http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/09/27/obama-now-about-that-dry-cleaning-bill/September 27, 2008, 9:48 pm
Obama: Now, About That Dry-Cleaning Bill …
By Jeff Zeleny
FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – Remember last month, when a conservative group prayed for rain to disrupt Senator Barack Obama’s stadium-style acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention in Denver?
That night, it didn’t rain. And for months, at outdoor rallies across the country, Mr. Obama’s campaign events have escaped repeated bouts of rain and stormy weather – even if it was in the forecast.
But the run of good luck with Mother Nature ended here on Saturday night, as a steady rain began to fall shortly after Mr. Obama began speaking at the University of Mary Washington. After keeping his supporters waiting for nearly an hour, Mr. Obama went forward with his speech as a crowd estimated by campus officials at 26,000 grew soggy.
“I’m sorry for those of you who are wearing that special outfit,” Mr. Obama said. “I’d like to cover everyone’s dry cleaning bill tonight, but I can’t because I’ve got to use it on the campaign. So consider it one more modest contribution to our efforts to change the country.”
Later, he added: “It’s just trickling down a little bit here. That’s O.K. I’m going to have to get my dry cleaning going too.”
Some people filtered out of the park – the Democratic running mate, Senator Joseph R. Biden, acted as though he was running for cover, but smiled as he turned around and remained on the stage – but the vast majority of supporters listened and applauded.
“I’m going to take off my jacket here,” Mr. Obama said, handing his blue suit coat to Mr. Biden, who was sitting a few feet away. “It’s getting wet.”
Despite the showers, he did not cut short his campaign speech. He is waging a vigorous fight against Senator John McCain here in Virginia, hoping to overturn the state’s long Republican streak.
Mr. McCain was in the state on Saturday, too, but he had no public schedule and was working from his Northern Virginia apartment. (Mr. Obama’s motorcade rolled by his rival’s house, making the one-hour drive to Fredericksburg.)
Alex Conant, a spokesman for the Republican National Committee who monitors all of Mr. Obama’s campaign events, took note of the rain in an e-mail Saturday night, declaring: “The weather was as bad as his judgment.”
But the Obama supporters, who were already wet from a rain shower before Mr. Obama arrived, didn’t seem to mind the soaking. They cheered throughout the remarks, raising their voices even more as Mr. Obama unleashed a string of weather-related metaphors about the country’s current state.
“The storm hasn’t quite passed yet. Sometimes the skies look cloudy. And it’s dark,” Mr. Obama said. “You think the rains will never pass, but here’s what I understand: As long as all of us are together, as long as we are all committed, then there’s nothing we can’t do.”
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Singin' In The Rain 
