At Invesco, Seats Fill Up With Democratic Faithful
(DENVER) It was still more six hours before Barack Obama was scheduled to take the stage to formally accept the Democratic nomination for president, but Verda Martin had already settled into her seat at Denver's open-air Invesco Field for what she called "one of the most important moments we've had in probably the last 20 or 30 years."
"I'm really excited, I'm really, really excited," Martin said, laughing, as her boyfriend nodded emphatically in the next seat over. "I never thought I would see a nomination speech live, and then for it to be the first African-American presidential nominee, so yeah – I'm just about to jump out of my skin."
Inside the stadium, venders who normally would be selling Denver Broncos merchandise instead hawked Obama t-shirts and hats at tables strewn with forms asking customers to donate to the Obama Victory Fund. (The form made it clear that between donations to Obama's primary campaign, general election campaign and the Democratic National Committee, donors could give more than $30,000.)
Outside, meanwhile, the line snaked for blocks, nearly back to the Pepsi Center a mile away. The mood, however, was festive, with corporate sponsors handing out free water bottles and a blue sky that likely eased the nerves of organizers worried that rain would come down on Obama's triumphant moment.
Dave Newell, a former Hillary Clinton supporter who "immediately joined Obama's team," said he waited for forty-five minutes to get into the stadium, where more than 75,000 are expected to turn out.
"I came out just to kind of be inspired, to soak up a little of the energy of the crowd and maybe take some energy out and spread it around for Obama," he said, looking out over the stage affixed with columns where Obama would later speak.
Leonardo Ranzani, meanwhile, had come to Denver from Milan. He sat in the stadium in a red, white and blue top hat.
Most of the people he knows in Milan, he said, "tend to be Obama supporters, probably because he is more similar to a European way of seeing things. Maybe because of the health care plan."
"The idea to have a black president," he said, explaining what drew him all the way to Denver. "Many, many people believe that many Americans are maybe racist or something, and then you say, 'oh, a black president, he's going to win, it's a kind of change.'"
Martin said she was particularly excited because Obama speech was set to come on the 45th anniversary of Martin Luther King's "I Have A Dream" speech. (She also said she was looked forward to the pre-Obama entertainment, which includes Stevie Wonder, will.i.am, Sheryl Crow and Jennifer Hudson.)
"It's not about one party or person or race, but it's really bringing everybody together for a change in this country," she said.
Newell, the former Clinton supporter, said he got his tickets to the stadium through a lottery for Denver Broncos season ticket holders. Asked where he would rather be – a Broncos game or at Obama's speech – he paused for a moment.
"That's not fair," Newell said, breaking into a laugh. "I grew up here. I bleed orange. But this is a once in a lifetime event."
© 2008 CBS Interactive Inc.. All Rights Reserved. "I'm really excited, I'm really, really excited," Martin said, laughing, as her boyfriend nodded emphatically in the next seat over. "I never thought I would see a nomination speech live, and then for it to be the first African-American presidential nominee, so yeah – I'm just about to jump out of my skin."
Inside the stadium, venders who normally would be selling Denver Broncos merchandise instead hawked Obama t-shirts and hats at tables strewn with forms asking customers to donate to the Obama Victory Fund. (The form made it clear that between donations to Obama's primary campaign, general election campaign and the Democratic National Committee, donors could give more than $30,000.)
(CBS/Brian Montopoli)
Outside, meanwhile, the line snaked for blocks, nearly back to the Pepsi Center a mile away. The mood, however, was festive, with corporate sponsors handing out free water bottles and a blue sky that likely eased the nerves of organizers worried that rain would come down on Obama's triumphant moment.
Dave Newell, a former Hillary Clinton supporter who "immediately joined Obama's team," said he waited for forty-five minutes to get into the stadium, where more than 75,000 are expected to turn out.
"I came out just to kind of be inspired, to soak up a little of the energy of the crowd and maybe take some energy out and spread it around for Obama," he said, looking out over the stage affixed with columns where Obama would later speak.
(CBS/Brian Montopoli)
Leonardo Ranzani, meanwhile, had come to Denver from Milan. He sat in the stadium in a red, white and blue top hat.
Most of the people he knows in Milan, he said, "tend to be Obama supporters, probably because he is more similar to a European way of seeing things. Maybe because of the health care plan."
"The idea to have a black president," he said, explaining what drew him all the way to Denver. "Many, many people believe that many Americans are maybe racist or something, and then you say, 'oh, a black president, he's going to win, it's a kind of change.'"
Martin said she was particularly excited because Obama speech was set to come on the 45th anniversary of Martin Luther King's "I Have A Dream" speech. (She also said she was looked forward to the pre-Obama entertainment, which includes Stevie Wonder, will.i.am, Sheryl Crow and Jennifer Hudson.)
"It's not about one party or person or race, but it's really bringing everybody together for a change in this country," she said.
Newell, the former Clinton supporter, said he got his tickets to the stadium through a lottery for Denver Broncos season ticket holders. Asked where he would rather be – a Broncos game or at Obama's speech – he paused for a moment.
"That's not fair," Newell said, breaking into a laugh. "I grew up here. I bleed orange. But this is a once in a lifetime event."
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Posted by howzilla
*************************************Oh we are very sure. We don''t have aspirations of making it a trend, we really don''t spend time thinking about the color of his skin. We think about how we need a leader who is capable of energizing enough people so we can get the country our of the grips of Exxon Mobil and help us make our country stronger.
Bush and the repugs have f@cked this Country up enough. With Obama in office it can only get better.
OBAMA/BIDEN 08 the only logical choice for America!!!!
Would it be more accurate to say that if elected, he would be the first Arab-American president?"
________________
That is about as idiotic of a statement I have heard, from a totally misinformed population. His father was from Kenya, an African Nation. Now, if the fear mongers on these blogs wish to pursue all of this, many make issue of a middle name for Barack because his middle name is Hussein. This name is considered to be Islamic, not Arabic or Persian. The above statement concerning Afro-American vs. Arabic is just more fear mongering from GOPers who can''t find anything else negative to say about B.O. so they psot nonsense garbage and wht do they/you/me get from all of this? GIGO (Garbage-In-Garbage-Out).
No politican kisses women on the lips, the cheek is proper.
Keep up hope trolls, maybe McCain will wow us. or put us to sleep.
John McCain! A Candidate with Depends on.
The seating capacity is 76,125. However, the place looked packed to the rafters, as in there were many more people than the seating capacity.
There are some emails circulating that say Obama is more Arab than Black. Has anyone researched that?
Would it be more accurate to say that if elected, he would be the first Arab-American president?
Regardless, the Obama speech did focus on the miserable performance of Bush & ''Shotgun D-I-C-K'' Cheney, and what all Americans need to do to correct the mess.
To some people, Senator McCain is a nice old man. To others, he is a cantankerous old potty mouth.
The fact is 8/29 is his 72nd birthday. He has been having his share of ''senior moments'' and that is not a good sign.
Resolute and Mighty!
Lay Waste the Tiny Persian Hordes
With sweet Words of Aphrodite!
Proud Olympian Son of Barak!
Brother of George the Lesser!
Let no man stand before You;
No one, Your Confessor!
Summon Hemera, Queen of light!
Summon Favonius, God of Wind!
Let Their Power grace the masses,
Across this oil-rich Land so fare!
Pry loose the Hands of All the Greedy,
From their casks of Gold and Silver!
Shower Your Servants, reduced and needy,
With same casks of Gold and Silver!
Eileithyia Goddess of birth, Be Gone!
And Hera follow suit!
Decree Your meaning of "Life", Obama,
That no Judge will refute!
From His great Temple at Invesco,
Let Zephyrus never tire
Of carrying His message on the Winds
That sweep across His Empire:
"Change! Hope! Change and Hope!"
Now, "Hope and Change" together!
And when these words have run their course,
He will say and do (whatever)
Keep up the good work.