Obama's visit Monday comes days after a report the state's unemployment rate rose to 9 percent, the highest in 26 years.

Upstate New York has spent decades watching its educated youth move to other states.

Obama remains popular in New York state, and some people in the region may be buoyed by having the country's chief executive focusing on the region's problems.

Several New York politicians are expected to attend the event, including Gov. David Paterson.

The president will speak to students at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy.

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