Obama urges local voters to 'See America as it can be'

[Ethelk2044]

http://www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070721/NEWS81/107210359



HAMPTON — Before Barack Obama introduced himself to a capacity crowd Friday morning at Adeline C. Marston Elementary School, he could be found down the street at Hampton Academy, where he and his aides took on town firefighters on the basketball court.

Marston Principal David O'Connor said the group played three or four games from about 7 to 8:15 a.m., with Obama's team — made up of a "bunch of ringers," including campaign aide Reggie Love, the 6'4" former Duke University player — taking each one.

"Even though he's a presidential candidate, he was just one of the guys out on the floor," said O'Connor, tasked with defending the tall and wiry Obama, whose love for basketball has been documented in his books. "What really impressed me is that he's a real, regular person."

The morning games were more for exercise and fun than an attempt to secure endorsements, according to Obama campaign staff.

About an hour later, the Democrat was in another gym under more basketball hoops, but this time he was wearing a suit jacket and pants and the focus was on withdrawing troops from Iraq, raising teachers' salaries as part of improving the education system and strengthening the economy.

He also talked of penalizing companies that pollute the environment, setting higher fuel standards, putting alternative energy to better use, closing the gap between average families and Wall Street stockholders and, before he met privately with volunteers and left for a stop in Manchester, health care.

[Kingstree]

1. He is correct. We need to stop letting the media and

corporations drive the direction of this country. The government needs to be driven by the people. More and more people need to get involved with politics.

[illinoisprogressive]

2. wouldn't it be fun to see one of those games.

[eweaver155]

3. He connecting with the Younger voters. He is getting the interested

in the political process.