Obama in Portland!

[NeedleCast]

Lucky boy that I am, my business trip has me in Portland on the same day as Obama had his rally here. Unlucky for DU, I didn't bring the USB cable for my digital camera so I can't upload pix yet, but I'd estimate the crowd at 35,000. For those who know Portland, Obama packed every inch of space at Water-Front Park, with spill over on the bridge, for three or four block along Naito avenue and anywhere else people could stop and get a picture. Hopefully some other DU'ers were out today and got pictures, otherwise I'll post them on Wednesday when I get back home and can get them off my digital.

It was a great rally. Such a positive vibe. The crowd braved hot temperatures and was in great spirits. Our man gave an awesome speech, touching on the economy, the war in Iraq and how we can't afford any more McBush in the White House.

This is the third time I've seen the senator speak and each one has been better than the last. I'll take more of this kind of kool-aid anytime!

Edit to say: It looks like I"m not a good judge of crowd size. News channels now reporting that its 50,000+

[babylonsister]

1. NBC News just said there were 75,000 people there!

And I've NEVER seen him live! :cry:

[NeedleCast]

4. Their Estimates is Probably Better than Mine

The crowd in the park was MASSIVE and it's really hard to say how many thousands were lining bridge and who had stopped on Naito Ave and at other vantage points around the waterfront. There were probably 50 boats, some of them stuffed with people, along the water.

[grasswire]

5. No, NBC said that the Obama campaign said there were 75,000.

We'll see, eventually. I honestly don't think the venue could support that larger number.

[babylonsister]

8. You're right; 15,000 were outside...Largest Crowd Yet: 75,000 Rally in Portland

http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/stateupdates/gGBfgK

Largest Crowd Yet: 75,000 Rally in Portland
By Christopher Hass - May 18th, 2008 at 6:32 pm EDT


For hours now, we've been seeing stories about the huge lines for today's outdoor rally at Waterfront Park in Portland, Oregon. It's now been confirmed that the actual crowd on hand topped 75,000 people (60,000 inside the gates of Waterfront Park, with another 15,000 outside). Here is what the largest crowd yet of this Presidential campaign looks like:

Over the past fifteen months, you've helped us build an incredible movement unlike anything that has ever been seen before. But this is only the beginning. We still have a long road ahead and much work to do, but you can contribute now to help us seize this moment, and continue this momentum, all the way to November.

[grasswire]

2. thank you for that crowd estimate

Some apparently have wildly overinflated the numbers to nearly double what you say you saw first-hand.

Enjoy your stay!

[Barack_America]

7. I was at the Philly rally. My estimate was 25,000 people. The official estimate? 45,000.

It's impossible to tell how many people are in a crowd you're a part of.

Just for fun, here's the Philly rally from my vantage point. As it turns out, there were even thousands of people behind Independence Hall in the background. And that little band of white in front of Independence Hall a ways, that's a bus driving by.

[K Gardner]

3. Can't wait to see the pictures ! Crowd estimate now 75,000.

[NeedleCast]

6. I'm kicking myself for not bringing my camera to laptop cable!