WATERTOWN - Barack Obama told a crowd of 2,100 farmers, students and other rural residents on Friday that he would work to save family farms and rural towns if elected president.

Obama, a Democratic senator from Illinois, said many young people are afraid they will have to move to large cities because they won't be able to earn a living on farms or ranches or in small towns.

"That's not a future I can accept," Obama said.

Obama, the frontrunner in a fight with Hillary Clinton for the Democratic nomination, made his first campaign trip to South Dakota on Friday, addressing rural issues in the speech at the Codington County Extension building.

Later, at the Sioux Falls Arena, supporters began cheering and chanting an hour before Obama's scheduled 7 p.m. speech: "Fired up, ready to go … Fired up, ready to go."

One side of the building was mostly full by 6 p.m. Signs included "Change We Can Believe In" and "South Dakota for Barack Obama."

As the crowd waited for Obama, one of South Dakota's Democratic delegates, Shirley Halleen, 72, of Sioux Falls, said she has always liked Clinton and could support her if she won the nomination. But Halleen, a former state legislator and former teacher, said she thinks Obama would do a better job ending partisanship in Washington and would have a better chance in November.

"I think he offers hope," Halleen said. "I like the educated and rational way he thinks."

South Dakota and Montana hold the nation's last presidential primaries June 3. Obama's Watertown appearance was aimed at addressing rural issues, but he took time at the start of his speech to blast President Bush and John McCain, the presumptive GOP presidential nominee, for suggesting he would appease terrorists.

Obama's entourage on Friday included former Sens. Tom Daschle, a major adviser in his campaign, and George McGovern, an early Clinton supporter who switched his allegiance. Daschle was to appear at both events, while McGovern was to be at the Sioux Falls event.

Besides farm issues, Obama also assured the crowd that he supports their constitutional rights to own firearms.

Republicans frequently accuse Democrats of wanting to take away people's guns, Obama said. But he said he wants only to restrict criminals' access to weapons.

Obama said he would never take away the right of law-abiding gun owners to hunt, take part in sports shooting or protect their families.

"Don't let anybody tell you I'm trying to take away your right to bear arms," he said.

Crystal Josephsen of Arlington, an agronomy manager on a large farm and an avid deer hunter, said she attended the event because she wanted to know Obama's views on guns.

"I notice he had stickers here that said 'Sportsmen for Obama,' so he must not be anti-gun completely," she said.

Crystal Josephsen's mother, Karen Josephsen, said she's an independent and particularly cares about how the farm program will help farmers and ranchers deal with drought.

"The biggest reason I come is, it looks right now like he's got a 50-50 chance of becoming president," she said. "It's quite an honor to have somebody like this come so close to home."

Obama's message of change resonated with several in the crowd.

"I'm a registered Republican, and I'm going to vote for Obama," said Joey Livermore, a retired man from Watertown.

The nation needs to change, he said, adding that he's worried the U.S. economic slump and government financial problems will hurt young people in the future.

"He's young," Livermore said of Obama, "and we need a change. We can't go on the way we are."

Watertown businessman Kevin Gribble said he also believes the nation needs a change. Gribble said he believes Obama understands working-class Americans because he grew up in a family of modest means.

"I like the way he's talking. He's talking some change, and I think we're ready," he said.

Josh Delvo, who graduates from Watertown High School next week, said he plans to vote for Obama because he's talking about the GI bill. Delvo has joined the National Guard and said he hopes the GI bill can help pay for his college education.

"He seems like a good guy," Delvo said.