For once I think we can all agree.

(Briefing Room) — The 2012 presidential election could be more important than the 2008 election, President Obama warned voters at a series of campaign stops in his hometown of Chicago on Wednesday.

Obama, speaking during a teleconference with supporters ahead of a pair of Democratic National Committee fundraisers in Chicago said that the next election “in some ways may be more important than the last one.”

“The future is going to be determined by this election,” Obama said.

The president touched on criticism from critics on the left concerning the recently passed debt-limit increase compromise. Since Sunday when Obama and congressional leaders announced the deal, some Democrats have criticized both Obama and the package for failing to include liberal sticking potions like added revenues in the form of tax increases on wealthy Americans and protecting entitlement programs from benefit cuts.

“All the progressives out there I want you to understand, we can’t just ignore this debt and deficit,” Obama said.