Hours before Vice President Joe Biden and Rep. Paul Ryan met in Danville for their debate on Thursday, President Obama addressed 9,000 enthusiastic college students at the University of Miami. Obama, sounding an aggressive-tone, dedicated most of his speech to his opponent.

‘‘He’s trying to go through an extreme makeover,’’ Obama said of Mitt Romney. ‘‘After running for more than a year in which he called himself ‘severely conservative,’ Mitt Romney is trying to convince you that he was severely kidding.’’

Obama told his supporters that electing Romney would return the country to what he believes were the failed policies of past Republican administrations.

“And he’s counting on the fact that you don’t remember that what he’s selling is what got us into this mess in the first place,” Obama said.

When Obama first mentioned Romney’s name, the crowd booed prompting the president to encourage the crowd to channel their outrage effectively.  “Don’t boo, vote!” Obama said to laughter.

Obama did not mention the VP debate but Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL), who spoke to the crowd before the president, did.  “Tonight, Joe Biden will make mincemeat of Paul Ryan,” Nelson predicted.  

After the speech, Obama headed to the JW Marriott Marquis for a fundraiser with his campaign’s national co-chair, actor Eva Longoria. The trip marked Obama’s 23^rd visit to the Sunshine State this year.

Tags | Barack Obama, Eva Longoria, Mitt Romney, University of Miami