Photos: Barack Obama speaking before a capacity crowd in Boise, Idaho, and enroute to Minneapolis

[flpoljunkie]

A boy listens to Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., among the capacity crowd at Boise State's Taco Bell Arena for the Saturday, Feb. 2, 2008 rally in Boise, Idaho.
(AP Photo/Idaho Press-Tribune, Greg Kreller)


Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., speaks at a rally in Boise, Idaho, Saturday, Feb. 2, 2008. (AP Photo/Troy Maben)


Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., speaks at a rally in Boise, Idaho, Saturday, Feb. 2, 2008. (AP Photo/Troy Maben)


Supporters of Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., wave signs at a rally in Boise, Idaho, Saturday, Feb. 2, 2008. (AP Photo/Troy Maben)


Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., waves to the crowd as he exits the floor of Boise State's Taco Bell Arena after a Saturday, Feb. 2, 2008 rally in Boise, Idaho. (AP Photo/Idaho Press-Tribune, Greg Kreller)


Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., laughs as he talks with reporters during a flight from Boise, Idaho, to Minneapolis, Minn., Saturday, Feb. 2, 2008. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)


Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., right, talks with staff as Senior Advisor David Axelrod, right rests his head on the overhead compartment during a flight from Boise, Idaho, to Minneapolis, Minn., Saturday, Feb. 2, 2008.(AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

[ProSense]

1. Great photos! Thanks for posting. n/t

[caligirl]

2. Just like the Denver Rally, packed crowd, overwhelming.

[loudsue]

3. I didn't know Idaho had that many democrats!!

This is a good thing!

[Major Hogwash]

4. Over 14,000 people showed up after only a 3 day notice in 25 degree weather!

It was awesome - his speech was great. His message is clear, take America forward, not backward!

[Major Hogwash]

5. Largest attendence record ever held at the Taco Bell Arena at Boise State!

People were already lined up at 6 o'clock in the morning to get in to hear him speak.
It was great!

[sandnsea]

6. Were you there???

I heard people started lining up at 4:30. That is some kind of dedication and excitement!! I watched parts of it online and it really looked like people were Fired Up!

[Major Hogwash]

9. Wild fuckin' horses couldn't keep me away from going to this event, baby!

It was the largest fuckin' crowd I've ever seen there - larger than any of the concerts they have had there. It was even more crowded than the last time Boise hosted the Western Regional college playoffs for college's March Madness tournament!!

I've been at that arena 100's of times and this was way bigger than anything they have ever had there before!

There were so many people, they lined up outside on the street to hear Obama's speech after loudspeakers had set up for the overflow crowd that had gathered outside because the overflow crowd wouldn't leave even after the doors were shut!!

It was electrifying to hear him speak about making changes in America and getting out of Iraq.
The crowd went nuts when he said "well, one thing's for sure, the name of George Bush won't be on the ballot this year."

It was a huge turnout, much bigger than they expected.

[sandnsea]

10. Oh that is crazy crazy

I lived in Missoula so I know how big sports are up there. Bigger than March Madness?? Just wow. I don't understand the people who don't "get it". He is what we've all been saying we wanted the entire time I've been on this board.

[EvolveOrConvolve]

12. I was there also, and I think the 14,000 estimate is low

It was standing room only with people crowded into the upper balcony breezeways and the open walkways on the mezzanine level. That doesn't include the thousands outside who listened on the speakers. If I remember right, the arena holds 12,000 when at capacity.

I'm with you, this is the largest crowd I've ever seen at the arena, including some of the old school basketball games when BSU basketball was really popular.

[Major Hogwash]

13. With the people lined up on Broadway, it was probably closer to 17,000.

My brother watched it on tv and he said that people that had been turned away gathered at Gate 3 and also in the parking lot and he said a long shot of Broadway showed people even lined up on the other side of the stadium!!

I remember when BSU used to hold their basketball games in the old gym, and the fire marshall would get upset if they had more than 3000 people show up.

LoL

Wooden bleachers and the whole gym smelled like gym socks!

One night I was there as a kid and a fuse blew and the whole gym went black. People were really quiet when the head referee said very loudly, "Nobody move until I can gather up all my balls" and everyone at the gym busted a gut when they heard him say it. Then they broke out a few flashlights until the fuse could be replaced. The janitor got a huge round of applause for replacing the fuse!

LoL

[Cha]

7. I love the look on that kid's face..

that's probably how I'd look if I were up there over there in Idaho! :o

Thanks so much for these pics, Florida!~

[TexasObserver]

8. He's live on CSPAN now!!

Go Bama!!

[Roxy66]

11. We were there too!!! It was fantastic!! The line was huge to get in...

it was fridgid cold, but people were fired up!! People were running to the end of the line that looked endless. My kids and I got there at about 6:00 am, driving an hour in the snow. My 13 yr old daughter and 11 yr. old son were thrilled to be freezing cold...because they were so excited to see Obama. A coffee cart rolled by the line and they had to run from people..."Is that coffee!!! Get em'"...lol. It was great!