Large crowds began forming early today to get a spot at tonight Barack Obama rally at the Xcel Center. St. Paul police initially reported more than 50,000 people were inline for the event. By 6:30 p.m. the line extended more than 1.5 miles.
Many of the thousands who arrived several hours early for Sen. Barack Obama's appearance in downtown St. Paul said the wait was a small price to pay in exchange for watching history unfold.
For the Minnesotans supporting the Illinois senator, they wanted to honor him with a massive, Midwestern-style party to celebrate the milestone.
"It's part of history, it's so exciting, and we just want to be part of it," said Kristen Johnson of Inver Grove Heights, who came with her daughter and a friend.
Johnson, a longtime DFLer, wasn't pleased when the Republicans first announced they would be hosting their convention in St. Paul this year. But she said the Obama appearance, on such a historic night, was redemption.
"It's sort of an in-your-face demonstration of how this huge cross-section of the Midwest is coming out in support of him," she said. "I think he can go up against the Republican candidate and be successful, and I think we're showing that here."
http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2008/06/03/obama_maina/Some great pictures at the link
:)