Barack Obama is getting a lot of love from elected officials in Northwest Broward.

Led by Coral Springs Mayor Scott Brook, officials supporting Barack Obama came together at the Coral Springs Center for the Arts Monday in a show of support for the Democratic Party candidate. Most of them plan to work overtime over the next few days to get undecided voters to support Obama.

Sen. Jeremy Ring, State Representative Ari Porth, Broward County Vice Mayor Stacy Ritter, Parkland Mayor Michael Udine, Tamarac Mayor Beth Flansbaum-Talabisco, Coral Springs Commissioner Roy Gold, Coconut Creek commissioners Marilyn Gerber and Lisa Aronson, and Pembroke Pines Commissioner Angelo Castillo were among those who joined Brook in supporting Obama.

Although the group that heard the officials speak was not the largest, there was plenty of spirit among the speakers and those who were in attendance. Adding to the spice was the presence of a sizable number of Republicans, wearing McCain-Palin T-shirts and waving placards, near the venue.

The country needs Obama’s vision, Brook said. “He will rally the nation. Post-Bush, we will need to do things differently. Our federal debt has nearly doubled during the last eight years. Obama wants to run government from the bottom up. That is the way we do business in Coral Springs.”

Udine said he was in favor of extending early voting hours. “We should not be limiting the ability of the voters to vote," he said. "We, in the city, are holding an emergency meeting to discuss the issue. If budgetary constraints are the reason for not extending voting hours, we will see what we can do about it.”

The economy has never been as bad as it is now, Gold said. “I am glad to be here representing Obama. In my family, everyone is voting for him. Two terms of Bush have been devastating for the country. If you are going to vote, vote for Obama.”

Shari Black, a Republican supporter who heard Brook and the other officials speak, said people in the country would feel shortchanged if they voted for Obama. “American people need a savior now. A lot of people are hurting. I think Obama is charismatic, intelligent and bold, But I won’t vote for him as I don’t agree with his philosophy.”