Real Virginians showed up in droves today to hear Obama

[Neurotica]

I got back from the Obama rally in Leesburg a little over 2 hours ago. About 10,000 people were expected. About 30,000-35,000 showed up.

Beautiful day. Beautiful speech. I cried twice -- during the National Anthem and at the end of Obama' speech when he talked at length about one America. I'm just overcome by the possibility that these past eight years will soon be a bad dream.

My ten-year-old was equally impressed. Without a doubt he will remember this day forever.

[Condem]

1. 35,000!

Wow.

[machI]

17. Now if we get a repeat at the polls on November 4, we will be in fat city

[stillcool]

2. I saw that streaming ...

it was great sitting here at my computer, it must have been electric being there. People seemed really fired up!

[Neurotica]

3. The mood was indeed electric -- the contrast with McCain rallies

couldn't be greater.

I've been to 2 Obama rallies now -- people are excited, happy to be there, optimistic.

From what I've seen from the YouTube videos of people standing in line for McCain-Palin rallies, the mood is quite the opposite. Angry, angry, angry.

[Neurotica]

4. BTW I hear Palin is now coming to Leesburg for a rally on Monday

[Indi Guy]

5. The only Americans who don't know that Obama is the real deal...

...are those who don't want to believe it. It's pretty clear to his supporters and and his political adversaries that Barack is something special.

[MarjorieG]

9. Don't know if you don't see C-Span or streaming live. MSM a tough window to the campaign.

[firedupdem]

6. I watched it today on CSPAN and was totally energized! That

was one of the best speeches I've heard. He was great.

[BeyondGeography]

7. I saw the replay of the Richmond rally...it was rockin'

Felt to me like people are smelling victory in Virginia.

[LiberadorHugo]

8. Come on now...

Real Virginians vote for Virgil Goode, graduate from Liberty University, bash queers, lynch African-Americans, and memorize Hebrew myths....

Oops...Wait...That's just John McCain making things up again.

[countingbluecars]

10. I got back a few hours ago as well.

The crowd was great, and Obama was inspiring. That was a lot of people for Leesburg. I made the mistake of parking in the town on a narrow side street. I sat in my car without even moving for over an hour. I thought I would never get home. But it was well worth it to be part of this wonderful day.

[black light poster]

11. regarding the Richmond rally also rockin, it was

...okay, I was standing on a bench outside the coliseum, but the thousands of us who couldn't squeeze inside were part of the party too.

And as for us Virginians smelling victory, we are!


It was so incredibly cool to kick George Allen's nasty ass out of the Senate in '06 and finish delivery of the chamber to the Democratic party in the process.

It was exhilarating to give Barack a big win earlier this year, with such a big margin in the primary -- our one state added a lot to the delegate count margin that sustained him through some lean times to follow.


And now we're going to sustain this lead and put our state's EVs into Barack's column early in the evening on Nov. 4th, in order to let everybody breath easier earlier and enjoy the night that much more!

[mbee]

12. Does anyone have any pictures as my sister was in

attendance and I'd like to have a look?

[countingbluecars]

13. There are a few posted in the Lounge.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=105x8183085

[AlCzervik]

14. can i ask if that "Real Virgina" comment ricocheted around the state?

[black light poster]

15. Yep the dumbass "real Virginia" insult to millions is getting attention.

As is McCain's brother, who lives here, calling the millions of residents of Northern Virginia "communists." One of the warm-up speakers at the Richmond rally today -- I forget who, either Mayor Wilder or Gov. Kaine or soon-to-be Sen. Warner -- reminded everybody of it, and encouraged him to just keep talking. He won Obama a lot of votes.

[lessthanjake]

16. Fuck that

I live in Leesburg but im at college so I couldnt go!

[Coexist]

18. were those numbers real?

[Neurotica]

19. Yes, according to CBS news, the Obama campaign and others

A local official said there were 15,000 plus inside the metal detectors and many thousands more outside all the way into town.

The venue was an outdoor park -- somewhat hilly. We were near the stage. You could look back towards the crowd, up the hill and just see people everywhere, both inside and outside the gates.

Loudoun has been one of the fastest-growing counties in the U.S. since 2000 (#5 in 2007). Most of the increase is due to new residents moving into planned communities. And during this time, we have changed from an overwhelmingly Republican stronghold to an area that has recently elected a number of Democrats at the local and state levels. Yea! We're working hard to make sure this trend continues...

[Coexist]

20. amazing - I wish I could've been there.

[Carni]

21. How long was the wait to get in?

I thought about going to the Leesburg rally yesterday, but it's kind of a haul for me and I wasn't sure I could get back home before the school bus gets here.

How long was the wait to get in?

Do you need tickets ahead of time at Obama's rallys or can you just show up (I recall having to get tickets to the Kerry rally I went to)

[Neurotica]

22. I'm not sure about the wait -- we volunteered so we were there early

Tickets were not required.