President Barack Obama spoke to Democrats across the state of Iowa through a live-streamed video at the start of the Iowa caucuses.

A total of 849 caucus-goers were in attendance at Ames High School to listen to Obama share his accomplishments of the last four years, his optimism for the future election and his thanks for their support.

“Across the board, we have made a difference, but we all know there is a lot more work to do,” Obama said. “Change is never easy.”

Obama stressed his confidence in the election to come, sharing that it was because of his supporters that he could continue forward.

“I want you to know because of you … I have never lost that same sense of inspiration,” Obama said as he answered a question from a supporter in Coralville, Iowa. “In some ways, I’m actually more optimistic now than when I first ran because we have actually seen change take place.”

The speech lasted only about 20 minutes, which included the time Obama answered questions from Coralville and Cedar Rapids.  The video encountered multiple sound issues, which seemed to have no effect on the energized audience.