Wow, 75,000 Turnout to See Obama!
By Pamela Gentry, Senior Political Producer
Posted May 19, 2008 – On Sunday Sen. Barack Obama appeared at a campaign rally in Portland, Oregon and was greeted by a sea of folks estimated at topping 75,000. “Wow! Wow! Wow!” Were the first words from the senator’s mouth when he witnessed the sea of folks gathered to greet him.
This has to be one of the largest crowds any presidential candidate has mustered in one spot for one rally. And it literally took “by land and by sea” to make it possible. Those folks wanting a glimpse of the 46 year-old candidate, his wife Michelle and their two daughters, filled the Waterfront Park as well as the nearby Willamette River that boarded the park. From their small boats and water crafts they waited and watched to hear his speech.
Obama is no stranger to big crowds, he’s been setting records throughout the campaign. But this one far exceeds the 20,000 folks who filled a stadium in South Carolina when he and his wife appeared with Oprah Winfrey; and surpasses what was his largest crowd to date, 35,000 people who gathered in downtown Philadelphia on the Independence Mall.
On Tuesday the next primary contests will take place in Oregon and Kentucky. While Obama has traveled to campaign in both states this past weekend, his rival for the nomination, Sen. Hillary Clinton focused more of her time in Kentucky. Playing to much smaller crowds in intimate setting, her campaign is confident she’ll do well in the Bluegrass State.
Clinton encouraged voters she spoke to in Bowling Green, Kentucky, to turn out and send the message that this campaign isn’t over. Reminding those gathered she’ll be ready for the job on day one, but also acknowledging she’s “running for the toughest job in the world.”
But her prospects of landing the job are also tough. During her four day campaign swing through Kentucky Clinton touted leading her rival in the popular vote, but her figures include the votes from Michigan and Florida. Those two states are not included in the Democratic National Committee’s official count, and delegate count, not popular vote determines who secures the nomination,
So Tuesday’s primaries like all the remaining contest will only have one result; bring the contest closer to its end on June 3.
Obama has decided to wait for Tuesday night’s results from Oregon and Kentucky in Iowa, where he got his first primary win. “We thought it was a terrific way to kind of bring things full circle. We still have some contests left, but if Kentucky and Oregon go as we hope, then we think we will have a majority of pledged delegates at that point, and that’s a pretty significant mark.”
It sounds like he’s moved on to the general election.
WOW. I HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS AND A BLACK MAN ACCOMPLISHED THIS. THIS IS HUGE!!!
Large rally turnouts don’t provide votes. Let’s see how well he does in the General Election when myself and millions of other Hillary Clinton supporters vote for McCain!
To Jason- If you would vote for McCain, then you are not a true democrat and never really believed in what Hillary Clinton stood for. You do not believe in and stand up for the beliefs and ideas of democrats. Obama supporters are likely to think the same way if Hillary is the nominee, but we will not vote for McCain, because we are smart enough to know that that would be a slap in Obama’s face. Vote for McCain and you will be slapping Hillary in the face and going against all she has fought for. Obama supporters will simply not vote - we will not go against what Obama has believed in and stood up for or what democrats have long stood for. You are a Hillary sell out if you vote for McCain. To be honest, you are probably a republican anyway.
To both Jason and Tee,
To vote for McCain is insane and it means that you do not believe in anything that either candidate is standing for. Both, by the way, have similar goals but different strategies.. get yourself together man! I hope that this is just smoke you’re blowing and you don’t really think another four years with a republican is healthy.
Also, to Tee.. sitting at home and not voting is just as ignorant as voting for McCain. It’s almost the same thing! How ignorant can you both be! I think either action is a slap in the face to both candidates!
I support Barack Obama.. I support REAL change.. at this point I doubt it if Hillary will convince the superdelegates to give her the nomination but if she did.. I’d still rather go with her than McBush.
With that being said, Hillary getting the nomination at this time is nothing more than a fairy tale.. so its OBAMA ‘08 ALL THE WAY BABY!!
That’s sad Jason, you not ready for change and the truth hurts.
Barack is way beyond himself. He appears to be guided by some spiritual super natural forces. So much prayer is being sent up for him daily and the BOOK says,”… the prayers of the righteous [avails]
much….” So pleased to be a witness to this historic event.
Tee and Kika,
You BOTH bring up valid point in reference to that idiot Jason…To NOT vote for Hillary if she were to win the Democratic nomination would be the same as voting for McCain..That being said, if Hillary were to somehow win the nomination, I would imagine that a lot of Blacks would likely NOT vote in November..They, I imagine, would ask, what’s the point, if Obama has the majority of the popular vote AND delegates, only to have the super delegates give the nomination to Hillary, feeling that their vote truly DOES NOT COUNT!!! Something that Hillary Clinton and the Democratic Party as a whole should think about….
To Jason,
Stop hating that’s whats wrong with this country now to many haters, and you are definitley one of them. You go Barack this country needs a change and he is just the man to do it!!!!!
I think that it is great to have a black man get so much support because we as black american never thought this would every be possible but i still think hillary would be great.
To Jason that what’s the most ignorant thing a person can say. Now how would you benefit from voting for a Republican. Obama/Hillary both will make a change for the all of us and all McCain will do is proceed w/Bush and his schemes. You need to think twice about that homie.
When Senator Barack Obama,is winning the white vote, its just that Clinton campaign wants to use this as an opportunity to send a message to the Superdelegates.
You Democrats are funny. lol I am a Republican, but I cannot in good conscience vote for a man who can barely walk 10 feet without falling down. Every time I see poor McCain I feel the need to pray for him.
It takes physical energy to perform the duties of the Presidency and McCain simply doesn’t have it.
Obama is a POWERHOUSE of energy and ideas and I am willing to give him the chance. Also I WILL make sure that I involve myself in this historic moment of voting the first Black President of the United States into office.
Sorry to tell you folks, but Hillary is going to lose. If you Democrats will vote for McCain just because you don’t want to vote for Obama….that is just too funny. Normally that would get McCain elected, but it is NOT his time. It is Obamas time in history now.
Obama has too much charisma. It’s a done deal.
Bill Clinton revamped welfare reform and affirmative action, two things that were not good for our race, they are crutches. He also closed a lot of military bases, actions us Republicans were absolutely livid over, but look at the result….we had a surplus of funds to work with in the following years after he left. THAT was positive!!
Get with the program folks or stay apathetic, I don’t care, but I’m voting OBAMA 08!!!!!
Rick
To Jason: Hillary was right when she said that all of the Uneducated(DUMB) White people always voted for her. Because you are definitely showing just how dumb you are saying that you are voting for McCain in the general election if Hillary doesn’t become the nominee. Your dumb A@$ probably voted for BUSH to, which means you are partly to blame for us being in the mess we are in right now.
Maybe if Hillary could have raised more money she would of had more of a level playing field. I love Hillary too but the facts speak for itself. Money still do most of the talking these days.
Wow, that is amazing!
Why aren’t people giving to Hillary’s presidential campaign like they give to Obama’s? Thats the underlining reason why she is not the nominee.
“WOW. I HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS AND A BLACK MAN ACCOMPLISHED THIS. THIS IS HUGE!!!”
Kesha, Kesha, Kesha…guess you didn’t see the pictures of the million man march. Don’t get me wrong I’m not taking a thing away from Obama…that’s my man but Farakahn did it also….and King. Maybe you’re too young to remember.
yes, one might say a black man, one might say an “African American” one might say person of color, I say, he’s a “BROTHER” your, mines, theirs,and those we have yet to meet!!
Incorrect spelling of a word in the original article.
Great Him should be GREET Him.
Another correction:
Boarded the Park should be BORDERED THE PARK
The media; including AOL wants to make people believe that Obama doesn’t have the white vote, but it is evident(Portland and other places) that he does. People are looking for change from the traditional politics. The United States is a MESS!
Obama appears to have a heart for the people. He stands by his virtues and all people see that. This is not a black or white issue, it’s a survival issue. People need hope! I support Obama and for the FIRST TIME, I CAN SAY,”I’M PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN!!!!!!”
Truth
Well said OBAMA 08!!!!!!!!!!!
LET’S NOT BE SO HARD ON JASON. HE WAS RIGHT ABOUT THE CROWD, BUT WRONG ABOUT “ELECTION 08.”
Forget Jason he is probably Rush Limbaugh in disguise.
To Jason
If people like you vote for John McCain we are right back where we start with Bush.Don’t be like
that people are lossing their home,job,gas price are up before you vote take a hard look around.
All these Hillary people that say they will vote for Mccain remind me of little kids that throw a tantrum when they don’t get there way. Grow up! Sometimes your first choice doesn’t win it’s just the way it is.
i hope obama win’s the election in november, and it’s great that he has thing’s settled with hillary. just get bush out!!!!!
If you can’t spell “boarded” correctly, please don’t write a column! It’s bordered!
Praises to the Obama’s for this campaign! WHOO HOO
I’M GLAD OBAMA WILL WIN THIS ELECTION IN NOV. IT IS TIME THAT WE HAVE A PRESIDENT THAT WILL TELL THE AMERICAN PEOPLES THE TRUE THAT WHAT GOES ON IN THE WHITEHOUSE. THE PRESIDENTS THAT WE HAD IN THE PAST, THEY ONLY TELL YOU WHAT THEY WANT YOU TO HERE. OUR NEW PRESIDENT OBAMA WILL HELP ALL AMERICANS AND THOSE WHO IS NOT AMERICANS. THIS IS THE MAN THAT WE NEED FOR THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. GO OBAMA YOU WILL BE OUR NEW PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF 2008. GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.
I’m really suprised by the hugh turn out by I hope all of those 75,000 people vote for Obama when it’s time to cast a vote. I wish people where just as dedicated to Obama when it comes to casting a vote. Let’s see what happens tomorrow when the rubber meets the road.
And for all of you dedicated Hillary supporter’s stop hating on Obama because he winning if the shoe was on the other foot you would be mad at Obama supporters saying the same thing you are.
Jason/Tee/People… dose anybody “REALLY” understand the meaning of unity??? I’m for Obamma. I’ve been a Democrate all of my 64 years that I could vote. I DID NOT always agree with who won the nomination, but I voted the choice of the Democratic ticket, because that is what you do if you are true to your party…it’s called being a team player (there is no I in Team). Staying at home and not voting, is the very same thing as voting for John MaCain! People, we are in a war that NEVER should have been waged; people are living in the streets because they have lost their homes; gas by the end of the year WILL BE $200 a barrel and $6.00 at the pump…and you want to either not vote, or vote for McCain and give George Bush a THIRD TERM???? That’s INSANE…I’d vote for Mickey Mouse before I’d vote to continue another 100 years with the condition that this nation currently finds itself in. We need “CHANGE” and if Obama or Hilliry CANNOT provide us with that, then, “HEVEN HELPS US…ALL!!!!”
Jason/Tee/People… dose anybody “REALLY” understand the meaning of unity??? I’m for Obamma. I’ve been a Democrate all of my 64 years that I could vote. I DID NOT always agree with who won the nomination, but I voted the choice of the Democratic ticket, because that is what you do if you are true to your party…it’s called being a team player (there is no I in Team). Staying at home and not voting, is the very same thing as voting for John MaCain! People, we are in a war that NEVER should have been waged; people are living in the streets because they have lost their homes; gas by the end of the year WILL BE $200 a barrel and $6.00 at the pump…and you want to either not vote, or vote for McCain and give George Bush a THIRD TERM???? That’s INSANE…I’d vote for Mickey Mouse before I’d vote to continue another 100 years with the condition that this nation currently finds itself in. We need “CHANGE” and if Obama or Hilliry CANNOT provide us with that, then, “HEAVEN HELPS US…ALL!!!!”
Jason….remember “If you stand for nothing, you will fall for anything.” stay demo babee
HEY RICK THE REPUBLICIAN,
IF YOU ARE VOTING FOR OBAMA BECAUSE YOU BELIEVE IN HIM TAKING THE HIGHEST OFFICE IN OUR LAND TO LEAD YOU AND ME, THEN I’D SAY YOU MAKE ME A BIGGER BELIEVER IN OBAMA AS THE TRUE ‘GREAT UNITER’
THAN WE ARE ALL BROTHERS AND SISTERS… NOT DEMS AND REPS BUT ALL AMERICAN BROTHERS AND SISTERS - THE FIRST UNITED AMERICAN FAMILY WHEN OBAMA BECOMES COMMANDER IN CHIEF
good job my brotha yes we can !!!
Obama supporters who claims there were 75thousand people at OR yesterday!
There were 100thousand in NewYork at Elton John concert, inside and outside of the radio City when Elton John endorsed Hillary last month!Do not spin thing around it won’t work!
Thats so amazing to see so many Americans in one place supporting a black man. VOTE OBAMA 08
all i can say to that photo is “WOW”!!! AMERICA NEEDS CHANGE.. GO OBAMA 2008!! MAKE AMERICA PROUD, MAKE AFRICA PROUD.. MAKE THE WORLD BELIEVE ONCE AGAIN THAT ONE MAN CAN MAKE A CHANGE…
Yeah, but what the Media including BET intentionally forgot to mention is that there was a free Rock Concert preceding Barack’s speech. Nice Try though Pamela!
You can’t say a negative thing about that. But say Wow!
They keep saying white voters, white voters, white voters. I,m tired hearing it. When most of us didn’t have the education that they had, we wasn’t a threat. But now,we are well educated and we can stand beside them or move a step in front of them. We still are not worth voting for. For those who think we haven’t come a long way,look at the picture again. Wow!
well Jason, looks like those crowds turned into results cause he won, Oregon by 19 points, but thanks for the faith, if you hatin than go to the Disney page or some shiz, cuz this page is for positive people and energy, what is sad is both states WV and Oregon are equally white but the voting trends are dramatic, shows racism alive and well in Appalachia and ofcourse wherever you are too!
Wow that carzy yo!!!!!!1
75,000 TURNOUT TO SEE OBAMA, LIKE THE VERIZON COMMERCIAL ALL I CAN SAY IS WOW…..L.O.L.
must have been overwhelming to the sen.
75,000 TURNOUT TO SEE OBAMA, LIKE THAT VERIZON COMMERCIAL ALL I CAN SAY IS WOW!!
IT MUST HAVE BEEN AN OVERWHELMING SIGHT TO SEE FOR THE SEN.
To Jason,do you speak for the majority of hillary supporters, or is this your lone prediction. This statement is not only ignorant, but also not going to happen. Do not insult the intelligence of the american people,because they wil not let someone as yourself,decide there voting preference. Regardless of who the american people choose it will hopefully be a thought out choice.
after all knoledge is power jason, grab some.
I have the gift of decerning spirits. And listening to Jason he is on a black web-site pertending to be black so he can stir up confusing between us. Jason i know that you are not concerned about us as a people you just logged in to see what black people is talking about, so you can be one step ahead of us. The spirit you carry is the same spirit that is mentioned in the book of acts and i rebuke you in the name of Jesus. We will not let satan use you do stir up animosity among us on this web-site. I plead the blood of Jesus against you right now in the name of Jesus.
I have the gift of decerning spirits. And listening to Jason he is on a black web-site pertending to be black so he can stir up confusing between us. Jason i know that you are not concerned about us as a people you just logged in to see what black people is talking about, so you can be one step ahead of us. The spirit you carry is the same spirit that is mentioned in the book of acts and i rebuke you in the name of Jesus. We will not let satan use you to stir up animosity among us on this web-site. I plead the blood of Jesus against you right now in the name of Jesus. Also the rest of you who is with Jason will leave also, everyone don’t entertain them with words of the flesh.