St. Pete Times: Obama Faithful Line up Early

[flpoljunkie]

Jim Damaske Times

With an hour to go before doors open for Sen. Barack Obama's rally today at Knology Park in Dunedin at about 10:30, several thousand supporters were in line to get in. The line snakes from the ticket office, through the parking lot, out to Douglas Avenue and out of sight.

Bedecked in Obama campaign gear and chanting slogans, the crowd was excited with anticipation. Many waved handmade signs, one read "Obama Retires McCain in Dunedin." Another, "We love you, stay the course."

The very first in line were sisters Ginny Johnson and Marilyn Myers, both of Dunedin. The pair arrived at Knology Park at midnight. Johnson, 64, is recovering from a broken right ankle. "It's a little sore, having to stand since midnight, but he's worth the pain."

-Will Van Sant

Further back in line stood Shirley McMinnis, 56. She and her 32-year-old son Leonard left their Highland County home just befroe 1 a.m., arriving at the park at 4 a.m. McMinnis said she was a laid-off accountant whose job had been outsourced and believes in Obama's economic and health care policies.

But there was another reason for her overnight drive; McMinnis said her 77-year--old, critically ill mother had lived through segregation and she wanted to see what her mother hadn't. "She thought that never in her lifetime would she see a black man run for office."

Posted by Times Editor at 9:32:17 AM on September 24, 2008

UPDATE: Doors opened on schedule. The city expected about 8,000 people, but it's too early to know what the count will turn out to be. The crowd is funneling through medal detectors. Obama is scheduled to speak at 12:30.

http://blogs.tampabay.com/buzz/2008/09/obamas-faithful.html#more

[voteearlyvoteoften]

1. Florida Loves Barack

Wish I was there...I'm phone banking today and hoping for an Orlando visit! Campaign your booty off.....

[firedupdem]

2. Go Florida! n/t

[AtomicKitten]

3. Florida is coming out large for Obama!

[rvablue]

4. Just goes to show all the media hand-wringing about Green Bay was silly....

You know, the other day when they were saying the crowd was "small" in Green Bay.
Later, I read the crowd was estimated at 6,000 -- seriously, a political rally in the middle of a work day, 6,000 show up and it's "small."

Well, just goes to show that Obama has already transformed our political landscape, because I can never remember in the past when that was considered a "small" crowd.

I don't know folks, all of these numbers, new registrants, fundraising, crowds -- I gotta admit I'm allowing myself to get just a tad gleeful!!!!!!

[Cha]

5. "Obama Faithful"..makes

it sound all spiritual and shit.

I'd love to be in line there in Dunedin, Florida:)

[JimGinPA]

6. Isn't That Where The Blue Jays Used To Play Spring Training Games?

If it is I've been there a bunch of times.