From the Philadelphia Inquirer:
Accompanied by his new ally, Sen. Bob Casey, Sen. Barack Obama embarked yesterday on a six-day bus tour of Pennsylvania, buoyed by strong showings in national polls ... ... Obama started his bus tour in Pittsburgh with a rally, where he spoke to 2,000 cheering supporters; visited a steel mill in Braddock, where he posed for pictures with 50 steelworkers; and finished the day with a town-hall meeting in Greensburg, the county seat of Westmoreland County. The candidate was joined on the first leg of his bus ride by the man known as "The Bus," former Pittsburgh Steeler Jerome Bettis. Before the caravan got rolling, Bettis gave Obama a blue-and-white version of the Steelers' good-luck charm, the Terrible Towel, bearing the words: Here We Go, America, Here We Go. ..."I believe in this guy like I've never believed in a candidate in my life," Casey said, pausing, "except my father." In addition, he said, he had been impressed with Obama's demeanor under the pressure of the campaign: "He has appealed, as Abraham Lincoln did many years ago, to the better angels of our nature." ... Obama told the rally in Pittsburgh that he had not pressed his Senate colleague for an endorsement. He also said, "I understand that we're behind in Pennsylvania." For that reason, Obama said: "It meant as much to me as any endorsement I've received in this campaign, because I knew it was coming from the heart. And I knew it wasn't based on any political calculation."
From the Charlotte Observer:
U.S. Sen. Barack Obama's presidential campaign is opening 13 offices across North Carolina today, including locations in Charlotte and Hickory, campaign leaders announced this morning. ... Obama state director Craig Schirmer said the baker's dozen of offices will help organize the grass roots support that has proven the hallmark of Obama's success in other states. "We plan to organize from the mountains to the coast," Schirmer said. Schirmer said campaign officials were enthused by the crowds that have shown up at organizational meetings, include the overflow at last night's gathering in Charlotte. ... "It shows how strong our commitment is to waging an aggressive campaign here in North Carolina," Schirmer said. The campaign's national communications director, Robert Gibbs, said Obama, who made two visits in the past week, will be back soon.
From the Rocky Mountain Telegram:
With the help of dozens of grass-roots volunteers, the campaign to elect U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., president will take root in Rocky Mount tonight at a campaign kickoff event. U.S. Rep. G.K. Butterfield, D-1st District, will be on hand for the grand opening of Obama's Twin Counties campaign headquarters at 6 p.m. ... Organizers are expecting between 75 and 100 people to attend, but everyone is welcome, Obama staff member Josh Parolin said. ... In the last three days alone, 3,000 volunteers have attended organizational meetings throughout the state, campaign officials said. "This campaign is unlike anything I've ever seen," said Thomas Mills, a Carrboro-based political consultant. "Through the blending of the Internet and a true grass-roots movement, this campaign is organic. It's unlike any other campaign out there." ... Anyone else interested in joining the campaign is invited to the kickoff event later tonight. It will begin at 6 p.m. at the headquarters, located at 1956 Stone Rose Drive in Rocky Mount. "I believe in what Sen. Obama is doing as far as bringing people together," Shabazz said. "We need to have hope for our future and I feel like Sen. Obama understands that requires change. He is the best candidate to bring about that change."
From the Indiana Daily Student:
IU Students for Barack Obama is bringing actor Kal Penn to IU on Saturday to talk to a group of Obama’s student supporters. Penn, otherwise known as Kumar from “Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle” and Taj from “National Lampoon’s Van Wilder,” will hold a rally at 7 p.m. Saturday in Ballantine Hall 013. “We hope to fill the room, and it fits about 300-plus,” said Tim Granholm, president of Students for Barack Obama. “I’m pretty confident we can fill it. I hope (students) are energized by this rally and it motivates them to get involved in the campaign.” After the rally, Penn will head to The Bluebird at 10 p.m. Granholm hopes to register people to vote at both events. “I think the campaign sending a supporter here that is high-profile is a symbol of how much students matter,” Granholm said. “The campaign is here now. It’s a chance for all student supporters to get together and work off enthusiasm.” Besides having Penn here, this weekend is important for Students for Barack Obama because Bloomington’s Barack Obama headquarters will have its grand opening at 10 a.m. on Saturday. ... Granholm and about 25 other students started the local chapter of Students for Barack Obama in February 2007. They now have about 100 active members and have visited several different states in their campaign efforts. At the beginning of the year, the group got more than 1,000 students to sign cards stating that they supported Obama. ... Right now, the group’s main goal is to get as many students registered to vote as possible, Granholm said. The group has also held phone banks during which members called people in states holding primaries and reminded them to vote. “Even with phone banks, we’re reaching out to people our own age,” said freshman Brianna Dines, the dorm captain for Wright Quad. “It’s been really effective getting youth vote, which is really rare.”
From the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Sens. Barrack Obama and Bob Casey last night strolled into Sharky's Cafe in Latrobe as their campaign entourage made its way from Greensburg to Johnstown. ... The Wisconsin-Davidson game halftime was just over as the two senators made their way around a large U-shaped bar. Amid cameras and boom mikes, Mr. Obama, in shirtsleeves, grabbed a handful of popcorn with one hand as he greeted patrons with the other and posed for pictures. Speaking of his NCAA pool picks, the Illinois senator noted he was rooting for Davidson. "I had Pitt; it had nothing to do with campaigning in Pennsylvania," said the ardent basketball fan, contradicting conspiracy theorists who have suggested his brackets have been influenced by his ambition. With difficulty, Mr. Casey managed to take a cell-phone picture of Mr. Obama and a couple at the bar. Turning to a table, Mr. Obama had a brief discussion with Tom Mueseler of Latrobe. "We talked gas prices; that's what we'd been doing all evening," Mr. Mueseler said. Laid off more than a year ago from a marketing firm, he said gas prices were so high that it was tough to pay for round trips to job interviews. An Obama fan, he would have liked to hear more of the senator's ideas for easing the rising gas prices. Mr. Mueseler, a guard for the Duquesne University basketball team from 1969 to 1973, said they also discussed basketball. After about 15 minutes of meet-and-greet, Mr. Obama called it a night, saying, "I gotta get Casey back to the hotel."
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