Barack Obama is way behind Hillary Clinton in the polls.
That doesn't seem to be having any impact on his ability to draw a crowd. He's taking Madison by storm today.
Students and others are mad for Obama.
From the Wisconsin State Journal:
More than 300 people were lined up to see U.S. Sen. Barack Obama at the Monona Terrace Convention Center before the doors opened this morning at 9:30 a.m. and by 11 a.m. more than 1,000 were waiting for admittance to an overflow area.
Organizers are calling the campaign event the largest student-driven event the Obama campaign has held. The presidential candidate was expected to speak to the crowd before noon.
About 3,000 tickets had been sold before the event began, driven largely by a UW-Madison student campaign push. The event was taking place at Monona Terrace to provide more room for the crowd. It was originally booked at the Orpheum Theatre, which holds 1,500 people.
Tickets were $15 for students, $30 for general admission.
At about 11 a.m., Bryon Eagon, a UW-Madison sophomore and organizer of Students for Barack Obama, announced to the crowd that more than 2,000 students were in attendance, with about 1,000 still lined up to get into an overflow area of the event.
"For many of us, this is the first time that we've found a candidate we can really care about," Eagon said. "But more importantly, we've found a candidate who really cares about us."
Eagon seems so innocent, doesn't he?
Obama really cares.
That's sweet.
Madison City Council Ald. Zach Brandon, 7th District, said local Obama supporters asked the campaign to visit Madison to recruit students that might help knock on doors in Iowa before the January Democratic caucus. Wisconsin's primary won't take place until February, when the nomination may already be secured.
"Their goal wasn't to build political support, but to build energy to transfer to Iowa," Brandon said.
It's cool to recruit on Madison's campus, as long as you're not recruiting for the U.S. military. Then you might not experience such an adoring reception.
Hilary Manley, a UW-Madison junior studying elementary education, arrived at Monona Terrace decked in Badger red at 6 a.m., half an hour before anyone else. Her goal was to be first in line "because I love him."
"I think he's going to bring a lot good change," Manley said.
Manley seems a bit starstruck.
She loves Obama, so much so that she's willing to be first in line, at 6:00 AM!
I'm trying to think of a candidate I would be so excited to see that I would get out of bed that early and wait in line for 5 hours.
Nope. Can't think of any. I guess I don't have that sort of love when it comes to candidates.
______________
With an enormous American flag as a backdrop, Obama addressed his fans. He wore a white shirt, no tie, rolled up sleeves -- no lapel for a flag pin.
Obama said, "We've gotta shout out loud and clear that we expect a new kind of politics."
He said that people in Washington roll their eyes and say, "He's a hope-peddler. He's a hope-monger."
Obama said that he was guilty as charged.
Obama interrupted his speech.
"Did somebody drop?"
He called for paramedics.
"We got paramedics on the scene. She looks good."
Obama continued.
He asked, "Where was I?"
"Change."
He addressed what some consider to be his lack of experience.
He said that a lengthy measure doesn't necessarily guarantee wise decisions.
"Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld led us into one of the biggest foreign policy disasters in a generation."
Interesting that he didn't include Bush.
Then another interruption.
"We got another person?"
"I'm just knocking 'em off their feet."
"Paramedics are on their way."
"Everybody stay hydrated."
Back to the speech--
Obama talked about Iraq. He told of how he spoke out against the war while running for the Senate.
"This is a dumb war, and we shouldn't fight it."
"Dumb war?"
That's not Obama at his most eloquent.
In talking about health care, Obama said:
"You gotta have impatience. You gotta have some anger."
He said his passion on the issue comes from watching his mother worry about insurance when she was dying.
Obama talked about the energy crisis and the environmental crisis.
He ran through a litany of things that he "won't accept."
He mentioned JFK and his call to send an American to the moon. Obama equated his own vision for America's future with JFK's vision.
Then he turned back to Iraq.
Obama said, "We've got to start bringing [the troops] home now."
"We can't have them in the midst of a civil war."
"We're spending $10 billion a month that could be spent in Wisconsin."
Ten billion dollars in Wisconsin?
That would solve our budget issues.
Obama channeled JFK again. He quoted Kennedy as saying that we should never negotiate out of fear, but we should never fear to negotiate.
At this point, "Kumbaya" almost broke out.
"We're gonna close Guantanamo and restore habeas corpus."
When talking about the American justice system, Obama made reference to different standards being applied to the Jena Six and Scooter Libby.
The crowd was in a frenzy.
"I will be honest with you about the challenges that we face. I won't snowjob you."
"I will open up the doors of government and ask you to participate.
I'm asking you to trust in yourselves."
Obama's appearance seemed to be more of a revival meeting than a political rally.
______________
In addition to the event for the throngs of Obama's $15 and $30 faithful, there's another fundraiser in Madison. This one is much more intimate.
Reception for Barack Obama
10/15/2007
12 p.m.
Home of Hans and Mary Lang Solinger,
1206 Sherman Ave.,
Madison.
Guest: $500.
Host: $2300 contribution or raise.
RSVP required http://my.barackobama.com/madison For more information contact Ari Koban at (312) 819-2789 or akoban@BarackObama.com. Please make checks payable to: Obama for America, Po Box 8210, Chicago, Ill, 60680.
Can you put a price on love?
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