PHOTOS: BARACK OBAMA speaks today at Waterfront Park in Portland, Oregon

[flpoljunkie]

Democratic presidential hopeful, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., speaks to people at Waterfront Park in Portland, Ore., Sunday, May 18, 2008. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)


Democratic presidential hopeful, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., speaks to people at Waterfront Park in Portland, Ore., Sunday, May 18, 2008. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)


Democratic presidential hopeful, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., speaks to people at Waterfront Park in Portland, Ore., Sunday, May 18, 2008. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)


Supporters cheer for Democratic presidential hopeful, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., speaks to people at Waterfront Park in Portland, Ore., Sunday, May 18, 2008.
(AP Photo/Chris Carlson)


Supporters cheer for Democratic presidential hopeful, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., speaks to people at Waterfront Park in Portland, Ore., Sunday, May 18, 2008. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)


A supporter listens to Democratic presidential hopeful, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., speak at Waterfront Park in Portland, Ore., Sunday, May 18, 2008.
(AP Photo/Chris Carlson)


Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) with his wife Michelle and their daughters wave to the crowd at a campaign rally in downtown Portland, Oregon May 18, 2008. REUTERS/Richard Clement


Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) with his wife Michelle and their daughters wave to the crowd at a campaign rally in downtown Portland, Oregon May 18, 2008. REUTERS/Richard Clement


Democratic presidential hopeful, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., greets supporters after speaking at Waterfront Park in Portland, Ore., Sunday, May 18, 2008. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

And earlier today at Lew's Drive-In in Milwaukie, Oregon...

Democratic presidential hopeful, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., sits with his family at Lew's Drive-In after a campaign stop in Milwaukie, Ore., Sunday, May 18, 2008.
(AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

[slinkerwink]

1. his children will never forget the size of that crowd!

[K Gardner]

5. What a wonderful thought.. my word, no they will not.. people there to see their Daddy. Wow.

[slinkerwink]

14. and they'll understand why he had to be away from them for so long

when they see crowds like these. They'll know that America depends on their daddy to be President.

[kwenu]

8. Amazing photos! It's time we all unite behind Obama, our awesome nominee.

[K Gardner]

22. KATU LIVE.. News coverage of Obama Rally.. Excellent report !

[K Gardner]

25. OMG ! Footage of Hillary supporters protesting at today's Portland Rally.. carrying

SWEETIE signs... ROFLMAO !!

[swishyfeet]

57. You could hear them cheer in the distance when Obama recognized Hillary

Repectfully!

She got a nice round of applause from his supporters.

(edit/spelling)

[DesEtoiles]

61. protesters = losers

[montanto]

122. Um, no!

I flew all the way to DC from L.A. to protest the Iraq war. And I'm a loser? Your argument stinks.

[Adelante]

99. What?

For real?

[K Gardner]

101. Yeah.. Women for Hillary, holding nasty "Sweetie" signs/slogans about Barack. I'm

sure some pics will surface eventually.. it was on the Portland evening newscast w/video and interview.

[Adelante]

102. I guess they're lucky they didn't get trampled, eh?

Jerks.

[stlsaxman]

127. Prolly Freepers in Hill clothing... ala "Operation Chaos"

wouldn't surprise me in the slightest.

[K Gardner]

2. I been waitin for u and ur picshures ! K&R

[HCE SuiGeneris]

3. Those are fantastic.

Thank you!

[Olney Blue]

4. Thanks for the pics!

[slinkerwink]

6. that first pic looks like a pointillist painting!

[Faygo Kid]

7. Oh. My. God.

It's over.

And I don't mean just the primary.

He is our next president. Stay safe, Barack.

[flpoljunkie]

20. This is one of my very favorite photos, too!

[Catherina]

114. Love that pic! n/t

[BattyDem]

9. That first picture is amazing!

:wow:



All the pictures are wonderful! Thanks for posting them. :hi:

[Boo Boo]

74. This one is even more so

[proud2BlibKansan]

78. That is absolutely amazing

:wow:

[babylonsister]

10. Just wow! Thanks so much! Incomparable...to anyone! nt

[Spider Jerusalem]

96. Not quite incomparable to anyone,,,

JFK in Berlin:

[saltpoint]

104. O sweet Christ why did you have to post that photograph and

stop me in my tracks like that...

Thank you and damn you and thank you again.

[Spider Jerusalem]

108. I can't help but be reminded...

of the words of a Texas Democrat who said 'I try not to fall in love with too many men, but this is the bst damn one we've had since John Kennedy.' JFK, like FDR, spoke to our ideals, and told us not that he would make the country better, but that WE would, if we could find it within ourselves to do so. Obama shares this idealism, this idea of America as a thing far from perfect, yet endlessly perfectible through the combined efforts of citizens who believe in what America COULD be.

(And as a random aside: I think the essential difference between Senators Obama and Clinton, in terms of political style, can be most succinctly summed up as the difference between artistry and craftsmanship; FDR and JFK were artists, Truman and LBJ were craftsmen. The complementary nature of these political styles--the inspirational artist, who fleshes out a broad theme, gives it shape, and form, and direction, and the nuts-and-bolts craftsman, who focuses on the detail work and polishes the finished product, might seem to suggest a natural fit for Sen. Clinton as Obama's running mate; it is a possibility, I think, but I remain convinced that there are other and better choices.)

[saltpoint]

111. Handsomely stated.

The model you invoke ---art versus craft -- is persuasive. In politics and elsewhere.

John Kennedy's address there in Berlin prompted me to visit the city some many years later. It was an overcast mid-morning. Not very many people milling about. A long echo from the day he spoke there to so many.

I sense the same thing in Obama and feel that McCain, despite being the media darling for so long on the talking head programs, is in for the thrashing of a lifetime. I think with Obama we carry states we haven't carried in ages.

And what a deeply good feeling it will be to look forward -- for a change -- to a State of the Union address.

Wonderful posts, Spider Jerusalem. Thank you.

[babylonsister]

110. I stand dutifully corrected. Great pic! nt

[FrenchieCat]

11. Loving it!

[roguevalley]

80. as you can see, he has a huge problem with the white working vote

:)

[saltpoint]

93. : )

:thumbsup: :hi:

[Cha]

100. I was thinking the same...

Huge!

[Arugula Latte]

12. Obama seemed a little stunned at first by the size of the crowd.

On the local news (unlike stupid CNN), they let him speak and weren't talking over him in the beginning. He mentioned how large the crowd was and sort of seemed floored by it.

[redstate_democrat]

13. They really need to stop saying "presidential hopeful" and just start saying President Obama!

[redstate_democrat]

15. This little boy rocks!

[Cha]

16. Thanks Florida! This is little guy Got Hope~

These pics are phenomenal for a Primary

[1776Forever]

17. flpoljunkie You Totally Rock!!! Thank you for these! I searched all around the net for them!

You are good!!!!

:headbang: :yourock: :headbang: :yourock: :headbang:

[jaxx]

18. That crowd is huge!!

Truly a sea of people there to see him. Did they estimate the size of the crowd?

Thanks for the pics, they're great.

[RichardRay]

23. Portland Fire & Rescue says 70K to 75K.

60K in the park, 10K to 15K on the bridges, in the water and hanging from the balconies.

[jaxx]

43. That is just wild!!

GoBama!

[jkshaw]

30. They were expecting 30,000

CNN said 50,000 showed up!

[DesEtoiles]

19. Yea Portland! Yea Barack!

[1776Forever]

Wow I just noticed the kids were with them too! That will be something they never forget!!!

[NightWatcher]

21. Breaking News: GOP shits themselves in fear when they see these photos

Too bad he's not popular

I love it

[Zachstar]

26. LOL! If they have any shit left

LANDSLIDE!

[Just-plain-Kathy]

106. Doesn't McCain get crowds like this? ;) ...n/t

[BlooInBloo]

24. Look at all of those black folks!

:rofl:

[FrenchieCat]

27. I know. Hope they wore sun protection!

:rofl:

[anigbrowl]

35. A couple of them even crashed the stage! Where will it end???

I mean, who is this guy?

[BlooInBloo]

38. WON'T SOMEBODY **PLEASE** THINK OF THE CHILDREN!!!!

[DesEtoiles]

62. "hard working white people" love Barack, I guess

[BlooInBloo]

94. Now, now. You KNOW that can't possibly be true. Clinton and her supporters say it's not....

And they would NEVER lie, as we all know, since they're so admirable!

[Arugula Latte]

103. The sun bouncing off all that lily white skin must have been blinding to Obama

I mean, we've had a particularly cloudy, rainy spring here (and that is saying something!) and let's just say the Pillsbury Doughboy would fit right in with a lot of us.

[Thrill]

28. So what? Its just Blacks and Rich White folk

LMAO

[HysteryDiagnosis]

29. Would gw get such a reception today?? Those shots speak

volumes as to where this is all heading. Thanks much for the photos.

[goclark]

60. I can't ever recall him getting a crowd this size

Toward the end of his campaign I remember him speaking to a "crowd" in MIchigan.

Maybe there were 100 people there.

One thing that I always wonder about, where are the HUGE crowds of Republicans falling over themselves and cheering their candidates?

Diebold is the answer ~ they pack a mighty big wallop!

[Benhurst]

107. We have all the huge rallies and the best songs. They have

Diebold and the White House.

[ejpoeta]

124. I was watching "Hacking Democracy" last night

Freaked me out!!

[TheWraith]

118. Bush might get that many people to show up protesting him. nt

[Terri S]

31. We are SOOOOO taking back this country ! n/t

[NightWatcher]

34. hell yes, bout time. I see those pics and smile too

[bdamomma]

120. it is time for us to kick a$$.

we need to or will we just keep being played by repigs. I think the country needs to grow up!!!!!!!!

[DU GrovelBot]

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[skooooo]

33. wow portland looks pretty white...

[Mz Pip]

36. Guess they're

not of the "hard-working" variety. :sarcasm:

[Leopolds Ghost]

41. Even so, it's a great city. ;-)

[DesEtoiles]

66. how WILL Hillary spin this?

[Beregond2]

69. LOL!

I have a friend who visits from NYC, and he always says that. "Where are all the black people? And why is everyone so damn polite?!" I never think about it, but when I see it through his eyes, it's true.

[roguevalley]

82. its not. that is a mixed city and crowd and its beautiful. you need to find out

more about oregon and portland. you would like it truly.

[OregonProg]

37. lol

Someone here at DU scoffed at the notion that he would draw the 30K crowd estimated a few days ago. I could barely get through downtown today. I love this town. :)

[Mme. Defarge]

51. I parked on S.E. 8th & Hawthorne

and walked across the Hawthorne bridge. Couldn't get into the rally, but walked up a side street until I ran into yellow tape -- got with a block of Waterfront Park. Had a little excitement when the police motorcade and campaign busses came up that very street, but couldn't see the "O". Caught glimpses of him, though, and heard some of his speech. Absolutely gorgeous day!

[boobooday]

39. That's a lot of eggheads and AAs!

:bounce:

Great photos.

[Cali_Democrat]

40. GO OREGON!!!

:woohoo::woohoo::woohoo::woohoo::woohoo::woohoo::woohoo::woohoo:

:applause::applause::applause::applause::applause::applause::applause:

:woohoo::woohoo::woohoo::woohoo::woohoo::woohoo::woohoo::woohoo:

[FrenchieCat]

42. The little guy painted his body! LOL!

[City Lights]

44. OMG, what GREAT photos!

Simply amazing. :wow:

Wonder what his daughters are thinking as they look out at that sea of people.

[FightingIrish]

45. That crowd is almost equal to the combined seating

capacity of the Oregon and Oregon State football stadiums, and there wasn't even a football game going on.

[tpsbmam]

46. Holy shit! Amazing. Thanks for the pix!! n/t

[lcdnumber6]

47. OMFG.

I saw some posts earlier that there was gonna be a huge turnout, but DAMN!!!!!! WOW! Chills all up and down my spine. Can you feel it?!

[Basement Beat]

58. I feel it as well...

this is just AMAZING. I am tooooo pumped up for this. :)

[tekisui]

48. Wow! That is amazing! Great pictures. The first one floored me.

[Duder]

49. Sweet!

K & R

[ProSense]

50. Here's another

[Mme. Defarge]

83. OMG, c'est magnifique! n/t

[WeRQ4U]

115. Mind if I steal that one and post it elsewhere?

Just wondering. Totally not upset if you say no.

[powergirl]

52. Are you sure this isn't a Clinton rally? There's soooo many White people

I see White People!!! :sarcasm:

[FrenchieCat]

53. naw. Here are more photos. Looks like the Obama faction out there to me.

[ProSense]

54. Here's a slideshow:

Awesome

[FrenchieCat]

59. Wow. That 2nd pic is actually a slide show.....but it took me a minute to realize that.....

thanks!

[swishyfeet]

55. Some more from me....

Got there 3 hours before gates opened, with about 4 blocks of line ahead of me. The Decemberists opened for him. ABC just reported on my teevee that there were 75,000 people. It felt like it. Hung out with a group of Canadians who took the 6hr trip to see him.

[BlooInBloo]

65. Linkies no workies. :(

[swishyfeet]

76. Posted them over on the frontpage *Breaking* thread - sorry.

[BlooInBloo]

81. Much better - thanks!

[fight4my3sons]

72. you where close!

A lot bigger crowd than my Bangor, ME rally :D

[Triana]

56. Holy Sea 'O Faces, Batman!

Can that man draw a crowd or WHAT?!

:patriot:

Be careful out there, Senator Obama.

[Mme. Defarge]

85. It's all about the "O"!!! n/t

[PM7nj]

63. Anyone have a close up of the green signs?

I'm assuming their either environmentalist-related or AFSCME-Oregon signs. I've never seen them before.

[sakura]

86. They were Oregon specific signs, but not AFSCME. The AFSCME folks

(my husband is one) wore green shirts and hats.

[graycem]

64. Wowsers..

I've never seen so many rich, college-educated elitists in one place. Gorgeous pictures. :D

[bonito]

67. K&R n/t

[RBInMaine]

68. All I can say is, this must have Clitnon and McBUSH saying "OH SHIT !".

[milkyway]

70. Where did they park 75,000 bikes?

:)

[EFerrari]

71. You go, Barack. Kick @ss and take names.

:woohoo:

[Scurrilous]

73. K & R

:thumbsup:

[Tribetime]

75. Now that's really heaven, Portland Oregon,mountain mamma

I'm out of ink, or I'd print these out now. Thanks flpoljunkie

[Raine]

77. WOW!! That is totally AWESOME!!!

GObama!!!!! :bounce: :-)

[saltpoint]

79. The boats are killing me. They're just killing me. I love it. Seventy-five

thousand goddam people.

With boats.

[DesEtoiles]

87. and some in kayaks even!

[saltpoint]

89. Hi, NormaR. Yes! Kayaks!

I just KNEW we had the kayak vote sewn up!

McCain is toast. He hasn't even taken the stage in Minneapolis yet and the old coot is TOAST!

[BringBigDogBack]

109. Haha, no doubt. K&R

[usregimechange]

84. Has that ever happened before?

[Buzz Clik]

88. Gadzooks!

[LuckyLib]

90. June of last year my daughter and I went to see him in Minneapolis. I knew I was witnessing history.

Folks in Portland know it too -- a beautiful day, an historic event.

:yourock:

[IronLionZion]

117. yeah and I thought the rally at Target center was huge

That was 20,000!

This has to be some kind of record. Republicans can only dream of this kind of support. And Oregon is an important swing state.

[saltpoint]

91. I wonder if tomorrow there might be one or two high school government or civics

classes whose teachers might ask students if they did anything special this weekend in town.

[Muttocracy]

92. NYTimes has another great photo of the family

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/05/18/obama-draws-record-crowd-in-oregon/index.html?hp

[caseycoon]

95. Incredible! 75,000!

Great photos as always!
THANKS!! :D

[catgirl]

97. !!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Colobo]

98. Lovely, isn't it?

[workinclasszero]

105. This country is ours!

And we are taking it back from the warmongers and corporate whores that have nearly destroyed it!

Obama leads the way!

[raystorm7]

112. Look at all those educated White Folk Hillary doesn't have!!!!!

[TheDonkey]

113. SWEET MOTHER!!!!!! WOW

[IronLionZion]

116. Black, inner city, elitists, all of them!

It's scary to think that many Americans can be so out of touch with America. I think it's time to admit that the vast majority of Americans are radical extremists. Very few Americans are mainstream anymore.


:rofl:

GOBAMA!!! I so wish I could be there. I hope to meet this man who inspires so many people some day.

[bdamomma]

119. just

:wow:

[marlakay]

121. why does this post have flames on it?

these pics don't seem anything but peaceful and happy.

[literacyadvocate]

123. People know a revolution..

when they see one coming!

[ElsewheresDaughter]

125. did he walk on the water?

I swear it looks like the sermon on the mount!

[awoke_in_2003]

129. "looks like the sermon on the mount!"

You mean this one?
http://youtube.com/watch?v=s0elOHJNE_c

[ampad]

126. I guess I'm an official Obama cultist

because I'm sitting here crying. I have never seen anything like this before, just beautiful. If anyone walks in and sees me crying I'll just blame it on pregnancy hormones. Thanks for posting all the wonderful pics.

[ThatsMyBarack]

128. That is HUGH!!!111 I am SERIES!!!11!

:patriot: :loveya: