A bigger crowd than he imagined

[wildeyed]

State Sen. Malcolm Graham thought he knew what to expect when he helped open Democrat Barack Obama's Charlotte headquarters Thursday night.

"I went there expecting 50, 60, 70 people," he said.

Seven hundred showed up.

Lines wrapped around the headquarters at 1523 Elizabeth Ave. They were a mixed crowd: white, black, young and old. Few political events of any kind -- let alone a headquarters opening -- draw that many people.

"I've never seen a grassroots movement take hold like that," said Graham, who welcomed the volunteers on behalf of the campaign. "It was just amazing to sit back and watch."

Charlotte is one of 13 Obama campaign offices across the state. Campaign officials say more than 3,000 people attended recent openings in nine communities.

http://www.charlotte.com/politics/story/557430.html

I found this snippet in the Charlotte Observer this morning. That is a mind-boggling turnout for a headquarters opening, especially in a mid-sized semi-conservative Southern city.

[cali]

1. Cool. Thanks for the positive story

I'm hoping Obama takes NC by a big margin. I think he can.

[wildeyed]

5. Appears that he will take Charlotte by a big margin, at least!

I have been in Charlotte for 10 years, involved in local politics for about half that time, and I have *never* heard of something like this. We got fired up for Kerry/Edwards, but nothing this big, and certainly not in a primary. Turnout should be huge here :)

on edit: Also, an independent friend of mine got an ID "survey" phone call from a pro-Obama (I am assuming) c-4 group a few days ago. They ID'ed her as an Obama supporter, then made sure she had election info up to date, ect. I think this is a really good sign, too. Means the pro-Obama groups are on deck and working their turnout already :)

[scrucon]

37. He sure will. It's the presidency he won't take. nt

[theredpen]

38. *PLONK*

[FightTheRight89]

39. Woo-woo!

O-Train's a-movin'! Trust me, standing in the middle of the railroad tracks isn't to stop it!

[Tarheel_Dem]

42. oh great....another snark from a hidden profile (eom)

:eyes:

[babylonsister]

2. Wow! Very cool. nt

[blonndee]

3. Excellent! nt

[Adelante]

4. How wonderful

Thanks for the great news out of NC :)

[ericgtr]

6. Great post

K&R

:kick:

[yellerpup]

7. Wow! That is SOME excitement!

I remember when you were registering voters around Mooresville in '04 (I was doing the same thing in Catawba Co.) and it really sounds like the enthusiasm there has gone through the roof. GObama! :kick: :hi:


Edit for typo

[wildeyed]

9. GObama!

:kick:

I still do a lot of registration, but mostly in Mecklenburg. I started already this year because there is so much excitement around this election. We are soooo much better organized than in 04, too. Gonna be great!

:hi:

[yellerpup]

10. '00 and '04 kind of whipped us Dems into fighting shape.

Organization makes a HUGH difference, and this is going to be the election where it pays off! We are all fired up and ready to go!

[wildeyed]

13. People are investing money in the state, too.

Before we were always trying to do it on a shoestring and a prayer. Now we have paid organizers year-round, access to sophisticated databases, cool stuff!

Dunno if NC will be blue this year, but we are moving in that direction.

[yellerpup]

20. I'm so happy for you.

Mecklenberg went Blue for Kerry, but how encouraging that it's now a growing trend. I salute :salute: you for your dedication and generous sense of humor. It certainly takes both to get change where you need change. Good work! GObama '08!

[wildeyed]

46. Thanks yeller!

We will miss your efforts here this year. :patriot:

[grantcart]

8. gonna need a bigger . . . .

[WillyT]

12. LOL !!!

A fish called Hillary???



:evilgrin:

[livetohike]

11. I saw many Obama bumperstickers on Route 77 in NC

while driving home from vacation this week. :thumbsup: For those not familiar with this route, it goes North (and south) of Charlotte, NC.

[jwirr]

14. State after State. As an older DUer what excites me is the new

voters who are coming out in droves. I hope that they not only vote this year but stay involved as voters, activists and lobbyists. They alone are revitalizing this party. Thank God for them.

[wildeyed]

15. Thank God for them!

Yes! It is exciting seeing all the new people getting involved. In 04, at age 35, I was often the youngest person in the room at political functions. Now I am an old gray-hair! So many young people anxious to get involved right now, and not just directly in the Obama campaign. They are showing up at functions across the board. Very exciting!

[stillcool]

16. Oh No! He's going to do..

that Grass Roots Campaigning thing again!

[tishaLA]

17. I LOVE reading reports like this

that's very exciting.

[roseBudd]

18. Just goes to show you if you open an Obama headquarters they will come

[Cha]

28. lol!

So thankful for all these people who are out in the field opening Obama headquarters.

[Psst_Im_Not_Here]

19. My sister reports the same in Indiana. n/t

n/t

[Yael]

21. 700? Holy wow!!

[BumRushDaShow]

22. !!!!! K&R

Wow!

:kick:

[mhoran]

23. Ol' mo' just keeps rolling along...

Hop on the train, Clintonites. It's an amazing ride.

[SaveAmerica]

24. I've read this three times and tried to recommend it each time!! Exciting!!

Editing: this awesome news made the front page!! 700 people in a PRIMARY SEASON show up not to vote, but to get on board to volunteer for his campaign. Man, that's amazing.

[mopinko]

25. it's a movement

look out grampa mcsame

[Cha]

26. I can't even believe it and

I know how good he and his policies are. Just the knowledge sooo many others feel this way too..is absolutely mind boggling!

[Kukesa]

27. K & R! n/t

[Hissyspit]

29. He is the next president.

Barring some unforeseen political disaster (which my cynical skeptical self would never count out).

[Politicalboi]

30. It's events like this

That make me wonder why the polls are so close to McCain and Billary. I think they are lying to us. I think Obama has a big lead over both McCain and Billary. You could steal an election if it appears to be close.

[leftcoastie]

36. I know it's been said before

but why is it that TWICE (and maybe three) TIMES as many DEMOCRATS have reported to go to the primaries than republicans and yet the polls say McCain is neck and neck with Obama or Clinton within a few percentage points.

I agree and think the MSM and polling agencies are yanking our collective chains. This election SHOULD BE A LANDSLIDE given the state of the union, the economy, the climate change, the housing debacle, stolen elections an 4,000 dead soldiers and the loss of habeas corpus and posse comitatus -- and that lying, cheating in human chuckling chimp of a resident........

:wtf:

Am I crazy?

[Kaleko]

41. I'm wondering about the exact same discrepancy.

As you said: "This election SHOULD BE A LANDSLIDE..."

What is going on here? Can all these polls really be rigged?? I find that hard to believe, frankly.

[Enthusiast]

44. Leftcoastie, it is indeed curious.

I don't trust my own judgment on this. I am so extremely suspicious of the corporate machine and it's long tentacles.

[cooolandrew]

31. Great to see the amazing activism.

[ekwhite]

32. Recommended for a positive story

We need more of those O8)

[AllentownJake]

33. North Carolina

Is going to knock her out!

[Tatiana]

34. Seven HUNDRED people? DAYUM. This is amazing grassroots support and organization! n/t

[thevoiceofreason]

35. Rise up, North Carolina!

All our love from Texas!

[donheld]

40. Fabulous

:bounce::bounce::bounce:

[SalmonChantedEvening]

43. Awright Charlotte!!

:yourock:

[izzybeans]

45. My mother is helping open his office in Southern Indiana

No one can remember the last time a democratic campaign office was set up during the primaries there.

She can't keep up with demand for shirts, pins, buttons etc. They registered over 1000 high school seniors last week alone. This is a town of 150,000 and in the outlying rural areas.