10,000 people at the John Edwards Rally in Tucson

[AgadorSparticus]

It was FANTASTIC. 10,000 people showed up to greet John Edwards in Tucson. It felt good to be in a place with 10,000 screaming democrats. This is my first rally and I enjoyed myself immensely. I met several people and told several people about DU. I must say, Janet Napolitano, our Democratic governor, is one popular lady! And of course, we gave it up for Sen. Edwards. I could not believe the great seat I got. The lady sitting next to me, Wendy, came prepared with binoculars (though we didn't really need it but it came in handy to get a close up shot of JE). Let me just say, we both agreed: John Edwards is one very handsome fella. whewwwwww. His speech was great and I think he hit every point that he needed to. his response to Cheney's ebay is a winner. We did have a couple bush intruders but they were quickly shuffled off as the crowd drowned them out. It was overall, a great rally. Here are some pics I took. This is my first time to post. I hope it comes out okay.

[Catfight]

1. It's good to see diversity, not just a bunch of fat cats writing checks

for Cheney/Bush.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

2. Fabulous!

Thanks for the inspiring photos!

[AgadorSparticus]

3. you're welcome. 10,000 people and they had to turn others away.

40,000 rally in Oregon. I just do not believe the polls.

[Arugula Latte]

26. Ahem. I think it was at least 50,000 in Portland.

Thanks for the report!

Amazing crowds -- especially for the VICE presidential nominee!

[tblue37]

27. Actually,

I read several reports that said 60,000 in Portland.

But of course you never see pics like that plastered across the mainstream media, though they will do tight shots of Bush's limited, prescreened rallies, to make it look as though the place is packed.

I saw one side-by-side pair of shots that showed the cropped shot, which made it look as though he was talking to a filled room, and a wide-angle shot that showed a small group of people packed tightly together and surrounded by row after row of empty bleachers.

[AgadorSparticus]

28. that's what i heard. amazing. i can't imagine a crowd 5 times

that of yesterday.

to add: i mean, i can't imagine being in a crowd 5 times that of yesterday.

[Justice]

4. Excellent

Whenever I see photos of these great crowds, I know we have many who believe as we do, no matter what the media keeps saying!

[Beaverhausen]

5. Excellent! Come on Arizona - you can do it!

Is he handsome or what?

[AgadorSparticus]

9. good lawd, he is GORGEOUS. I look at him and I still

cannot believe he is in his 50's.

[rumguy]

6. Wow - what a crowd

Would you say Tuscon is a Dem city?

I've always wanted to visit Tuscon, I've heard good things about it.

[AgadorSparticus]

12. They say Tucson is the liberal bastion of Arizona but I see so many

bush bumperstickers in my neck of the woods, I find it hard to believe that it is. But after today, I'm changing my mind. There were plenty of democrats that did not have bumperstickers on their cars to represent. So, I'm not going by that bumpersticker poll anymore.

Come to Tucson. But don't come right now. It's way too freaking hot. Come in a couple months. The weather is beautiful then. And there's plenty of things to do. If you are a big cyclist, this is your town. We have a very large and active cycling community. Let me know if you do decide to come to tucson. We can have a Tucson DU meetup.

[DoYouEverWonder]

7. The clip they showed on PBS

made it look like there were only a couple of hundred people there. Everytime I see pictures like this, I know the media and the polls are full of shit.

I wish these hurricanes would go away so these guys can come down to Florida.

[Alleycat]

8. Thanks

It is great to see the crowds. The polls are way off. Allthis based on my own rally experience in Scranton, PA - my first also. Alot of the people I have been speaking to are not happy and are actively seeking change. Quite a few are first time voters as well.

[AgadorSparticus]

14. Same here. No matter where I went in the crowds, I heard the same

thing: bush has to go. People are fed up and upset at the state of the nation. What I loved seeing were all the young folks. Lots of what look like teenagers and college kids. That was very nice to see.

[wishlist]

10. Thanks for great post! John and Elizabeth were in my area of N.C 9/12

but unfortunately not for a rally, but to visit flood affected areas and provide support for locals. He spoke to the congregation at a First Baptist Church here. Got good coverage in our paper today-

http://www.citizen-times.com/cache/article/news/61313.shtml

[AgadorSparticus]

20. you're welcome. I'm anxious to see how the local media covers

this. If I hear 1,000 people....I'm going to go ballistic. You'll hear it the next day, "local woman self combusts over gross underestimations of numbers from liberal rally". lol

[Cha]

11. Wonderfu~!! For some reason seeing that sign

in Espanol.."Un Pais Mas Fuerte" starting me tearing up! It's just too Beautiful!

Thank you so much for these Awesome pictures. Is that you holding the Kerry/Edwards sign, progessivebebe? :D

[AgadorSparticus]

17. I thought that sign was very appropriate too. I am always glad to see

minority populations in our society being recognized on a national level. It's very nice. And yes, that's me holding the sign. It's my first rally. Gotta send it to my republican parents. :evilgrin:

[Cha]

19. You are so cute and Responsible!

Your "republican parents" should be Very Proud of you! I know I am! :D

Edit to say...I went to the UofA in 1962, so I feel a kindred spirit with Tucsonians and Arizonians and anywhere else I lived in my life!

[AgadorSparticus]

22. they are, on the most part, proud...BUT when it comes to politics,

they can't figure out where they went wrong. I was raised in Texas in a VERY republican household. How I became a liberal democrat is beyond my parents. We cannot even start discussions with, "I heard on the news...." because that that already gets feathers ruffled. It is the typical: They watch faux all day long and charge me of being "brainwashed". But I'm learning to let it go (some of it, anyways). They are old and rigid. Though, I talked to an older gentleman at the rally and he told me that his inlaws (upper 80's) changed their minds and are voting Kerry this year. It could happen. I just doubt it will with my parents.

[City Lights]

13. Wow. Great pics.

This gives me great hope for AZ.

[Booster]

15. Fabulous!!!! I think Edwards is just so damn adorable

and so is his entire family. Arizona, ya done good - now get to the polls and vote for this man, oh, and Kerry too.

[Bundbuster]

16. More photos from Tucson coming up in this thread:

along with many other campaign pics from the last 3 days:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x805439

[AgadorSparticus]

18. wow, those are GREAT pictures. Was that a telephoto lens or

were you fairly close? Those look like professional pictures.

[Bundbuster]

24. No, these are news service photos

but I wish I'd been there!

[AgadorSparticus]

30. wasn't sure if you were a professional photographer or not.

the pics you posted from the other thread are something else. boy do they capture the emotion well.

[Cha]

21. Bundbuster! Great pics, thank you!

When the media and bush disrespect Dems they disrespect all these great people who out number them!!

[cheshire]

23. Make them poll just look silly.

[rene moon]

25. I was there!

My boss, Rep. Grijalva, introduced Senator Edwards. It was a great event.

[AgadorSparticus]

29. my only complaint was that they didn't sell any merchandise.

i wanted to pick up some pins, buttons, signs, etc. there should have been a booth for that. some people bought the k/e bumperstickers but by the time i could get past the crowds and make it to the front, they were sold out.

[A_Possum]

31. Great photos!

Thanks!