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Home > Blogs > Ohio politics > Archives > 2008 > November > 02 > Entry
Cleveland crowd gathers early for Obama rally
CLEVELAND- Tyrone Robinson and his wife Deborah lined up about 11 a.m. today, Nov. 2, for an opportunity to see Democrat Barack Obama, the presidential candidate they believe will make history if elected on Tuesday, Nov. 4.
The downtown rally on a grassy mall near Lake Erie and the football stadium where the Browns were playing started about 3:25 with warm-up speeches.Obama was expected later. Bruce Springsteen also was to perform an acoustic set.
“We’ve never had an African-American president,” said Robinson, a steelworker. He and his wife are black but race is not the only reason they’re backing Obama, he said.
“This man is not in office for black people,” said Robinson. “He’s in office for all people.”
The couple came from Maple Heights, southeast of Cleveland.
Karen Felix, who is white and from Rocky River, a western, Republican-leaning suburb, also got there early.
“I believe in this guy,” said Felix, an Obama neighborhood team leader.
The rally was the second of three Obama had in Ohio on Sunday. He was to come here from Columbus where a crowd of 60,000 gathered outside the Statehouse and then finish the day in Cincinnati.
A strong showing by Obama is needed in the Cleveland areas to offset Republican strength in other parts of the state.
“It is our time to make it better for the world by voting for Obama,” said Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson, warming up the crowd.
U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, lauded Obama as a steady hand and called Republican John McCain “a bit erratic.”
Brown said he knew many of the thousands in the crowd had been at rally near the same site on the day before the election four years ago for Democrat John Kerry, who lost.
“This year its going to be really, really different,” said Brown.
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Comments
By Rob
November 4, 2008 3:59 PM | Link to this
Eli - er, ah - E.Lie - as in, you are lying again. Senate bill 2433 (which by the way - has been tagged as abandoned anyway - so you don’t have to worry abouth third world dictators getting their hands on your cigarette money) earmarks NO MONEY. That’s right, moron - there is NO MONEY earmarked in the bill. So there is a reason the dollar figure in post smells like a pile of crap - that’s where you pulled it from.By Eli Jones
November 3, 2008 7:04 AM | Link to this
Comrade Obama’s Marxist allies (Democrats) are now planning Obama’s second Marxist act, that concerning everyone’s retirement 401k. Comrade Obama and allies are now saying that you will have your 401k transferred into government-created accounts” for everyone with a 401k. The government will pay a 3 percent return on your 401k money. YEP THREE PERCENT!! This is what you can expect out of Barack Obama. Oh yes, Obama’s first Marxist act has already been put into motion. It is the Obama sponsored US Senate Bill S2433 and it is an act of a empty headed dreamer. Obama’s S2433 will cost us tax paying Americans 845 Billion in ADDITIONAL taxes. The money from Obama’s S2433 will be given to the corrupt United Nations, specifically for “The UN Global Poverty Act”. Your hard earned money will then be REDISTRIBUTED to third world dictators. Google: Obama’s S2433By Britt Whitmire
November 2, 2008 8:58 PM | Link to this
Sherrod Brown WAS a U.S. Rep, but these days he is a SENATOR.By Ethel S.
November 2, 2008 6:57 PM | Link to this
And if there is the disaster of an Obama Presidency and he does not keep his promises, how will anyone be better off with him? His record of broken promises began when Sen. Obama broke his pledge to follow the Campaign Finance Reform law, he was going to filabuster FISA, he voted for the pork filled Bush/Cheney Energy bill in 2005, and could no more disown Rev.Wright than his white grandmother. When things get tough and important decisions have to be made, Sen. Obama throws them under his famous bus starting with Rev. Wright, his church, his crazy uncle, and his grandmother. Sen. McCain has a long and distinguished career in the Senate for passing major landmark legislation garnering support from both sides of the aisle. Sen. McCain is correct that now is the worst time to raise taxes when everyone does not need more bills. His energy plans for developing jobs here is very good. And the most important thing Sen. McCain will do is stop foolish spending and borrowing. I still do not know Sen. Obama’s definition of the middle class because it changes quite often. Vote McCain for strong leadership based on a successful record.By Janie
November 2, 2008 6:33 PM | Link to this
At least the money spent on the campaign was not at the taxpayers expense. His message for change had to be heard. On Tuesday, we’ll know if the majority wants change or another 4 years of the same.By butlerfan
November 2, 2008 5:43 PM | Link to this
It is ridiculous the amount of money that has been spent on this election, especially by the Obama campaign. He lost my vote when he had to broadcast 30 minutes on the networks. Millions! Just ridiculous.By KatieN
November 2, 2008 4:47 PM | Link to this
I have yet to hear a clear economic message from the McCain/Palin campaign and am left to conclude that they will indeed continue the same tired Bush/Cheney policies that rendered our country in the disastrous mess we are in. I am weary and disgusted by scorched earth fear mongering right wing politics and Obama’s message of change is sorely welcome. The GOP appears comfortable asking average Americans to vote against their own self interests. Well not this time for us….my family barely survived the last 8 years. It is time for change. We’re voting for Senator Obama.