Honolulu Advertiser: Crowds Arriving Early for Obama Rally

[flpoljunkie]

Crowds arriving early for Obama rally

By Kelli Miura and Dan Nakaso
Advertiser Staff Writers

Supporters of Barack Obama have already begun gathering at Ke'ehi Lagoon Beach Park this morning, six hours before he is expected to speak at a rally.

By 11:30 a.m., about 200 people stood in a line waiting to get into a cordoned-off area of the park's lawn, where Obama will address the crowd.

Secret Service agents were surveying the area and the crowd and officials have parked five city buses on the line to serve as a barricade.

U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie, (D-Hawaii), said Hawaii has never seen an event like Obama's rally, followed by his week-long vacation.

"Who's every been nominated for president from Hawaii before?" Abercrombie asked.

Abercrombie plans on attending today's rally with U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka, (D-Hawaii), and Mayor Mufi Hannemann and expects to see thousands of Obama supporters.

"They'll want to see the next president of the United States," Abercrombie said. "He'll acknowledge all of the volunteers and supporters and, after that everybody knows he's going to try and build up his reserves for the sprint to the convention and all the way to November. Hopefully, he'll go surfing, visit his grandmother, say hello to old pals and and recharge his batteries."

http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080808/BREAKING01/80808034

[Barack_America]

1. Rally? What the hell kind of vacation is this?

;)

[flpoljunkie]

2. I think the Hawaiian people would have been hurt had he not had a rally in his home state.

It will be his only public event before his vacation, altho he is scheduled to hold a fundraiser, as well.

[flpoljunkie]

3. Gates Closed to Keehi Lagoon Beach Park

Gates closed to Keehi Lagoon Beach Park

By Mary Vorsino
Advertiser Staff Writer

No more parking is available at Keehi Lagoon Beach Park and police have locked the park's gate for this afternoon's rally for Sen. Barack Obama, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee .

Police are encouraging people to find alternative parking for the rally.

At 12:30 p.m., Secret Service and Transportation Security Administration agents began searching bags and letting the 450 people gathered into a barricaded area of the park's lawn where Obama will address the crowd.

Some people are paying $8 to park in a nearby rental car company's lot while others have parked at Honolulu International Airport.

Mark Timmerman, 57, of Kaneohe and his son, Riley, 11, were among those who parked at the airport. But they also brought their bicycles and then rode down to Keehi Lagoon Beach Park.

"I just wanted to see him in person," Mark Timmerman said.

Zee Winner, 51, and her friend, Nita Clark, 56, also parked at the airport but then walked to the park.

"It's a part of history," Winner said. "We want to see how he speaks in person."

[flpoljunkie]

4. Obama running 45 minutes behind schedule.

Obama running 45 minutes behind schedule

Sen. Barack Obama is running about 45 minutes behind schedule for this afternoon's rally at Ke'ehi Lagoon Beach Park.

Obama originally was scheduled to land at Honolulu International Airport for a week-long vacation at 2 p.m., then address reporters for 10 to 15 minutes.

He will now arrive around 2:45 p.m., speak to reporters and then head over to Ke'ehi Lagoon Beach Park, campaign organizers said.

http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080808/BREAKING01/80808056