Obama owns southern Oregon

[FightingIrish]

I’m back at my office after the Obama town hall. My voice is hoarse, my hands are numb from clapping and my eyes are crusted with tears. What an absolutely amazing event. I’m in a pretty conservative part of Oregon and he turned out a crowd that was beyond comprehension. The venue had very limited seating and many had to watch the event televised in an overflow room and many more had to be content to see him outside. He spoke at a gymnasium in a downtown facility for disadvantaged youth. The venue is in a pretty rough neighborhood, at least by southern Oregon standards. He walked the streets before his appearance and met some of the locals who were astonished to have this happening in their part of town.

Home town hero, Tony McPeak spoke briefly to a very appreciative crowd. He lamented Bill Clinton’s unfortunate comment yesterday and then introduced Barack Obama. Even though my early arrival still had me pretty far back in the line, I had a great seat less than thirty feet from him. Even though I have heard his speeches, this one seemed brand new and relevant to his audience. He took a number of questions which he answered without hesitation and without equivocation.

I went in an Obama supporter, but I know from talking to several people on the way out, that he won some converts today. I saw several people who I know to be Republicans and they even had Obama buttons on. I spoke with some of our local veterans who supported John Kerry in 2004 and they are ready to reorganize step up for Obama.

If I ever had any reservations about his relative youth, today I saw a man who transcends age as well as race. I want this guy answering the phone.

I got so excited I forgot this link:
http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080322/NEWS07/803220330

[lligrd]

1. K&R

[roseBudd]

2. The time is now. This country is ready. We are the ones.

[Speck Tater]

3. My Bush-supporting Republican mom

wants to vote for Obama in the general election.

[Cha]

13. Did she tell you

why? :) It's amazing how he's appealing to so many different people.

[Pisces]

4. Thank you for a great post.

[Adelante]

5. Thanks for the report

:)

[SoFlaJet]

6. That's the one thing that pisses me off the most

with what happened down here in Florida, WE got fucking cheated by NOT being able to see the candidates live. In '04 we got a chance to see Kerry and that was very cool. Hopefully after Obama wraps this thing up we get OUR shot at seeing the magic...

[Cha]

14. Yeah, no chance to see Obama in New York, either, but

I hope he comes here in the General.. He's 50 state guy!

[liberaldem4ever]

7. That sounds awesome

K&R

[BumRushDaShow]

8. Thanks for the S. Oregon report!

Glad the excitement is still there and building all over the country!!! :woohoo:

[VolcanoJen]

9. How I love posts like this!

One of the greatest things about this campaign as it soldiers on, and something we've lost some perspective about, is that it's very democratic.

It's so wonderful to me that so many Americans are getting to see the candidates close-up, to feel involved, to get passionate about politics and leadership and promise again. It used to be we'd all be so jealous of Iowa and New Hampshire. ;-)

Thank you for this post, FightingIrish, and also that great link about Obama walking a local neighborhood.

Isn't it amazing? Aren't you fired up? :-)

[H2O Man]

10. My brother told

me that Obama was at the local pizza place on campus at Corvallis last night. He was very impressed.

[Cha]

15. Yummy! Pizza and Obama!

Nice little Irish Obama logo on the tee, H20man.

[Cha]

11. What an exciting report you gave, FightingIrish!

Thank you!

[sandnsea]

12. Awesome!!

I really like that he walked around the neighborhood too, getting to know folks from all over the country. That's really great to hear. How cool you got to go!!

[roguevalley]

16. that's the place I grew up. Ashland will be totally Obama land and

hopefully other places too. I love the Rogue Valley. Its heaven and my heart's home.

RV (roguevalley)

[FightingIrish]

17. You would have been proud

This wasn't just Ashland. It was the whole valley and they were fired up.

[WillyT]

18. Thank You For Your Report !!! - K & R !!!

:bounce::kick::bounce:

:hi:

[JimGinPA]

19. Thanks For The Recap

:toast:

[quakerboy]

20. This is good news

That was where I was worried for him. I thought she might even out some of our metro vote for obama with a SoOr surge, and keep it within 10 points.


In other good news, for any of you who caught my post a few days back... My boss is now an Obamite.

[meow mix]

21. K&R

nice

[RichardRay]

22. I lived out in Galice for 10 years...

and you're darn tootin' it's a 'pretty conservative' part of Oregon! Ashland may be a hotbed of progressive thought down in that neck of the woods, but the rest of Southern Oregon is gonna be a tough nut to crack. OTOH, it's not a lost cause, either. Good luck down there. Wave to the Rogue for me the next time you go over a bridge.

[Scurrilous]

23. Gobama!

:thumbsup: