“The first time I heard him speak at the national democratic convention, I was wowed,” she said. “He’s my candidate.”

Obama chose his first visit to the Lansing area to unveil his national energy plan, New Energy for America, which he says will revitalize manufacturing states like Michigan.

More than a thousand people listened while Obama highlighted the plan, which calls for drastic changes to U.S. energy policy, including producing 10 percent of the country’s energy from renewable sources by 2012.

Michigan’s weakened auto industry was at the forefront of Obama’s plan. Obama said the industry needs to make changes to compete with foreign automakers, and the government should help.

“We’re not going to ask (automakers) to beg and plead to get the attention of the White House,” he said.

Obama proposed a $4 billion economic aid package to help auto manufacturers re-equip factories to produce hybrid vehicles. By 2015, he hopes to have a million U.S.-made hybrid vehicles on the nation’s roads.

Obama said the plan would create 5 million new jobs, many of them in Michigan.

“All of us will need to buy more fuel-efficient cars built by this state of Michigan,” he said. “It’s an opportunity to bring … jobs that pay well, jobs that can’t be outsourced, good union jobs, which is what we need here in Michigan.”

Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., said the plan’s proposed revitalization of the state’s economy could keep graduates from leaving the state to look for jobs unavailable in Michigan.

“It’s about students being able to stay here and be a part in developing this new energy economy,” she said.

The plan would include a cap-and-trade system to make companies pay for each ton of greenhouse gases they emit. The money they pay would be used to invest $150 billion over the next 10 years to build clean energy infrastructures.

Obama said universities like MSU would be the leaders in researching and developing the renewable energy technology.

“To meet these goals, we will invest more in our research and development and support the (projects) of researchers in universities all across America and right here at MSU,” he said.

Gov. Jennifer Granholm said Obama’s plan is in line with recent state initiatives to foster green businesses.

“Everything we are doing to transform Michigan is what Senator Obama was talking about,” she said.

During a conference call following Obama’s visit, Republican party representatives criticized the plan, saying it would ultimately lead to extra costs for the middle class.

“It is a tax and punish approach to try to get us to a better place in America,” said Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Brighton.

McCain spokeswoman Nancy Pfotenhauer called the plan hodgepodge and accused Obama of copying ideas McCain highlighted in his Lexington Project energy plan, which he unveiled in late June.

But for Lansing resident Taryn Owens, the day was as much about witnessing a historic moment as it was about hearing the issues.

“I wanted my children to see history,” she said. “I’m not sure how I’m going to vote and I’m waiting on him to say something that will make me feel good about voting for him.”

Rep. Mark Meadows, D-East Lansing, who initially endorsed Sen. Hillary Clinton, said he thought Obama’s plan is ambitious but necessary to turn Michigan’s economy around.

“We have the plants that were formerly used for manufacturing purposes that can be converted very inexpensively to produce things like wind turbines,” he said.

“There will be very good economic benefits to the state.”