[Insert caveat here about crowd size not being an indicator of votes but holy crap 100,000 people in a state that went for George W. Bush by 7% in 2004. Not determinative of anything but jeez louise 100,000 people?]
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Obama’s campaign says that 75K in the KC rally too!
Man, that’s impressive! Who gave the free rock concert that they really went there to see?
(Is that supposed to be funny or something? Well, yes; but the last time I thought of that bit of snark, when there was that little event in Berlin, I didn’t know it was even then developing into a serious Republican talking point: Berliners are just like Portlanders, suckers for free music even if they have to pay by hearing Obama.)
“McCain’s crowds are tied with Obama’s”-Matt Drudge
This was just a straight up democratic rally. No band. No free beer that I’m aware of. Just democrats and piped in music before/after.
AG Jay Nixon (running for Gov. and way ahead in the polls), Sen. Claire McCaskil and Mayor Francis Slay all spoke. There were a few others locals, too.
From all the reports this seemed to be a successful rally. Needless to say, Sen. Obama could draw an even larger crowd in Saint Louis if there was more room. He’s very popular because we get a lot of Illinois political coverage.
The talk on the right about bands and free refreshments and photo-shopping were false. Look at that stage…you couldn’t get a drum set, a backline and monitors to all fit on that tiny little platform. They were probably expecting 30-60k, but Saint Louis is more than ready for change after 8 years of Bushco II and 4 years of Roy Blunt’s one term son, Governor Blunt, a total trainwreck.
The current Governor Matt Blunt decided not to run for reelection after an e-mail scandal. Sound familiar Governor Palin?
Awesome.
But I’m sure McCain met some nice folks at Denny’s this morning, so c’mon, let’s be fair and talk about his campaign as well.
While I’m sure a majority of those at the rally hailed from Missouri, let’s not forget that East St. Louis (an Illinois city that leans HEAVILY Democratic) is about a mile away from that location.
While I’m sure a majority of those at the rally hailed from Missouri, let’s not forget that East St. Louis (an Illinois city that leans HEAVILY Democratic) is about a mile away from that location.
Let’s also not forget that 100,000 at a political is, in the parlance of our times, a shitload of bodies.
What impressed me as much as the turnout was Obama’s reaction: let’s not take anything for granted. Obama, however genteel, polite, etc. is fiercely competitive, a winner in mind set, not an unctuous natural aristocrat willing to be martyred for his high mindedness.
He couldn’t be better. He’s done everything right. Now it’s up, as they say, to us.
“While I’m sure a majority of those at the rally hailed from Missouri, let’s not forget that East St. Louis (an Illinois city that leans HEAVILY Democratic) is about a mile away from that location.”
That’s just a silly argument. You know nothing about Saint Louis politics. Sure, some folks from East St. Louis probably hopped on Metrolink and crossed the river to attend the rally, but if you look at that crowd you’ll see a majority of white, pasty faces.
Using that logic, half of the 75,000 folks that attended the Obama rally in Kansas City later in the day were from the state of Kansas, right? Kansas is a very red state…so what does that tell you about Sen. Obama’s support?
Demographically, the City of Saint Louis is changing dramatically. White, middle-class, 30-something, liberal leaning citizens are moving back into the city in hordes. The best real estate values are in the city. The city used to have a population well over 500,000 back in the 1950s before the suburban exodus. We have lots of older, well-built brick houses ready for rehab, and developers and younger folks are snapping them up. We have plenty of room for growth, and the city has just experienced it’s first population ‘growth’ in decades. Saint Louis County will vote for Obama at a 66% clip. Even in the western burbs of STL, Saint Charles County (a long time Republican stronghold) is trending democratic. Wingnut Congressman Todd Akin had better watch out…this election could see him losing to a third or fourth tier opponent, wacko Bill Haas. (You should look Bill Haas up, he’s a piece of work…and a serious longshot, but even his numbers are surprisingly good.)
In my neighborhood in South St. Louis, Obama signs outnumber McCain signs by 10 to 1. Right around the corner, there’s a block that has an Obama/Biden sign in just about every single yard. I need to get pictures of that before the election is over. It’s truly inspiring.
Seeing all those people waiting to hear Senator Obama is beyond impressive. I pray that come 5th November, it will be President Elect Obama. America needs it. The world neeeds it.
Yeah, but you know all but about 1,000 of them are really CGI by some Hollywood SFX house on behalf of ACORN.
100,000 people looking for a handout! Awesome! All you BO lovers just remember how in love you were at this moment because is 6-8 yrs., when we have 70% tax rates, a 50 trillion dollar debt, 25% un-employment and gun-bans you are going to be wishing you had swallowed the red pill…