A Blog Report for Obama's Paoli PA Whistle Stop:

[bicentennial_baby]

Obama's On Track for Change

by BooMan
Sat Apr 19th, 2008 at 05:03:02 PM EST

I just got back from seeing Obama do one of his train-whistle stops in Paoli, Pennsylvania. It was a nice crowd and a pretty cool event. I've got a ton of pictures to upload and I'll try to have a picture diary of it up later tonight.

Obama has every region of the state covered today. Gov. Sebelius is in Pittsburgh and Erie. Gov. Kaine is in Scranton and Wilkes-Barre. Sen. Kerry is in Allentown and Easton, and Teddy Kennedy is York and Gettysburg. Meanwhile, Obama hit three Main Line stops, plus Lancaster and Harrisburg.

Driving around Chester County, Obama signs outnumber Clinton signs seven or eight to one. In Wayne, there are kids on the main intersections waving Obama signs and cars honking their approval like mad. Hillary was here today, at a West Chester firehouse at 7:30 in the morning. She rocked a crowd of 600, which is about the size of the police and Secret Service contingent that protected Obama in Paoli (I'm exaggerating). It took her six weeks to make her first stop in Chester County.

-snip-

Obama delivered this line in Paoli, and probably the other stops as well.

“Her basic argument in this election — it’s become clear as time has gone on — is that you can’t really change Washington,” Mr. Obama said. “You can’t really change the say-anything-do anything, special-interest-driven game in Washington. And because you can’t change it, you might as well select somebody who knows how to play the game better because they’ve been at the game longer.”

It's a brilliant piece of political theater.

The trip across a corner of Pennsylvania — designed for its marketing appeal, as much as its method of transportation — was the first use of a train in the 2008 race. As he boarded his chartered Amtrak at Philadelphia’s 30th Street Station, Mr. Obama took a pull on the train’s whistle. “This is what I’m talking about,” he said.

People waited for hours for Mr. Obama’s train to arrive. Young children, perched on their fathers’ shoulders, waved blue Obama signs into the air. People gathered on both sides of the tracks, their views occasionally interrupted by passing trains.

But amid the revelry, Mr. Obama reminded people again and again that he needed their support on Tuesday.

“We are going to be unified in November,” Mr. Obama said. “But right now, there is a real choice to be made.”

There is no sign of any life in Clinton's campaign here anymore. In other parts of the state Obama is going to do poorly, but most of the votes are here. This is going to be a nail-biter.

http://www.boomantribune.com/story/2008/4/19/1732/78528

:hi:

[livetohike]

1. I disagree with the premise that Obama will do poorly in

other parts of the state. I think the Pgh/Western Pennsylvania area will surprise the Clinton campaign with support for Obama.

[BlooInBloo]

14. Have you ever been to Uniontown, Connelsville, etc?

[livetohike]

17. Just driving through

I've never spent any time there.

[TheDoorbellRang]

2. My nails are going to be bloody little stumps by Tuesday nite

Thanks for the report.

[babylonsister]

3. NBC had a good rundown of Obama's whistlestops today, showing

him yanking that chain. ;) Also showed pix from the crowd last night. Bring on Tuesday! And that last line there; "There is no sign of any life in Clinton's campaign here anymore." :nopity:

[hisownpetard]

13. He can yank my chain any time he damn well pleases.

:blush:

[bluestateguy]

4. To even have a chance he needs to sweep all of the suburban counties

Can you deliver Bucks, Montgomery, Delaware and Chester counties?

[mystieus]

5. pics

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=5580582&mesg_id=5580582

[TexasLady]

11. welcome to DU mystieus!

:hi:

[starroute]

19. I'm in northern Bucks County

We had our second Obama canvasser come by a couple of hours ago. The first one, a few weeks back, wanted to know how we were voting. This one had us on his list and was just making sure we'd be getting out to vote. And there's an active Obama headquarters in the center of town.

The Clinton campaign, on the other hand, isn't in evidence at all on a grassroots level. Bill spoke at the high school here a few days back, but I wouldn't even have known about it if it hadn't been mentioned on the national news.

Now none of that is evidence of how the actual voting will go -- but the Obama volunteers certainly seem determined to get out every vote they possibly can.

[Zachstar]

6. Cool! Some good news!!

He is making a serious play for PA. His train idea was the best idea I have seen this campaign! And I am hearing more and more about pockets of support for Obama all over the state!

I can't wait for the rally in Harrisburg! It will be a great end to this very successful day!

I still think that this train trip along with his good words and good ideas will mean he will only lose by 5.

Regardless of what happens it is obviously a great run in PA!

GOBAMA!!!

[RazBerryBeret]

7. thanks for that report--

I watched it on CNN, and I also like the line he used about "I'm not running so Washington can change me, I'm running so I can change Washington" I thought that was brilliant. Best wishes to you guys in PA--I'm you're neighbor to the west (Ohio) ... we'll all be watching tuesday! oh, and I look forward to seeing your pics!!

[livetohike]

8. Thanks - I'll be working at the polls all day

:hi: It's supposed to be a nice day, sunny and 70 F. I'll be too nervous to sleep until all the results are in.

[slinkerwink]

9. hey!

REmember to keep our expectations real, ok? I do think Clinton will win by 12 points on Tuesday.

[Hazelrah]

10. Buzzkill.

Kidding! Actually, kind of not but hey, hug? :hug:


Awesome pic from Paoli that I forgot to post in my earlier thread.

[bicentennial_baby]

15. I have no expectations...

In fact, I haven't been following the race for weeks really. I'm far too busy and my interest has waned, hardcore. Might be 'cause I rarely post in the GDP Viper Pit anymore. :shrug:

[RazBerryBeret]

16. the Obama camp had

forecast back in february (remember the leaked spreadsheet?) that Clinton would win Pa 52 to 47. and he still comes out ahead in the end.

[Skwmom]

12. Clinton also thinks that big money special interests own Washington, you have to play ball and that

is not going to change.

[Cha]

18. Thanks bibaby...there

you are! :hi: Always brilliant posts from booman and this is especially riveting from the field AKA the train station leaving us wanting for the next time with pics.

“Her basic argument in this election — it’s become clear as time has gone on — is that you can’t really change Washington,” Mr. Obama said. “You can’t really change the say-anything-do anything, special-interest-driven game in Washington. And because you can’t change it, you might as well select somebody who knows how to play the game better because they’ve been at the game longer.”

Problem with this now is she doesn't even know how to play game anymore..It's the 21st Century and no one dared tell hilary.

Fantasic that the whole state of PA is covered by Obama's peeps! Thank you Kerry, Kaine, Kennedy, and Sebelius! :patriot: :bounce: :kick: :party:

[blue neen]

20. I live in western PA and have had many calls from the Obama campaign

here in Westmoreland County. I am impressed with how he has run his campaign as opposed to Hillary's campaign which I consider to be a complete trainWRECK at this point.

I am excited for Tuesday, because I really think he is going to do much better in PA than was originally expected. :)

Thanks for the report. I was lucky enough to attend his Town Hall Meeting in Hempfield, PA a couple of weeks ago.

[Left coast liberal]

21. Thanks for the report. Nail biter indeed! The tension is palpable!

[AtomicKitten]

22. Thanks fior your report.

These eyewitness accounts are almost certainly the most reliable snapshot we have going. Thanks.

edited for K&R :hi: