you want to work to make sure that people have a decent chance at life and that's what this campaign should be about and hopefully that's what my presidency will be about.

The standing room only crowd gave Obama some of it's loudest applause when he promised to have U.S.Forces out of Iraq within 16 months of taking office.