Standing in the parking lot of Abraham Lincoln High on Tuesday, President Barack Obama called himself a “warrior for the working class” in a feisty, campaign-like speech to push his jobs bill.

Obama, fresh off a $4 million West Coast fundraising trip, flew into Denver for about three hours to give a 22-minute speech in a working-class Denver neighborhood.

An estimated 5,000 spectators waited for hours in direct sunlight on a parking-lot blacktop beside Lincoln High for Obama to arrive.

At least six people needed medical attention because of the mid-80s heat. One was hospitalized.

With sleeves rolled up, Obama bounded onto the stage after being introduced by Lincoln honor student Amelia Sanchez.

Beneath a Lincoln Lancers banner, Obama urged Congress to pass his $447 billion jobs bill that he said will help put people back to work fixing decaying bridges and roads and repairing and modernizing outdated schools.

“We can rebuild our schools for the 21st century, with faster Internet, smarter labs and cutting-edge technology,” Obama said to the cheering admirers. “Why should our children be allowed to study in crumbling or outdated schools? How does that give them the sense that education is important?”

Over the past three weeks since presenting his American Jobs Act bill to Congress, Obama has given a similar speech in states expected to be battlegrounds in 2012 — Ohio, Virginia and North Carolina.

“Undermines our future”

In Colorado, he chose the backdrop of Abraham Lincoln High to underscore how $25 billion in the legislation could help repair and renovate schools.

Lincoln is one of the city’s largest high schools; it has seen enrollment increases, improved graduation rates and more students taking Advanced Placement courses.

However, while Obama lauded its successes, he pointed out that its science labs were built in the 1960s.

“Science and technology has changed since then. The world has changed since then,” Obama noted. “We need to do everything we can to prepare our kids for it.”

DPS officials estimate Lincoln needs at least $20 million in upgrades, which would include air conditioning for the entire school.

Overall, Denver Public Schools need an estimated $800 million to $1 billion in capital improvements, said district spokesman Michael Vaughn, adding that Obama’s bill would bring in $75 million in direct money for DPS facilities.

Denver voters in 2008 passed the largest school-construction bond in state history, $454 million to pay for critical school repairs and technological improvements.

Under the 2008 bond, Lincoln received solar panels, new fire alarms and door hardware.

Obama’s bill also would provide Colorado about $478 million to help prevent teacher layoffs.

“In places like South Korea, they are adding teachers in droves to prepare their kids for the global economy,” Obama said. “We’re laying off our teachers left and right. All across the country, budget cuts are forcing superintendents to make choices they don’t want to make.”

Firing teachers to make up budget shortfalls is “unfair to our kids,” he said. “It undermines our future. It has to stop.”

Appeal to Latino voters

Obama said he has been accused by Republicans of fomenting class warfare.

” You know what, if asking a millionaire to pay the same tax rate as a plumber makes me a class warrior, a warrior for the working class, I will accept that. I will wear that charge as a badge of honor,” the president said.

Colorado Republican Party chairman Ryan Call said Obama’s visit to Denver was not about jobs and getting Coloradans back to work but instead a mere campaign stop in a state where he will need votes.

“I call him the ‘campaigner in chief’ because this isn’t about solving unemployment; it’s about propping up his own re-election,” Call said.

The selection of Lincoln for the speech — a school that serves mostly Latino students, 95 percent of whom are eligible for federal meal benefits — shows that the White House is trying to appeal to Latinos and the working class.

“Latinos are regarded as the gold mine of politics,” said independent political analyst Eric Sondermann.

“Now Obama’s political position is so weakened, he is having to reinforce his base,” he said.

Floyd Ciruli, a political consultant, said Obama must continue to energize his base while appealing to moderates.

“His challenge is: How do you have a message that plays to the base but also goes to those most important swing voters?” Ciruli said.

Staff writer Kurtis Lee contributed to this report.

Jeremy P. Meyer: 303-954-1367, jpmeyer@denverpost.com, twitter.com/ jpmeyerDPost

“Incredible experience” to introduce president

Amelia Sanchez, the Lincoln High student chosen to introduce the president, got the chance to meet with him beforehand.

“It was nerve-wracking,” the 17-year-old said. “He’s really nice, but he’s still the president and I’m just a student. It’s like, ‘Who am I?’ “

They talked about her plans to attend college, her hopes of becoming a pediatrician and her love of softball.

During the speech, Sanchez said, she tried not to look at the large crowd.

“I thought it would make me nervous, but actually when I finally did at the end, it calmed me down,” she said.

It was a day she won’t forget.

“It was an incredible experience,” Sanchez said. “There was a lot, a lot of waiting, and I’m usually very impatient, but it was worth it.”

Kudos and criticisms

Images from President Barack Obama’s visit to Colorado on Tuesday:

Students from Avery-Parsons Elementary School in Buena Vista greeted President Obama after he landed at Buckley Air Force Base.

Obama took time to shake hands and sign autographs for the students, who held brightly colored signs of mountain peaks.

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Standing in a sea of Lincoln High School students, including those in navy and white T-shirts that read “Class of 2014,” were Rae and John Tafoya of Westminster. Both are 80 and had never seen the president in person.

“We support President Obama,” Rae Tafoya said, as she waited in line.

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Also standing in line was a young man wearing a red T-shirt that said, “I support Ron Paul.”

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Denver Councilwoman Susan Shepherd didn’t opt for the VIP treatment and waited in the hot sun with hundreds of others.

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Denver’s autumn heat was too much for at least six people waiting to hear the speech outside Lincoln. They were treated by medical personnel on the scene after becoming overheated. One person was rushed to Denver Health Medical Center with a heat-related illness, said a hospital spokesman.

People stood in line before 7 a.m. to get into the speech area. The temperature by midafternoon was in the 80s, but it was hotter in the speech arena, which was on asphalt with no shade.

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Valerie Soto and her daughter Veronica were first in line at 6:45 a.m. That’s nothing. The Adams County family got in line at 4:30 a.m. Monday to get tickets for the speech.

Veronica, 19, is a student at Front Range Community College.

“I’m here to hear what the president’s plan is for jobs,” said the Prairie View High School graduate. “What he does now determines jobs for the future.”

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One of the most vocal protesters was William Steffen, 53, of Denver, who wore a hat that read, “Dysfunctional veteran.”

Steffen, who served in the Army, said he has been at dozens of protests, including when former President George W. Bush came to town.

“I said, ‘Hey, Bush, when are your girls going’ to war?” he said. “Do you know what’s the difference between a Republican president and a Democratic president? Nothing.”

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Martha Swisher voted for Barack Obama in 2008. The Bailey woman said she won’t make the same mistake twice.

“The guy is Bush Light. I expected more,” she said. “Obama should run as a Republican.”

That drew a playful rebuke from Pam Dupuis of Aurora, who was standing nearby. Dupuis wore a Mitt Romney T-shirt.

“I don’t think you should insult Republicans like that,” she said.

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Michelle Thacker has taught at Lincoln for 11 years and said it has been thrilling to watch the transition from a “ghost-town gangland to a college-bound high school.”

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Former Denver Mayor Wellington Webb and former Colorado State University president Al Yates arrived together to hear the speech.

“The president is going to be re-elected. Is that bold enough for you?” Webb said. “This country is going to make a choice between a president who inherited a bad economy and is trying to work with everyone and the right wing.”

Compiled by Lynn Bartels, Joey Bunch, Kristen Leigh Painter and Yesenia Robles