Because Senator Obama’s chartered jet made an unscheduled stop in St. Louis following a mechanical glitch, the candidate never made it down to Charlotte, North Carolina, for his economic discussion. Instead, he headed to Drury Inn near Lambert Airport and addressed the more than 200 people who were expecting to see the candidate in person by telephone.

Here’s what he said:

Hello North Carolina. Well listen guys, I’m so sorry that I’m not down there we had a little glitch in our plane. It was nothing to worry about, although it gave the press some exciting things to write about, but everybody’s safe and sound we’re in St. Louis, we can’t get down there fast enough and so I’m just heartbroken that I’m not going to get a chance to see you guys today. But I promise you we’re going to be back down in Charlotte sometime soon.

In the meantime, I just wanted to make sure first of all that I thanked Senator Kay Hagan who’s going to be an outstanding United States Senator, Senator Walter Dalton who’s running for Lieutenant Governor, Representative Trisha Gotham who I know isn’t there but was really helpful putting the event together, I want to acknowledge Larry Kissle who is running for the 8th congressional district and will be an outstanding member of congress, Joe Ford of Nicklandberg democratic chair, Kevin Monroe and Pat Stanford who have just been outstanding volunteers, and I especially want to thank principal Anna Renferrow and the staff of James Martin Middle School who have just been terrific in helping us set up this event. Finally I want to make sure that I acknowledge Lieutenant Governor Bedford who was going to be the next Governor of North Carolina. She is running an outstanding race and I think she’s going to have a chance to address all of you before this thing is over.

When we planned this trip we wanted to start off this week in a city that has seen wonderful economic growth over the last several years, as some of the finest people and the best trained workforce of any area in the country. But like the rest of the country is experienced some tough times. I don’t need to tell all of you that times are tough. Everywhere I go all across the country and every time I visited North Carolina I’ve heard the same story. I mean families who don’t have health insurance for themselves and their children in some cases are at risk of financial bankruptcy if somebody in the family gets sick. I’ve talked to folks who are now seeing the cost of their commute double and that extra hundred dollars or two hundred dollars is now going to be the oil company’s means them having to cut back on savings for their kids or in some cases food that’s put on the table.

All across North Carolina people are concerned about jobs as the economy has slowed down. The fact that jobs continue to be shipped overseas, that plants are still being shutdown, that we’re now moving into a cycle where even if you keep your job your wages and your income has made a flat line. And people are worried and scared of the prospects for the future. And the main message that I want to deliver today to all of you is that although we’re going through tough times now, it is not inevitable that we continue these tough times. We’re going to have to make some adjustment to globalize the economy, we’ve got to train our kids more effectively, make sure that they are getting the best education in the world that they are able to afford college, we’re going to have to make certain that we have a real energy policy, not gimmicks like the gas tax holiday that would not even save you $30 and would probably benefit the oil companies, but instead a long term plan to raise fuel efficiencies standards on cars, develop the new generation of alternative fuels that are going to power this economy and create jobs all across North Carolina. There are, we’re going to have to invest in our infrastructure, rebuilding our roads and our bridges, laying broadband lines throughout North Carolina, those are the long term adjustments that we’re going to have to make.

But in the short term people need immediate relief. I wanted to say to you that help is on the way, because you know, my economic package is designed not only to lay the groundwork for long-term economic growth, but also to give people some immediate help, an energy rebated tax stimulus of several hundred dollars that would go back into the pockets of the people who really need it to offset the rising costs of food prices and costs of gas. A serious plan to help make sure that we’re preventing forecloses and stabilizing the housing markets so we can get the economy back on track. Measures to make sure that people are protected from predatory lending practices, to make sure they are not bankrupt when they get sick, more assistance to parents who need to take time off to look after a lung.

There are a range of polices that are out there that I have been talking about over the last year to year and a half, that would start helping people get back on their feet right now. Making sure that we have an affordable health care plan for every American, and that we are lowering the prices for people who don’t have health care, making college more affordable with a 4,000 dollar tuition credit for every student every year. These are all designed to make sure that those who are experiencing difficulty in this economy are able to get back on track, are able to get a firmer footing, not only for themselves but also for their children, because the central premise of this campaign has been that when the economy works for everyone, when it grows from the bottom up, that is not just good for individual Americans, it’s also good for the economy as a whole. John McCain has a different philosophy. John McCain is decent and honorable man but if you look at the essence at his economic policies, which are based on a large mass of tax cuts for corporations and wealthy individuals, only a quarter of those tax breaks going to the middle class.

In contrast to my tax plan that would be designed where 95% of beneficiaries are of tax breaks would go the middle class. What you see is just a difference of philosophy. John McCain wants to continue the same policies that George Bush made a cornerstone of his administration. They haven’t worked. And the message that we need to spread all across North Carolina is that if you are satisfied with the way things are going now then you should vote for John McCain. If you think we need a fundamental change and that we have to grow this economy from the bottom up so that ordinary Americans can achieve the American dream and that we are building a better future for our kids, then we have got a clear choice in this election. And we’ve got a [inaudible].

So I want all of you know in Northern Carolina we are going to be campaigning actively there, there’s been a tradition of democrats conceding the state before the battle is even joined that is not what is going to be happening this time now. We’ve got people on the ground we are going to be running ads I’m going to be campaigning there, because I think that North Carolina like the rest of the Country is desperately looking for a different direction. And there looking for a sense of optimism and a sense of purpose, as we navigate through these difficult times to start putting this country back on the track of long term economic growth. So, I thank all of you for being there I’m so sorry but I can’t get the chance to see you guys in person and answer some questions. But like I said we are going to be back this slight glitch in our schedule and in the meantime I hope all of you are working as hard as you can on the ground, with not only the wonderful elected officials who are there today, but with our staff and our volunteer, to make sure that we are building the kind of movement for change that can’t be stopped and that will bring us to victory in November. So, thank you very much everybody, God bless you guys.

The Obama Midwest MD80 charter took off from Chicago’s Midway Airport this morning at 8:59 central through some rain and clouds, bound for Charlotte, North Carolina, for an economic event. As the plane ascended, the plane seemed to push down at one point before bouncing up quickly - one of the traveling press gasped audibly - the rest chalked it up to turbulence.

About 20 to 30 minutes into the flight, an Obama adviser informed press we would be landing not in Charlotte as planned due to mechanical problems. Flight attendants who normally let press get away with unbuckled seat belts and keeping bags out asked us to clear the exit rows and buckle up.

The pilot calmly told the plane filled with staffers, Secret Service, press, and one presidential candidate that there were “controllability issues” with the plane’s pitch. The problem was with the nose of the plane, and the ability to move it up and down.

“We have full authority of the aircraft,” the pilot said, but said we would have to make an unscheduled stop in St. Louis for precaution. It was not classified as an emergency landing and the pilot assured us we would not have to assume the “brace position.”

The landing was as smooth as any landing and two green airport fire trucks greeted the plane at the end of its taxi. About an hour after landing, Obama was seen talking to pilots at the front of the plane and then came back to joke with his press corps. “Just thought we’d spice things up a little bit today,” he said with a laugh.

done

Soon after, Obama and his protective pool left the airport to hold in a nearby hotel. Those reporters not in the pool today are waiting on the plane, where pizza is on its way.

It’s unclear how long we’ll be waiting - the campaign just announced Obama’s North Carolina event will be postponed to a later date. “While en route to North Carolina, Senator Obama’s plane was diverted to St. Louis for a maintenance check.  The plane is remaining in St. Louis until the check is completed and as a result Senator Obama will not be able to hold his event today in Charlotte.  Senator Obama will return to the Tar Heel state again soon and looks forward to a continuing discussion with hard-working North Carolina families about his agenda to strengthen our economy and bring the change America needs,” a statement read.

The MD80 is a substitute airplane for Obama’s chartered 757, which is being outfitted for the general election.

Minutes before Davenport, Iowa, Mayor-Elect Bill Gluba took the podium to introduce candidate Barack Obama to 585 potential Iowa caucus goers, the campaign informed the press corps that the senator’s plane would not actually land in Davenport due to a heavy fog in the area that has also grounded most commercial flights.”It is my great honor to both introduce and endorse a man who’s destined to become the 44th president of the United States,” Gluba said to loud applause. He spoke about Obama’s character and what he would bring to the office of the presidency. About four minutes into the “introduction,” Gluba said, “Unfortunately I have good news this morning and bad news.”

The good news - a recent poll shows Obama will do better in a general election match-up than any other Democrat. “The bad news that I have to give you this morning, is because of the weather, Barack Obama won’t be able to make it here today,” he said as the crowd groaned. “The fog just makes it too dangerous for him to land,” he explained.

The voters I spoke with were mostly understanding. Davenport resident Bernie Leach had waited for Obama for more than two hours and explained, “I was very disappointed, but I’d rather have him safe.” Leach came with her 9-year-old granddaughter, Makala, who had spent an hour and a half making a sign that read, “I’d vote for Obama if I were 18.” Makala said she was excited to hear Obama “talk about how he’s going to help the world to make it a better place.” When she heard the bad news, her reaction was, “Oh, no!”

Obama took off from New Hampshire this morning to try to make the Davenport event, but was rerouted to Chicago. Both Davenport and the next event featuring undecided voters in Coralville, have been cancelled, and the senator will attempt to drive from Chicago to Washington, Iowa, where the last event of the day is being held. The campaign does intend on returning to Davenport before the caucuses next month.