Obama And American League Champion Rays Rally Florida Voters
(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."