Tue, 05 Oct 2010 1:33p.m.

US President Barack Obama, looking to energize the youth vote in the upcoming November mid-term elections, spoke at a Democratic National Convention "gen44" event in Washington, DC.

"It is good to see this crowd so fired up. I need you to be fired up, I need you to stay fired up. All the way to November 2," Obama said.

Speaking at Constitution Hall near the White House after the band B.o.B. performed to the full house, Obama told the crowd not the allow for "an enthusiasm gap".

"The stakes are too high. We have to move this country forward for you and your future. So, there had better not be an enthusiasm gap, people. Not now," he said.

Obama relied heavily on the young vote in his 2008 victory to take over the White House from the Republicans in 2008. He asked the young voters to do the same in the 2010 US midterm elections.

"We have got to work even harder in this election. That "s why we have to fight their millions of dollars with millions of voices who are ready to finish what we started in 2008 because if everybody who showed up in 2008 shows up in 2010, then we will win," he said.

Reuters