The line stretched from Irving Gym to the end of Lafollette Field, a 90-degree angle forming at the sidewalk corner of Riverside and Neely avenues. The people in the front of the line had been there since as early as 10 p.m. the previous night. The people near Lewellen Pool had arrived at 7 a.m., only to be dismayed by the lengthy wait in front of them; they stood with umbrellas blocking the wind and the rain. "It's cold as ever out here," one woman who had been waiting since 6 a.m. said. "It's freezing."
The doors wouldn't open until 7:45 a.m. And it would be another two hours after that until they saw what they had come for - Barack Obama in Muncie, Ind.
Inside the gymnasium, student and local media set up in the press area. As Obama's traveling press rolled in with suitcases, orange juice and laptops, the difference was evident. Student media barely contained their excitement, snapping more pictures of each other than the crowd. Local media set up more demurely. The traveling press looked downright bored.
Bleachers squeaked as volunteers in Obama "Change We Can Believe In" t-shirts directed the line of people like air traffic controllers into their seats. "I just wanted to hear what Barack has to offer," Avis Fisher said. "This is history in the making so I'm happy to be here." Watching a volunteer assist an elderly woman up the tough bleacher steps in front of him, Georedt Huggins agreed. "We've got an African American running for president, and we also have a woman running for president, so I like to come and see it in person since (Obama) came to my hometown," Huggins said.
"O-B-A-M-A... Obama is the way! O-B-A-M-A, Obama is the way!" A spirited woman in the front row jumping up and down led the crowd's chant. At 9:41 a.m. a few excited audience members tried to start the wave. At 9:43 a.m. the wave washed across the entire gymnasium. Five policemen stood above the crowd as more people were maneuvered around the railing of the second floor balcony. Two appeared to be Secret Service in dark blue suits, one permanently attached to the walkie-talkie in his hand. At 9:44 a.m., another Obama cheer started a series of faster and faster clapping. A woman on stage did sound checks for the media.
"I didn't think there would be quite this big of a line," Steve Clark, the Henry County Democrat Chair, said. "I'm here for Obama... we're on the brink of a depression and Obama will restore faith and credibility to (the White House.) We've had eight years of Bush and we can't stand anymore of that."
As the clock ticked past the scheduled time of Obama's arrival, the crowd's clapping got louder. At 9:47 a shout rang out from the stage. "Good Morning Muncie!" Courtney Frogge, the Obama campaign's Delaware County coordinator, kicked off the morning. Frogge quickly urged the crowd to log on to Indiana.barackobama.com <http://indiana.barackobama.com/> after the event and then introduced Bill McIntosh, the local United Auto Workers chapter president. McIntosh spoke of the Borg Warner plant in Muncie closing, and how the unemployed were looking for a change in the economy. "He understands the challenges facing the Indiana economy," McIntosh said. "We all see what happens when the leadership in Washington is too busy having their lunches paid for by Wall Street. They don't care what happens on Main Street. That's why we need Barack Obama."
And as loud cheers rang up from the crowd, that's exactly who appeared on stage at 9:58 a.m.
Obama spoke to the crowd about the economy, education, energy and the bet he made with the American people. "I was betting that the American people were tired of politics that was all about tearing each other down, rather than politics that was about lifting the country up," he said. "Most of all I was betting on the ability of ordinary people to come together. And I'm here to report after 15 months, after speaking to hundreds of thousands of people, shaking hundreds of thousands of hands, kissing hundreds of babies, I'm here to report that my bet paid off."
A question and answer session followed Obama's speech. Going boy-girl-boy-girl to be fair, Obama responded to inquiries on everything from ethanol bio-fuels to abused children to small Indiana farms. A 10-year-old boy even asked how he could get involved since he couldn't vote. The enthusiastic crowd didn't settle down even at the end; one man called out "You'll be a better one" to Obama's statement that he wouldn't be a perfect president. As "Signed, Sealed, Delivered" sang out over the loud speakers at the end of the event, cheers for the possible future president joined in.
"I think he is very dignified and very eloquent, and I like his ideas about growth and change," Bill Eidson said. "He holds his politics to a level that most politicians don't."
LISTEN TO WHAT OBAMA HAD TO SAY BY CLICK THE AUDIO ABOVE OR WATCHING THE AUDIO/PHOTO SLIDESHOW. For more information regarding Obama's stances on issues or how to get involved, visit Indiana.barackobama.com <http://indiana.barackobama.com/> or go to the Muncie Obama campaign office at 1609 W. University Ave. |
 Student media from Newslink Indiana and Newswatch at Ball State University take photos of eachother on the video camera platform in the media area.
Volunteer Dave Studinski holds the microphone for an audience member during the question and answer session.
Barack Obama walks through the crowd following his speech in Irving Gym on Saturday. Obama says he hopes to be back for a bigger gathering before the May 6 primary.
|
