Joe Biden Hugged Me, and He Kissed My Mom! (Now with EVENT PIX!!!!)

[VolcanoJen]

At the rally Friday (Halloween!) afternoon in Kettering (Dayton), Ohio.

It was just too much fun. Got right up close, watched the gorgeous Jill Biden give her speech, out came Joe, he rocked the house! Best line of the speech? "I know it's Halloween, folks, but John McCain dressed up as an Agent of Change is a costume that just doesn't work!"

At the end of the speech, he urged all of us here in Ohio who feel knocked down by this economy, by this war, by these wretched eight years, to just GET UP. Get Up, Ohio!! Get Up!!!!

The crowd roared.

After his address, he and Jill worked the rope line and I was fortunate enough to be right in front. When he got to me, I was sure I'd have something perfect to say, but just couldn't muster it. "Senator Biden! Four more days! Good luck, Ohio loves you!" is all I could sputter out. And he just reached across that line and gave me the biggest hug.

My mom was right behind me, and she said to him (she was able to keep her shit together), "Joe, I was with you from the beginning. From day one!!" He smiled that smile and said, "C'mere!" and he reached out, pulled her in and gave her a big kiss right on the cheek.

I'm pretty sure my mom hasn't come off her cloud yet. ;-)

YES WE CAN, OHIO!!! YES WE CAN, AMERICA!!!!

Wow, what a day, what an election, what a state, what an historic time, what a great event to share with my mom!

(As an aside to political junkies, as we were leaving the rally, we spotted Mark Halperin typing away in the press section. I yelled out, "Mark Halperin, The Page!" and he looked up, seemingly shocked at being recognized, smiled hugely, and waved. I wanted very badly to yell out "Drudge doesn't rule my world!" but I had to kind of give him a pass for the nice, semi-redeeming piece he wrote today about Drudge's declining influence. ;-) As a poli-junkie, it was kind of fun to see him, at any rate)

Edit: At one point before the main event began, I wandered the arena, and a woman behind a barricade called me over. "Can I talk to you, do you mind?" she said. She was a reporter with McClatchy, she explained, and they weren't allowed to leave the press area to interview us. I gave her a lengthy interview about what it feels like to be in Ohio in October on the eve of this historic moment, and how much fun it is to live here and get all this special electoral attention. She was as sweet as could be, she really was, and wrote down every word I uttered as if I were important, or something. I'll flag the interview if/when it shows up!!

Second Edit! Because grantcart shamed me into it, even though I hate crappy cell phone pix, here you go! First shot is of network news guys... I "terrorist-fist-jabbed" that MSNBC guy on the right after he jumped off the stage, telling him MSNBC is the BEST! He was really cool. :-) Second shot is of the lovely Jill Biden, on the rope line leaving the event, with everyone in the stands rushing down for a handshake or a glimpse! Third is the back of Joe Biden's head before I put my camera away and waited for a handshake, and the fourth is of a Sarah Palin impersonator who worked the crowd this Halloween Friday! Photos don't do her justice... she really looked dead on, and had shopping bag accessories! She walked around waving her "Ohio For Biden!" sign while the crowd went wild, waiting for Joe and Jill to show up. :-)