Invesco field was planned so that true Obama supporters could see the speech.

[dkf]

It's now becoming clear that Sen. Barack Obama's campaign moved his nomination speech to Invesco Field so that he could pack the stadium with true Obama supporters rather than face a convention hall with nearly half the delegates being only reluctant supporters.

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2008/08/16/many_will_still_cast_vote_for_clinton.html

[Spazito]

1. Hmmm, interesting take....

I am not sure I would subscribe to that as being why it was done but who knows.

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

3. I think it was because he could fill the stadium and it's exciting.

[Spazito]

5. Yeah, I tend to lean that way too....

A filled to the top stadium cheering makes one hell of a statement and is very powerful when used in the right ads.

[Lucinda]

9. Yup.

[otohara]

23. Volunteers Poured In By Hundreds @ Headquarters After Announcement

I've been phone banking for a while. Democrats are are a transient group, unlike Republicans. I waisted precious time on Election Day 04 going to apartments where only illegal immigrants were now living because no one called the phone numbers on the voter lists and realized they were gone. Why? Because there were NOT enough volunteers in 04. Makes a huge difference to have this many people.

I'd say 60=% of the numbers I call are "NO LONGER IN SERVICE". They have data based volunteers working to update those lists. The only reason they can do this is because of the amount of volunteers interested in this election. The more the merrier and better.

[Spazito]

24. I agree, the more the merrier for sure!

I applaud your efforts in helping this election, volunteers are the key to winning!

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

2. That is Taegan Goddard's opinion, not something sourced to the campaign

It may be true, it may be false, but either way it's offered as analysis/opinion rather than purporting to be reporting of the Obama campaign's thinking.

[dkf]

6. Makes sense to me.

Why should he share his moment with people who need catharsis? He wanted a celebration, so he had to take it out of the convention. Sad it came to that.

[grannie4peace]

4. you know what...

the beauty of that makes me want to go out west.....i really believe that the white house will finally become the people's house. he is the first man in modern history that i have heard refer to the white house as the people's house. that is so f*cking beautiful...

[Whisp]

7. I don't agree with that 'nearly half being reluctant'

not by a long shot is it half, it's more likely just a few with very big mouths that the media accomodates.

but, yeah, good planning for Invesco if this is the reason it came down like that.

he will have his own show afterall, nice.

[dkf]

8. I agree that nearly half is too much.

I'm kind of glad that he did his own thing. He opened it up to the most enthusiastic and maybe even some Republicans who wouldn't feel right at the Democratic convention.

He doesn't belong to the party, he belongs to the people.

[Median Democrat]

10. I Think The Idea Of 75,000 Stinks Because . . .

. . . even with this expanded number of people, I still could not get a ticket, because it is freakin sold out!

I mean c'mon! 75,000 AND IT STILL SELLS OUT! I posted a while back asking whether I was out of luck, and sadly I was.

Ok, I am better...

[Hippo_Tron]

11. You might be able to volunteer

I got an e-mail about it from College Democrats. Unfortunately I can't be in Denver at the time.

[otohara]

13. I Scored One

did they put you on a waiting list? They are probably holding some back - maybe a lot. And,,,you know how its raining buckets (at least in Denver)pick up times are today and tomorrow, but not for long tomorrow. Some may opt to not go in this sucky weather. All this rain is so weird after a summer of dry, dry conditions.

[DevonRex]

15. Bizarre, isn't it? We needed the rain, so I'm happy about it. One

thing about Coloradans, they can drive through blizzards better than anybody, but they don't like to drive in the rain.

[otohara]

19. I Was Going to Go Today

because they gave me that option - but my scheduled time is tomorrow evening. But the rain is keeping me home - it's fricking cold and unless I have a person to drive me and drop me off so I can run in - I'm staying home. Tomorrow hubby home - I have handicap parking, but I'm not counting on a space, there's lots of disabled Democrats in our tent.

[DevonRex]

21. I hope all goes well for you tomorrow. I guess we're supposed

to have rain through Monday. At least I don't have to water my vegetables. :)

Thank goodness your husband will be around to get you to the door. Because, you're right, we have lots of disabled dems. Hopefully we don't have as many people in our party who steal the handicapped parking spaces.

[DevonRex]

14. I even know someone on paid staff and I've been wait listed, too.

[Hippo_Tron]

12. Oh horseshit

Unless Hillary's delegates are all a bunch of zombies there's no possible way that it would only be a half excited crowd. Just being at the convention is a once in a lifetime experience to begin with and Barack ain't exactly a dull speaker.

Obama moved the speech at Invesco because it will motivate thousands of volunteers to work their asses off for him in a crucial swing state.

[otohara]

17. It Worked

there were an amazing amount of supporters before the announcement, but man - I went to headquarters for a meeting with my HD group and the place was packed with hundreds of first timers. Hey what ever gets people motivated is okay by me. I'm sick of Colorado going red for POTUS.

I've been phone banking. Democrats are are a transient group, unlike Republicans. I waisted precious time on Election Day 04 going to apartments where only illegal immigrants were now living because no one fucking called the phone numbers on the voter lists and realized they were gone. Not enough volunteers in 04, not nearly enough.

I'd say 60=% of the numbers I call are "NO LONGER IN SERVICE". They have data based volunteers working to update those lists. The only reason they can do this is because of the amount of volunteers interested in this election. The more the merrier and better.

[Hippo_Tron]

18. I'm jealous, I'm in dark red Tennessee

And unfortunately there aren't any close Senate or Congressional races around these parts. We can work toward party building and all but it's just not that exciting when the gains aren't immediate.

[DevonRex]

16. I think it was moved to Mile High so lots and lots of people could

be a party of making history.

[Faygo Kid]

20. They're still "only reluctant supporters?" Despite what I have been reading here?

I thought prime-time speaking roles for Chelsea, Hillary and Bill were supposed to mollify those who felt she had been disrespected.

Then I thought going through the whole placing-her-name-in-nomination process and going through an actual vote was supposed to unify the party.

I'm not sure what else he can or is supposed to do.

I see the goalposts moving again, and not just at Invesco Field. There is a limit. It is being reached.

[AtomicKitten]

22. He is having it at that venue because he can fill it ... and then some.

This will * finally * showcase his candidacy. The convention floor has been ceded to some who apparently require a primary redux in their catharsis. But, wait, even that's not enough.

Some are complaining about the line-up of speakers and the fact that Hillary's name wasn't bolded in the program. Amazingly their venom spills over onto Obama, the DNC, Donna Brazille, Dean, Kerry, Pelosi, Ted Kennedy, etc. And some here wonder why people are nervous.

Behold: http://therealbarackobama.wordpress.com/2008/08/15/small-people-with-small-minds-obama-dean-and-the-dnc/