Barack Obama spoke to a crowd of 12,900 in Richmond, Virginia and gave a riveting political speech to encourage voters to support either Republicans or Democrats.

There are just 12 more days left before the presidential elections and both parties are campaigning vigorously. Barack Obama visited Virginia yesterday and gave an inspiring speech in a rally in Richmond, Virginia.

He started off saying that he doesn’t want to do what others do by playing “slash and burn” type of politics; instead he wants to focus on the present and the future and how to avert the crisis the country faces. He said all the negative politics only divides the country by race, religion, politics, and sex orientation instead of working together and solving the problems together.

Some excerpts from his speech.

There are no real or fake parts of this country. We are not separated by the pro-America and anti-America parts of this nation – we all love this country, no matter where we live or where we come from. Whites, Blacks, Hispanics, Asians, native Americans, old, young, rich, poor, gay, straight, city dwellers, farm dwellers. It doesn’t matter, we are all together.

There are patriots who supported this war in Iraq and patriots who opposed it; patriots who believe in Democratic policies and those who believe in Republican policies.

The men and women from Virginia and all across America who serve on our battlefields may be Democrats and Republicans and Independents, but they have fought together and bled together and some died together under the same proud flag. They have not served a Red America or a Blue America – they have served the United States of America.

He said the country is facing a severe crisis and is being tested in a way that we haven’t seen nearly in a century. He said what we do now will impact the future, so it's imperative everyone works together to solve this problem.

Will they say that this was a time when America lost its way and its purpose? When we allowed the same divisions and fear tactics and our own petty differences to plunge this country into a dark and painful recession?

Or will they say that this was another one of those moments when America overcame? When we battled back from adversity by recognizing that common stake that we have in each other's success?

Even though we are all going through a downturn, he said believe in yourself, in each other and build a future together. He said others gave us opportunity so we could shine, some grandparents and parents couldn’t go to college but they fought so that you can go to college, they couldn’t start a business, but they helped you to start a business. They couldn’t vote but they fought for you to vote. They sacrificed so that you can run for the Senate, run for the presidency of the United States.

He closed his speech and said that this is what this election is all about, and that is what we are fighting for. He said together we can change Virginia, change the country and change the world.

Watch the video -- this is one of the great speeches you will ever hear from a modern leader. Even if you don’t vote for him, you will find it inspiring.