Tens of thousands are expected to descend on downtown Miami Tuesday afternoon to cheer on Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama.
Obama and his wife, Michelle, will headline a rally at Bicentennial Park that is scheduled to start at 5:45 p.m.
But crowds are already gathering in the area.
Before 5 p.m. traffic moved slowly near the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts and the AmericanAirlines Arena. Crowds of people walked toward the park and nearby parking lots -- charging as much as $25 -- were filling up.
Biscayne Boulevard is lined with about a dozen tents, in which Obama merchandise -- like ''Yes we can'' towels and ''Barack the Vote'' T-shirts -- are being sold.
The ''Change We Need Rally'' is free and open to the public.
With just two weeks until Election Day, Obama supporters from Miami-Dade and Broward skipped out of work early to attend the event.
Many said they wanted to be part of history.
''I was active in the later part of the civil rights movement,'' said Lynette Astwood, 61, who was wearing a ''Women for Obama/Biden'' button. ``To be able to see this in my lifetime is wonderful.''
Yolanda Mans and her 7-year-old daughter wore matching shirts with the slogan ''Right start 4 a brighter future.'' Mans, who called her Hollywood family middle class, said Obama's policies are important for her family's future.
''Family is key,'' she said. ''And also education, to have a solid foundation for her,'' pointing to her daughter. ``That's my goal.''
Mans, who took a half-day vacation from work as an account executive for a cruise line, was especially excited to hear Michelle speak.
Miami police will not be closing streets to traffic, but urge commuters who need to get in and out of downtown to use public transportation, such as Metrorail or Metromover.
Traffic will likely be a mess.
In addition to the Obama rally, the Miami Heat are playing an exhibition game against the Memphis Grizzlies at 7:30 p.m. at the AmericanAirlines Arena.
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/breaking-news/story/735384.html
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