My Obama moment - w/ 10,000 other Hoosiers

[AwakeAtLast]

WHEW! What a day! Everyone's fed, child is in bed and now I can sit down and post.

I arrived at the Indiana State Fairgrounds at around 9:00 a.m., waited in line for about an hour, then made my way to the grandstand. It was an overcast, drizzly sky, but that was not going to deter me.

Jill Long Thompson, Democratic candidate for Governor (trying to unseat Mitch) began with opening remarks. She spoke about the current situation with major job losses in Indiana and O'Daniels penchant for privatizing *everything* he can get his hands on. Good opening.

Andre Carson was next - he was also very good and got the crowd excited.

Evan Bayh had the honor of introducing Senator Obama. He is confident that that Indiana can go blue. He also made a point to state that three generations of Bayhs were supporting Obama and were present: his two boys, himself, and his father, Birch Bayh!

On to Senator Obama - I hope I describe the setting accurately. At the fairgrounds the stage is set on a track facing a grandstand, so the back of the stage was exposed. This allowed us to see him arrive with the police escorts! The crowd went wild! I bawled my eyes out!

He was absolutely electrifying! After a brief interuption from a disruptor (which Obama handled effortlessly) he got right to the point of his visit. You could not tell he had just been sparring the night before with his opponent. I'm not going to repeat every point he made, because you know them all by now, but one of the things I remember was that he said we would not be *hoodwinked* The crowd laughed at that one. In fact, there were many humorous moments when he was obviously laughing with us. You could tell he was glad to be there. He spoke to us like we were intelligent people. I felt like we were invited into his inner sanctum. I also heard something new in his voice. It had a different edge, an urgency that increased throughout the speech.

This is the most politically active I have ever been in my life. Attending a politcal rally was a major step for me. I will give credit to DU for helping me along to becoming a better Democrat.

It was a great day!

P.S. That 10,000 figure came from IndyStar.com. The Indianapolis Star is a right wing rag, so I'm going to say it was about 15,000 possibly 18,000. IN INDIANA.

[YDogg]

1. congrats! sounds like a wonderful day!

[AwakeAtLast]

2. It's going to take me awhile to come back down to earth.

[JimWis]

3. Sounds great. Thanks for sharing the details.

[AwakeAtLast]

8. You're welcome.

[firedupdem]

4. MSNBC said 21,000!! n/t

[AwakeAtLast]

6. Well there you go.

I knew there were a lot of cars leaving. I also know that the grandstand was PACKED!

[Kevin Cloyd]

53. Chicago Sun Times also said 21,000.

According to Wikipedia the record crowd for the Grandstand was set by The New Kids on the Block at 18,509, I got there late and the only seats available were on the very west edge of the Grandstand where you were getting rained on. Even there there were only a few seats. If you figure in that there were several thousands standing on the track in front of the stage the 21,000 number seems a little conservative.

The Indy Star can kiss my a$$.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

5. My dear WakeMeUp!

What a great story!

I can just see it happening...

We may turn Indiana blue yet!

[AwakeAtLast]

7. If it does I'll bawl my eyes out again!

[saltpoint]

9. Very nice report, and it sounds like you had a great

visit to the fairgrounds to see our next president.

I would absolutely love to see Indiana go blue this time.

[Bubbha Jo]

10. I'm jealous! I'm glad for your day!

[rgbecker]

11. Indiana goes Blue? Now that would be saying something.

[AwakeAtLast]

15. We are within 2 or even right now depending on the poll

That alone is amazing!

[Condem]

12. Hey, Wake

My MIL said he got booed for something he said. Your thoughts?

[AwakeAtLast]

16. The only booing was for McLame's failed policies.

That and the protester who was removed.

[Condem]

20. Protesting what?????

[AwakeAtLast]

36. I think it was a McCain disruptor

I didn't see it because it happened on the other side of the grandstand. They took the person (or persons, not really sure) out very quickly.

Obama then said, "That's the great thing about our country - we all get to have different opinions." So smooth! So classy!

[VolcanoJen]

39. I was watching it live and was wondering what that person said or did?

Any ideas? Did you hear anything about it afterward? Sounds like the crowd really turned on the person and I'm dying to know what he did!

I really dislike these people disrupting our rallies. Stand outside and protest.

[Jokerman]

48. I was just a few feet away from him and I don't know what he said!

I saw him down in front just before Sen. Bayh took the stage. He was waving his arms and shouting in a manor that reminded me of a street preacher but the crowd and the music were loud so I couldn't hear what he was saying.

A few minutes after Obama started speaking we heard the crowd yelling at the guy and watched the state troopers drag him out right past us. I tried to catch what he was saying but it really sounded like gibberish to me.

[Condem]

40. Shit, Wake

I guess I'm going to have to kill my mother-in-law for lying to me. Seriously, it must of been a great day. I'd like to see Obama take the whole Big Ten!!!

[AwakeAtLast]

41. Ooh, that would be awesome!

[AllentownJake]

13. At 7:01 on election night

If Indiana is too close to call (not to early to call) I know we won.

[AwakeAtLast]

18. You got it, Jake!

And then I'll bawl my eyes out again.

[Sedona]

14. Mcclatchy called the crowd at 21,000

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/104/story/53670.html

[AwakeAtLast]

19. Wow! IndyStar really does suck!

[faithfulcitizen]

51. I was there too! NO WAY it was only 10k. Everyone in the grandstand was cheek to cheek (rears).

I also heard over 20,000.

[ClarkUSA]

17. Thanks for a fine story - I felt as if I was there next to you for a moment.

By the way, a fire marshal said 21,000 attended. How does it feel in Indiana these days? Is there a buzz in the air about the election?

[AwakeAtLast]

25. I see so many bumper stickers and signs - all for Obama

If you search my posts you will see that I have been saying that Indiana could go blue for a long time, even before the polls caught up.

The Repukes I know will not even mention McCain - they don't even try to get into politcal discussions, even the ones who I know listen to Rush!

[dog_lovin_dem]

57. My husband and I

live across the Wabash in rural Illinois, but he works in Indiana. I took him and a co-worker (from Indiana) to the airport in Evansville today and the co-worker saw my Obama bumper sticker. He was all about Barack and said that everyone he knows is rooting for him, too. We had a great discussion.
On my way back from the airport I saw a billboard that said "FarmersforObama.org". This was in either Knox or Gibson Co., IN. There were a few McCain/Palin signs, but most of the ones I saw were Obama/Biden. It was a great morning!

[gratefultobelib]

21. What a great report! Thanks for taking the time to share!! Lucky!

[AwakeAtLast]

27. You're welcome!

I took advantage of a great time to go to a rally - right after a crushing debate!

[gratefultobelib]

42. Thanks for the reply. I actually saw Obama up close and personal here in

KC during the DNC, the night after Michelle spoke. Barack spoke to a small group at an airplane hangar and it was great to see him (AND he shook my hand in the rope line!). But I think the joy and energy of such a large crowd would be wonderful. Keep him safe, world.

[Cha]

22. Lucky Dawg!

[AwakeAtLast]

28. Thanks!

[Jackeens]

23. A truly inspiring report - thank you! n/t

[AwakeAtLast]

29. You're welcome!

[RollWithIt]

24. If Indiana goes Blue.... it's over, election done, Obama is President....

So exciting.

If Ohio goes blue. It's over.

If Colorado goes blue it's over.

If Florida goes blue it's over.

If Virginia goes blue it's over.

If North Carolina goes blue it's really over.

If Indiana goes blue it's REALLY over.

[AwakeAtLast]

31. Oh, I hope so!

I hope so!

[Corey_Baker08]

26. I Cannot Wait......I Will Be at the Rally in Dayton,Ohio Tomorrow

With a press pass!!! I am sooo excited! I actually live in Ohio but its like one side of the street is ohio the other is Indiana so I neighbor!!!

[Condem]

30. Went to school at UD, Corey

Say hello to my old town & yell Obama as loud as you fucking can!

[AwakeAtLast]

33. That will be great!

I had to dodge the pole in front of me, so I'm sure you will have a much better view, LOL!

[Waiting For Everyman]

32. Thanks so much for sharing it with us!

[AwakeAtLast]

34. You're welcome!

[firedupdem]

35. did they toss the protester? Was it just one? was it that group

that has been coming out?

[AwakeAtLast]

37. It happened far away from me so I'm not sure

The person(s) were taken out immediately and Obama handled it very well. I'm sure this isn't the first time.

[firedupdem]

38. I was watching and I got nervous for a minute but he did handle

it with ease and that was one hellavu speech. I was so moved..thanks for the update.

[stillcool]

43. I can feel what you're saying!...

getting all kinds of weepy when I read posts like yours. I am so glad that so many have gotten to see him. I don't know how he does it. I think the conversations that were going on around me was the most profound part of the whole experience. Made me feel so damn American!

[AwakeAtLast]

44. It was like a chorus of individuals who have had the same experience

People from all walks of life - kids, senior citizens, college kids, young marrieds, you name it!

I think the group that made me smile the most was the group of school children - about 10-15 about 9 or 10 years old. They were having the best time!

[President Decider]

45. K&R for sharing your experience. Sounds like you enjoyed yourself.

[AwakeAtLast]

46. Yes I did!

When the next election rolls around I will go again!

[ColbertWatcher]

47. Link to a picture ...

http://www.daylife.com/photo/07Nce4j9lidoS/Barack_Obama

[faithfulcitizen]

52. I have pics, but I have no idea how to post them. Is there a very simple way to do it?

[ColbertWatcher]

54. Yes, just copy the url for the image.

Not the article that's using it, but the actual url (universal resource locator) that appears at the top of your browser.

Then, paste it into the "message" box when you post.

For example, this link: http://www.wikiality.com/Image:DickFuldTestifies10-06-2... will take you to an image information page for the Truthiness Encyclopedia that I uploaded a couple of days ago.

When I upload it, I made sure to include important information about the image (like whose it is, where it can be found, etc.)

There are two links to look at on that page: the first one says "Getty Images." It's in blue and five paragraphs below the image itself. If you click on that link, it takes you to the actual image address. All you will see is the image and no text or anything else.

However, if you click on the link after the Getty link, which says "DayLife.com," that takes you to the page the image is attached to! It's kinda like the Encyclopedia's page, where important information about the image (like date it was taken, where, etc) can be found.

The first link (the "Getty Images" link) is the one you copy and paste into DU's message box. The second link (the "DayLife.com" one) won't show the image.

An easy way to get the address for an image is to right click on it and choose "Copy Image Address" (or equivalent phrasing).

I hope that helps.

[faithfulcitizen]

55. thank you so much, I will save this, but the pics are mine, from my camera?

[ColbertWatcher]

56. Okay, then you have to install them onto your computer, then ...

... host them on Flickr, Photobucket or some other image storage site.

Then, you can post it in a DU thread!

[Jokerman]

49. We guessed the crowd to be around 15K.

We were told that the grandstand has 12K seats, they we all full with as much standing room as security would allow.

Maybe another 3K in the field and the smaller stands.

One way or another that was the most positive energy I've ever felt in any crowd of any size.

[timber84]

50. NPR reporetd 21,000 at the State fairgrounds for Obama! n/t

[gardentoad]

58. Does anyone have any pictures?

I was there but I don't have a good camara.