Obama Rally Draws 100,000 in Missouri

[No Passaran]

Source: Wall Street Journal

Barack Obama attracted 100,000 people at a Saturday rally here, his biggest crowd ever at a U.S. event.

The crowd assembled under the Gateway Arch on a sunny Saturday afternoon to hear Obama speak about taxes and slam the Republicans on economic issues.

Lt. Samuel Dotson of the St. Louis Police Department confirmed the number of attendees piled into the grassy lawn flanked by the Missouri capital and the Missouri River.

To be sure, big crowds don’t always signal a big turnout on Election Day. But Obama’s ability to draw his largest audience yet in a typically red state that just weeks ago looked out of reach, could signal a changing electoral map.



Read more: http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2008/10/18/obama-rally-draws-100000-in-missouri/

[Tansy_Gold]

1. H O L Y S H I T (csamtt)*

*(can't say any more than that!)

[jhrobbins]

44. My sentiments exactly!!!!

[Maestro]

2. Mighty impressive!

I certainly do hope this signals a large turnout, but like the article says, it is not always so. It is encouraging though.

[EmperorHasNoClothes]

3. Missouri's going blue!!!!

I would love to have a view of that from the Arch

[Politicalboi]

34. Here's some of it

http://www.jabberwonk.com/flinker.cfm?cliid=1335ew

[Kalifornia.Kid]

35. Oh.. that's what that horizontal line was ...

It was the shadow of the Arch overhead.
Now repugs can't say it was a Photoshop seam.

[HughBeaumont]

4. McCain couldn't draw 1/20th of that crowd if his campaign offered comps.

If this were football, it'd be Missouri vs John Carroll.

Yeah. Try to steal it, bastards. It won't be believable and they know it.

[ACTION BASTARD]

41. McSame would have to

have Cindy handing out Meth to the mouth breathers to get anywhere those kind of numbers to show up for him.

[du_grad]

63. McCain in Toledo on Sunday - Home of Joe the Plumber

http://www.wtol.com/Global/story.asp?S=9182741

http://abclocal.go.com/wtvg/story?section=news/politics&id=6451371

The Seagate Convention Center hosted Obama last week. I think there were about 3500 people there, although Obama attracted nearly 15,000 in the spring during the primary race. All the tickets are gone for tomorrow, I guess. I've seen very few McCain signs in the city so they must be coming in from the suburbs and rural areas around Toledo.

Apparently Joe won't be there tomorrow, although I guess he was invited by the McCain camp. He'll be on Fox News....

I'm sure the local paper will have more on this, but their website is acting funny at the moment.

www.toledoblade.com

[4lbs]

5. That's a verified number too, from the local St. Louis authorities.

So it's not some made up number like often happens with McCain-Palin rallies.

[Lucky 13]

6. Missouri?! 100,000?.... in MISSOURI?!?

Holy shit. Holy shit. Holy shit.

This is incredible.

Not that I'm getting complacent, but had you asked me a couple months ago, I would have said I expected to be a absolute nervous wreck less than 3 weeks out. But I feel so good. I feel HOPE.

I'm gonna go chill the fuck out. He's got this thing.

[4lbs]

7. The telling part of that WSJ blog article is this:

For months Missouri polls put Obama as much as ten percentage points behind Republican John McCain. It was widely believed that McCain’s pick of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate would have won over the state’s conservatives and boosted his chances there. So far, that hasn’t happened.

A Rasmussen poll released on Friday shows Obama leading in Missouri 52% to 46% for McCain.

[Azlady]

29. Yahoooo!!! Yippeee!!! Totally AWESOME!!

[tclambert]

51. RealClearPolitics shows Missouri as a toss-up state

The polls are mixed, but their average shows Obama ahead by 2.5%. Don't celebrate too much, that's within the margin of error of the polls. FiveThirtyEight.com also shows Obama leading in The most recent and most reliable polls, again by a small margin.

Those 11 electoral votes are a must-win for McCain, or an extra cushion for Obama.

[Roy]

8. Actually, it was 100,009

My Family and some friends were there and I think they missed us LOL
It was terrific to see the next president up close (about a mile away) even if the only good sighting was on the big screen.
But, the electricity was in the crowd.

The whole 100,000 was "FIRED UP AND READY TO GO!!"

Missouri will vote Blue Nov 4.



edit:spelling

[stillcool]

11. Must have felt great to be with..

all those pro-American, Americans!

[Roy]

17. electrafying

We couldn't let Montana out do us.
We just had to beat the paltry... what 76,000 people they had?
Our next president looked very, very well.

We will try to be at the Clinton event in Kirkwood, Mo here as well.

[Delphinus]

74. Montana had 76,000??!

I hadn't heard that - dang, that's almost a tenth of the state!

[amber_86]

9. OMGosh

How sweet it is to be love by you. Let show those repubs that we want LOVE & PEACE not HATE & WAR.

[Hoosier]

10. W O W

That is AWESOME!

THANK YOU MISSOURI!

[Kali]

12. Show me state shows 'em!!!

Wow!

[blayne]

13. Wow!

Hopefully, the republicans realize their cause is a lost one, and they won't be able to find the energy or will to go out and vote on election day for someone they don't even particularly care for. Some votes can and will be stolen, but not the amount that will separate Obama and McCain on election day.

[tomreedtoon]

14. Well, yes, BUT...

...this was only Saint Louis. I lived there. It's a big town, sure.

There are thousands of little towns outside the River City that have lots of people, who could only aspire to being called "rednecks." The Klan is active there. So are nutball militia groups like the Minutemen. The Hills Have Eyes...slightly blurry from their last taste of paint thinner...and those eyes narrow dangerously at the sight of folks the shade of Obama.

Don't get your hopes for Missouri up with this one big demonstration in one little corner of a red state.

[4lbs]

15. The latest Rasmussen poll, released yesterday, shows Obama with a lead in Missouri.

The "O" effect is building.

:D

[tomreedtoon]

30. The only poll most Missourians know is the fishing kind.

Remember, I'm talking rural. Real rural. Don't got a 7-11 in town rural. Wal-Mart is fifty miles away rural. They don't get measured by Rasmussen; if he showed up in town they'd call him a "Commie furriner" and start shooting.

[frogcycle]

52. I heard that

but between StL and KC, he can probably overwhelm the rural areas. Illinois is like that. Chi, EStL, Rockford are blue, rest is red, including Chi burbs, but it still goes dem. GOTV is easier to do in high-density areas.

[tclambert]

54. You know, that TV density thing is a serious issue

Campaigns have to weigh their TV ad buys carefully, especially this late in the game. Money spent per voter reached may favor urban areas over rural. And campaign worker effort per voter reached certainly favors urban TV areas. With three orders you cover Illinois' high-density blue areas. How many calls does the McCain campaign need to order TV spots that reach all the little red areas in Illinois? These little economies in campaign effort and spending add up.

For a personal appearance, Obama gets a big boost by visiting St. Louis. To counter, McCain might have to make several appearances in smaller venues. I don't think it is as simple as one appearance drawing 100,000 equals 5 appearances drawing 20,000 each. But if it did, you can see where McCain can't keep up.

[frogcycle]

55. ding ding ding

That's how he won the nomination.

[gratefultobelib]

16. And he's coming here to Kansas City tonight!!!

[UpInArms]

65. I was there - here's a pic from KC

[gratefultobelib]

72. I was there, too! We were probably close together since I was in

the group right by that metal fence in the foreground of the picture! I got to meet him beforehand (I'm a super canvasser!), but I haven't figured out how to post the pictures yet! I can get them on the message box, but they are too big. Did you see David Axelrod? I spoke to him along the fence line.

[UpInArms]

73. on the picture posting thing

if you have a flicker account (it's free) you can upload and post the link from there

and if you were along that fence at the rally, you had a GREAT location! I was in the press area and had a photographer with me taking pics - we got almost 200 shots - that crowd was awesome and watching it grow to more than 75,000 people was astounding.

here's a pic of Obama shaking hands after the rally

[MadinMo]

78. What was the number for KC? Crowd size?

How I wish I could have been there.......

Thanks for the pic.

[leftyladyfrommo]

79. He had a huge crowd here in KC, too.

Not as big as St. Louis but still really big. Lots of people here really like him.

I just checked - 75,000 in Kansas City

[MadinMo]

80. That's wonderful to hear. I live in a red corner of the state

so it is very gratifying to hear about Obama support in The Cities!

[leftyladyfrommo]

81. Yes. That's a huge turnout for Kansas City.

Still a lot of people here who won't vote for a black person but hopefully we are beginning to get beyond that. Honestly, they are afraid that if a black person is president the blacks are going to take over the country. Pitiful - but that is just how they feel. I'm never sure just how to address this because its just ignorance.

[Judi Lynn]

82. Excellent timing, also, to be at Liberty Memorial at dusk. Very dramatic! n/t

[Dem2theMax]

18. Oh My God. Look at that photo!

It actually brought a tear to my eye and goosebumps to my skin.

I feel hope in the air. :) :) :)

[Politicalboi]

19. Holy Shit

Bill Ayers has a big following don't he.

[Doremus]

20. HOLY MOLY GUACAMOLE!!! Allllriiiighht Missouri!!!

[pinto]

21. That is impressive.

:kick:

[randome]

22. I was there a couple of hours ago!

it didn't look that big,though.Obama was really powerful and joking a lot.:kick: :patriot:

[ikojo]

58. The other day while volunteering I said, I hope we get

a hundred thousand and we did! The weather was PERFECT and the crowd was fired up. It certainly looked like a hundred thousand. What surprises me is that the media acknowledged it when usually they prefer to say things like tens of thousands in order to downplay the support.

[mrih]

23. All I can say is

HOLY SHIT !!

[KansDem]

24. Get on board, Kansas!!!

If Obama can draw a crowd like this in Missouri, then so can we!

When Kansas became a state in 1861, it supported abolition and women's suffrage. It also has a history of progressive politics with its farmers and workers.

LET'S DO IT AGAIN!!!

[illuminaughty]

66. Wouldn't it be nice

To not have our presidential vote thrown away for once.

[Suprk]

25. More Pics from Daily Kos

100,000 PEOPLE in St. Louis
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/10/18/12630/064/131/634471

[maddezmom]

26. WOW

Just saw a teaser on CNN. That is amazing!

[kckc]

27. woohoo!

He is here in Kansas City tonight at the Liberty Memorial. He will draw huge crowds there also. Can't wait to see the pics! I'm not feeling well, otherwise I'd go, but the pictures should cheer me up!

[illuminaughty]

67. Hey you're down the street!

I'm so upset I didn't get to go. My friends ended up not being able to go and I have MS and it ended up being a not so good day or I would have gone alone. I love ya Obama, but I've been in a large crowd by myself when an MS attack hits. Not good when you're trying to explain why you're laying on the ground.

Hope you feel better.

[No Passaran]

69. 75,000 in Kansas City

Missouri was rocking for Obama yesterday

[DeadManInc]

28. spectacular!

[Piewhacket]

31. Sweet Jayzus! This is a RED STATE!

but not today!
WOW!

[OhioChick]

32. I love it!

K&R

[llmart]

33. Wow, just wow......

that's all I can say. I just know I'm going to get teary eyed at the inauguration to think that in my lifetime I can witness history. I've witnessed a lot of history coming of age in the 60's but it was mostly terrible history. This is going to be an amazing moment.

[P a u l]

36. Security?

Given the history of the USA my first concern would be security. How could this be handled at an event this large? Far as I'm concerned he should avoid open crowds from this point.

[Roy]

47. Security? these are not republicans......

People showed up to support Obama
People show up at Repub rallies to express hate for others

Secret Service agents were both visible and invisible throughout the crowd though, even way back where we were located.

[ikojo]

60. We had to pass through metal detectors to enter the Arch grounds

There were also a lot of cops present.

[lonestarnot]

37. FAR FUCKING OUT!

:woohoo: :bounce:

[Arugula Latte]

38. Missouri really "Showed Me"

that we are going to win big in November! :bounce:

[sandyj999]

39. Beautiful!!! n/t

[Puzzler]

40. The reader's comments on this article are great!

.

[Sherman A1]

42. Slight correction to story

The building mentioned as the capitol is actually The Old Courthouse. The Missouri capitol building is in Jefferson City.

[Dragonfly]

46. Counting On You To

continue important clarification of historical landmarks within our key Heartland grid.

NYT piece is excellent on today's Arch-event. Rush Limbaugh is probably under sedation after watching Missourians from all walks clamoring for "a new day."

[lamo]

48. Capitol

Actually the original capitol of Missouri was in St. Louis twice, then moved to St.Charles a suburb of St. Louis. Trust me I live a few miles 40 or so from there! It was moved to Jefferson City in 1826.

[Sherman A1]

70. Correct You Are!

BTW.. I live in STL now.

[JI7]

43. Missouri is going blue

[kedrys]

45. Holy f*cking shit!

:wow:

:bounce:

You can feel the energy from here. :)

[VanillaC]

49. This really brings me ....

much needed encouragement. That's why I love coming here. I live in Florida where misconceptions about Obama are thrown left and right! Hell, I saw a blown-up McCain/Palin poster today and almost puked. This sort of news really helps me feel better. :P

[kedrys]

50. Welcome to DU!

:hi:

[tclambert]

53. The fact that "Steve" even makes a personal appearance there tells you Missouri is in play.

The campaigns' internal polling is no doubt more extensive than the polls we laypeople are allowed to see. And at this late date, the professional campaign drivers would not waste a personal appearance on a state that they can't win. There are only so many of these opportunities left, and you've got to spend them carefully to win those precious electoral votes.

Question: Does McCain plan to visit Missouri? If not, that may signify that he feels he can't compete there.

[frogcycle]

56. actually, if they knew they could draw this crowd

the stop was WELL worth it, regardless of what Mo. does.

This crowd in the heartland this close to the election? Getting into national news?

Does the word BANDWAGON come to mind?

[ikojo]

61. McSame will be in primarily white St Charles County

on Monday....yawn.

HIS crowd wont look like America though.

[KillCapitalism]

68. Bleh, I hate that place.

Obama will be doing great if he even gets 10% of the vote in St. Charles county.

[ikojo]

57. The population of the CITY of St Louis is around 350,000, OK

The population of the metro St Louis area is approx 2 million...to give some perspective of the significance of this crowd.

I am confident Obama will carry St Louis City and St Louis County as well as Kansas City, but I am not so sure about the rest of the state.

Bill Clinton is scheduled to be at Kirkwood High School Monday night. Kirkwood is a suburb of St Louis and is the where a Kirkwood resident shot and killed six people at a city hall meeting in February 2008. The mayor survived the shooting but has since died of complications.

[Sherman A1]

71. Thanks!

I was trying to get a schedule on Clinton for Monday, but could find nothing on the time for Kirkwood. Depending upon the venue it might be worth trying to go.

[workinclasszero]

59. Mizzou is OBAMA country!!!

WOOHOO! Can't wait till election day in KC!!:bounce:

[Odin2005]

62. Big Mo is saying "Show Me" change!!!

:woohoo:

[Mari333]

64. I wont feel comfortable til after obama wins

Kerry drew that many also. 100,000 at his rally. I just wont feel okay til this is over and Obama wins.

[tiddlywinks]

75. zomg!!!

Go Missouri!!!

[goforit]

76. I was there...and it was really cool.

[snooper2]

77. Fucking amazing!

Sending this to all repukes now!