Obama And American League Champion Rays Rally Florida Voters

(CBS)

From CBS News' Maria Gavrilovic:

(TAMPA, FLA.) - Both timing and luck seem to be on Barack Obama's side these days. Just as it looked like his luck had peaked yesterday with Colin Powell's endorsement and record-breaking fundraising news, Obama outdid himself today. He just happened to be in Tampa on the day after the Tampa Bay Rays won the American League Championship, securing their first-ever spot in the World Series.

Six Rays players showed up to the rally to introduce Obama and urge the crowd to vote early.

"What an exciting day for Tampa Bay!," Rays outfielder Fernando Perez said. "We are here today to encourage you to get out and vote and vote early for Barack Obama."

He added, "There have been too many times that elections have been lost because not enough people voted."

Obama, who is White Sox fan, recently told a crowd in Philadelphia that he would be rooting for the National League champion Phillies now. But today, he tried to patch things up with Tampa baseball fans, by joking that he is a "unity candidate."

"I've said from the beginning that I am a unity candidate. Bringing people together so when you see a White Sox fan showing love to the Rays, and the Rays showing some love back, you know we're on to something right here," Obama said, "Congratulations to the Rays."

He also said that he wanted to get a mohawk, a trademark of the team, but the advisors warned against it. "I was going to cut my hair in a mohawk in solidarity but my political advisors said they weren't sure how that was going to play with ah, swing voters."

[clatech]

Colin Powell was George Bush%u2019s most trusted advisor. He sold the war in Iraq to the American people and the U.N. Selling Barrack Obama should be a %u201Cslam dunk%u201D.

[miaw77]

Just a little FYI -


While standing in line for nearly 2 hours today in order to vote early, I have to say, I met only one woman who was Pro-McCain. EVERYONE in line (at least the dozens to whom I spoke) were Pro-Obama. To be fair, I live in Boca Raton, FL. We are well-educated, upscale voters. So, obviously, NOBODY was talking about Bill Ayers or "socialism." We were laughing at FOX News and wondering why they refuse to discuss the role that Phil Graham and credit default swaps played in our current economic crisis.


I know that Boca Raton doesn''t represent every area in Florida, but still, it seems to me, voters are smarter this year. They "get it." They want change. And not even one of our infamous autumn hurricanes would keep any of them from getting out and voting for Obama!

[slayrre007]

Let me start by saying that I voted against George W. Bush in both elections and in both elections I predicted he would lead this country to ruin.

Now I will be voting for John McCain in November for many reasons...including having the insight to recognize that our country is better off with a moderate Republican than a far left hardcore liberal like Obama (with a Democratic controlled Congress).

As for Barack Hussein Obama...once Barack, as Commander-In-Chief, is given our countries top military secrets... he will find a way to give the information to his "brothers" in the middle east. For anyone that doesn''''t think this is possible...think again.

How soon Americans everywhere forget how unprepared we were for 9/11. Intellectually we could not accept the real danger of such an attack. Now we are unprepared to accept the real threat that the next attack to destroy America will come from within....that threat is Barack Obama.

This country has sold out common sense and intelligence in their efforts to prove that a black man can become elected President. Not measuring Barack Obama character and personal philosophy by his association with people like Rev. Wright, Rev. Flegler, Tony Rezko, and William Ayers or organizations as corrupt as ACORN... is unforgivable.

Obama will finish the job of ruining this country started by George W. Bush...but Barack will prove to be the catalyst to the final fall of America and the ending of the American way of life.

[x-republican]

Soon voters will be getting robo calls from McCain Palin saying Obama was endorsed today by 6 members of satan''''s team.

Posted by Splainin2Do at 06:00 PM : Oct 20, 2008

LOL -- you can hear Sarah now talking about how he pals around with members of a satanic organization. McCain/Palin are so desperately pathetic.

[splainin2do]

Soon voters will be getting robo calls from McCain Palin saying Obama was endorsed today by 6 members of satan''s team.

[sickofpalin]

powell said palin is not qualified

finally, a republican with a sense of honor

[sickofpalin]

mccain going down the wright road is a sure sign his campaign is one the WRONG ROAD!!!

[augustman195]

Biscuit30a,
Wake up! Why is it that your kind don''t grasp the obvious? Why do you think the "vetting" process (background check) wasn''t completed before Mr. Obama received the Democratic nomination?
Oh, because your boy McCain didn''t have one completed for Sarah P., right?

[blforo08]

biscuit30a. If you only had a brain. What have you been reading and what kind of water do you drink?

[jone775]

artwitch: ditto.