PHOTOS: BARACK OBAMA returns to Montana, South Dakota. Stops by Mount Rushmore last night.

[flpoljunkie]

Democratic presidential hopeful, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., arrives for a rally at the Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls, Mont., Friday, May 30, 2008. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)


Democratic presidential hopeful U.S. Sen. Barack Obama speaks to the crowd in Great Falls Montana at The Four Seasons Arena Friday evening, May 30, 2008.
(AP Photo/Kelly Black - Great Falls Tribune)


Democratic presidential hopeful U.S. Sen. Barack Obama speaks to a crowd in Great Falls at The Four Seasons Arena Friday evening, May 30, 2008. (AP Photo/Kelly Black - Great Falls Tribune)


Democratic presidential hopeful, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., speaks during a rally at the Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls, Mont., Friday, May 30, 2008.
(AP Photo/Chris Carlson)


Supporter Caitlin Knowles, 18, cheers as Democratic presidential hopeful, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., arrives for a rally at the Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls, Mont., Friday, May 30, 2008.
(AP Photo/Chris Carlson)


Supporters of Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama watch him address a rally May 30 in Great Falls, Montana. Hillary Clinton Saturday makes a last stand in her ebbing White House bid, as the Democratic Party tries to defuse a unity-sapping row over voided primary votes in Michigan and Florida.
(AFP/Getty Images/Chip Somodevilla)


Democratic presidential hopeful U.S. Sen. Barack Obama tries to comfort a crying Aaliyah Williams, 10 months, at The Four Seasons Arena Friday evening, May 30, 2008 in Great Falls, Montana.
(AP Photo/Kelly Black - Great Falls Tribune)


Democratic presidential hopeful, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., right, gets a tour from park ranger Weslety Jensen of the presidential carvings at Mount Rushmore, near Keystone, S.D. Friday, May 30, 2008. Sen. Obama made an impromptu to stop at the Mount Rushmore National Memorial before campaigning in South Datoka on Saturday. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)


Democratic presidential hopeful, Sen. Barack Obama,D-Ill, right, gets a tour from park ranger Weslety Jensen of the presidential carvings at Mount Rushmore, near Keystone, S.D. Friday, May 30, 2008. Sen. Obama made an impromptu stop at the Mount Rushmore National Memorial before campaigning in South Dakota on Saturday. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)


Democratic presidential hopeful, Sen. Barack Obama views the presidential carvings at Mount Rushmore, near Keystone, S.D., Friday, May 30, 2008. Sen. Obama made an impromptu to stop at the Mount Rushmore National Memorial before campaigning in South Dakota Saturday. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

[ebdarcy]

1. Thanks for the pictures.

I love the ones of him standing in front of Mt. Rushmore. Very powerful.

[flpoljunkie]

18. MORE PHOTOS: Barack Obama at a town hall today in Rapid City, South Dakota

Democratic presidential hopeful, Sen. Barack Obama D-Ill., speaks during a town hall meeting at Pennington County Event Center in Rapid City, S.D., Saturday, May 31, 2008.
(AP Photo/Chris Carlson)


Tim Tennison, 10, of Rapid City, S.D., watches Democratic presidential hopeful, Sen. Barack Obama D-Ill.,speak at a town hall meeting at Pennington County Event Center in Rapid City, S.D., Saturday, May 31, 2008. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)


Supporters of US Democratic presidential candidate and Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) listen to him speak in Rapid City, South Dakota May 31, 2008. REUTERS/Rick Wilking


Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) shakes hands with supporters during a rally at The Four Seasons Arena May 30, 2008 in Great Falls, Montana. The Democratic Party sought Saturday to thrash out a truce over disputed primaries in Florida and Michigan, the key to ending the epic White House struggle between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.
(AFP/Getty Images/File/Chip Somodevilla)

[liberalhistorian]

26. Hubby and I were just there,

thanks for posting! I didn't know he'd stopped at Rushmore. I'm sure he would have enjoyed Crazy Horse Mountain as well.

[madame defarge]

2. I love what Obama said at Mount Rushmore...

Asked by a reporter if he ever envisioned himself carved into the mountain, he said, "I don't think my ears would fit. There's only so much rock up there."

Compared to Hillary...

On her visit, Clinton also batted away reporters' questions about whether she or her husband, former President Clinton, might one day be immortalized there. "Why don't you learn something about the monument?" Clinton said.

[Ichingcarpenter]

4. "I don't think my ears would fit." .......LOL

That's Funny

[blonndee]

16. That was funny. I couldn't believe what Hillary said and that nobody criticized her rudeness.

That comment was totally uncalled for.

[liberalhistorian]

27. What the hell else

would you expect from her anymore????

[countingbluecars]

3. Wonderful pictures!

Just an aside-This is the first time I noticed that he is wearing a bullet proof vest.

[oldpol]

9. you can see it on the back of his suitjacket

in the pic with the park ranger

[countingbluecars]

12. Yes.

I know it is necessary, and it makes me sad.

[jezebel]

15. Me too. It actually made me gasp when I realized what it was. Intellectually I understand the need

for it, but it was sort of a punch in the get to see it. :(

[gblady]

29. I agree

....I'm glad he's got it on...very sad that he needs it.

[Phx_Dem]

28. Me too ;(

But I'm very glad that he's wearing one.

[NotThisTime]

17. That just makes me sick to think about and sad to think about..... I never noticed it before

[Tarheel_Dem]

5. This is a great photo. Thank you fpj.

[mamalone]

6. I agree....

This pic is a definite keeper! Especially when paired with his comment about his "ears not fitting":)
You gotta love this guy!

[Tarheel_Dem]

14. Could not agree more mamalone...

He looks very presidential there. And I love his ears (LOL).

[crickets]

30. That's my favorite too. -nt

[jaxx]

7. Wonderful pics!

That last one......it's a keeper.

[patrice]

8. LOVE the pictures of the People!!! Gobama! for the People! nt

[goclark]

10. IHe is just so easy to listen to ~.

I'm not sure what HC was trying to say ~ did I miss something?

[patrice]

13. Indeed! A very important quality that.

Especially since I have been very nearly barfing every time these last 8 years that a certain "nice guy" got on the public airwaves.

I must say though, as a Freedom lover, those things that attract (or repel) me the most about a candidate are my triggers for one or more REALITY CHECKS.

[Esse Quam Videri]

11. After seeing those photos of him at

Mount Rushmore I had a realization that hopefully under an Obama administration all of the funding that has been stripped from the national parks' budgets in the last eight years might be restored.

[Kukesa]

21. And that would be wonderful indeed. n/t

[countingbluecars]

19. Kick

cause I love these pictures. The last one is fantastic!

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

20. thanks flpoljunkie excellent pictures and text

thanks so much.

[TwilightGardener]

22. Been to Rushmore many times (it's FREE if you park far away!)--

Had my nursing school graduation there. Always an awesome sight to behold, to be under the gaze of four great Presidents in such a beautiful setting--really does stoke up your patriotism. Thanks for the pics--western SD is very red, and Rapid City is a big military town (because of Ellsworth AFB), but I hope they keep an open mind for Obama.

[flpoljunkie]

23. Somehow it looks even more awe inspiring at night.

"Paul and Obama are talking straight to soldiers, and what they are saying is resonating," said Larnell Exum, a retired Army lieutenant colonel, who gave $500 to Obama. Exum, who works for the Army as a congressional liaison, is a Democrat but voted for George Bush in 1992.

The center tallied money from donors who list the Air Force, Army, Marines, Navy and National Guard as an employer. Overall, these donations are miniscule: Obama got 44 contributions worth about $27,000 and Paul 23 for about $19,300. Republican John McCain, an Iraq war supporter and Vietnam prisoner of war, was third with about $18,500 from 32 donors.

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/story?id=3601542

[AtomicKitten]

24. Really interesting pics of Mt. Rushmore.

I always love how Obama makes it his business to shake the hands of all the auxiliary people (police, etc.) at his events.

[Ysabel]

25. thanks flpoljunkie as always great pictures...

[fight4my3sons]

31. Love that last one! Thanks!