For the Barack Obama faithful, Ke'ehi Lagoon Beach Park was transformed yesterday into a presidential campaign event, a bit of celebrity watching and even a homecoming for a native son. …It was all to show their appreciation for the man once known to friends and family here as Barry. … They were among those cheering all of Obama's local references, like when he greeted them with "Howzit," and talked about ordering a Zippy's Zip Min or enjoying a plate lunch at Rainbow Drive-In. …Many sported Obama T-shirts and pins. A few clutched Obama's two books to their sides. Even some tourists skipped the beach for a chance to see the presidential candidate. Karen Newman, 50, of Hawai'i Kai was the first to arrive, at 4:40 a.m., when the park was pitch black. "This is probably the single most historic event in my lifetime, not only for us as a country, but as a state," Newman said, shortly after the sun appeared. "This is extraordinarily historical." People drifted in over the next few hours until a line of hundreds formed to get into a barricaded area around the stage where Obama eventually spoke. The city Parks Department estimated the final crowd at just more than 4,000. …During Obama's remarks, people hooted and roared with applause. A few even jumped up and down with excitement. …Despite the crowds and the high security, the day ran smoothly. "It wasn't a political speech, it was from the heart," said [Rick] Brady, 57. …Anosh Yaqoob, a UH-Manoa law student, arrived at Ke'ehi Lagoon at 8 a.m. and was all smiles even as he baked in the sun. He carried one of Obama's books to pass the time. "I, too," Yaqoob said, "am a kid from Hawai'i with a funny name."
From National Public Radio:
Among the states up for grabs in this year's presidential race is a surprise: Virginia. It hasn't voted for a Democrat since Lyndon Johnson in 1964. But in recent years, Virginia has elected back-to-back Democratic governors and a U.S. senator. And a Democrat is highly favored to win this year's Senate race — all of which has the Barack Obama campaign thinking it can turn the state from red to blue. The Obama for President office in Winchester, Va., is just across the street from where George Washington once had an office, and around the corner from where Stonewall Jackson had his headquarters as he led Confederate troops up the Shenandoah Valley in the Civil War. In short, it's not the kind of place you would expect to find a Democratic presidential campaign headquarters, but it's an example of what the Obama campaign thinks it can do this election year. "When we first drove out here, we were told we should organize the three Democrats out here and make sure we get all three of them," says Jason Berry, the lead field organizer in the Winchester office, a farming hub near West Virginia. "But as we've come here, we've noticed there are a lot of Republicans who want … permission to vote for Obama and a lot of people who are very upset with the way the country's going." Berry says that about 200 people showed up when the office first opened a few weeks ago. The Winchester office is one of 28 the campaign has opened across Virginia. Berry says the idea is to identify Obama supporters and get them to reach out to their neighbors. "The strength of this: They know who they are. They know what the local issues are. They know the local things going on so they can speak to their fellow voters and also in a sense be almost character witnesses for Sen. Obama and build support that way."
From CNN:
Tickets for Barack Obama’s Democratic National Convention speech at the Invesco Field in Denver sold out within 24 hours, according to campaign officials. In early July, convention organizers announced the Illinois senator would officially accept the Democratic nomination at the 75,000 seat stadium rather than a 20,000 seat hall. According to the Colorado Campaign for Change, the application process closed Thursday afternoon after more than 60,000 seats were snatched up. Due to unprecedented demand, the campaign has created a waitlist for Coloradans hoping to get a chance to attend the August 28 event. …John F. Kennedy accepted the Democratic nomination for president in 1960 at Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, a 92,500-seat stadium in which an estimated 80,000 people gathered for his speech.
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