"All I'm trying to do is restore some balance to our economy so that middle class families who are working hard -- they're not on welfare, they're going to their jobs every day, they're doing the right things by their kids --they should be able to save, buy a home, go on a vacation once in a while," Obama said.

"They should be able to save for retirement, send their kids to college. That's not too much to ask for, that's the American dream. "

Referring to the sensitive issue of immigration, Obama said there needs to be a crackdown on employers who employ illegals to stop the "intolerable" entry of half-million illegal immigrants into the U.S. each year.

But he also said there needs to be a pathway to citizenship for undocumented workers, and that the entire issue must be tackled at the same time or it won't work.

Obama also brushed off criticism that he is attempting to solve too many problems at one time.

"When you're president, you've got to walk and chew gum at the same time," he said.

Obama arrived earlier in the day for the two-day swing which will also include a town hall meeting in Los Angeles, a tour of an electric vehicle plant in Pomona in the city and an appearance on " The Tonight Show with Jay Leno", according to the White House.

Obama's "Tonight Show" visit will mark the first time a sitting president has appeared on a late-night talk show.

"The president's decision to go west and do two town hall meetings -- obviously, part of that is to discuss with the American people and give the American people the opportunity to discuss with him their concerns about the economic challenges that we face," White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said this week.

(Xinhua News Agency March 19, 2009)