The Hill News

The 2012 presidential election could be more important than the 2008 election, President Obama warned voters in his hometown Chicago.

Obama, speaking during a teleconference with supporters ahead of a pair of  Democratic National Committee fundraisers in Chicago said that the next election "in some ways may be more important than the last one."

"The future is going to be determined by this election," Obama said Wednesday.

Besides the teleconference Obama spoke at a packed DNC fundraiser at the historic Aragon Entertainment Center where he was introduced by his former chief of staff, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel. Chicago-native musicians Herbie Hancock and Jennifer Hudson both headlined the event for Obama.

Obama's visit to his hometown came a day before his birthday.

"I am beaming in from Chicago. Having a little birthday celebration in my home town," Obama said during the teleconference. "The future is going to be! determined by this election."

At the Aragon, in front of a crowd of 2400, packed into the air-conditioning-less ballroom, Emanuel introduced his former boss.

"I can tell you that when it comes to doing what's right for the country, he never takes the easy road," Emanuel said. "If he thinks it's right, he'll pay any political price to do it -- I can tell you that because I first came to tell him to take the easy road."

Hudson then lead the crowd in singing Happy Birthday to the president.

"It's true that I turn 50 tomorrow," Obama admitted after the singing.

At the event Obama also touched on criticism from critics on the left concerning the recently passed debt-limit increase compromise. Since Sunday when Obama and congressional leaders announced the deal, some Democrats have criticized both Obama and the package for failing to include liberal sticking potions like added revenues in the form of tax increases on the! wealthy and few cuts to entitlement programs.

"All! the pro gressives out there I want you to understand, we can't just ignore this debt and deficit," Obama said.

At the second, smaller fundraiser later that night Obama again touched on the deal to raise the debt ceiling.

"Obviously we've just gone through an extraordinary week in Washington, an extraordinary two weeks in Washington," Obama said. "I think this episode was just a severe example of what's been going on for quite some time and it's part of what led me to run for president, it's part of what led Rahm to get into public service, and it's part of the reason why, hopefully, all of you are here tonight, because you recognize we still got some more work to do."

Obama added that throughout the negotiations Republicans were 'single-minded' in pushing to cut government programs.

"I give the other side credit," Obama said. 'They are single-minded in their focus in wanting to cut programs and shrink government."

Obama's vis! it to his hometown ahead of his birthday comes as he gears up for a bus tour through Midwest battleground states in which he will talk about his administration's job-creation efforts.