Obama Talks About His Grandmother's Passing
(CHARLOTTE, N.C.) - Barack Obama wiped away tears as he spoke about his grandmother, Madelyn Dunham, who passed away today on the eve of the election.
Describing the moment as "bittersweet", Obama said tonight, "Some of you heard that my grandmother, who helped raise me, passed away early this morning. Look she is going home. And she died peacefully in her sleep with my sister at her side – and so there is great joy as well as tears."
"She was somebody who was a very humble person and a very plainspoken person. She's one of those quiet heroes that we have all across America who – they're not famous, their names aren't in the newspapers, but each and every day they work hard," Obama said. "They look after their families. They sacrifice for their children and their grandchildren. They aren't seeking the limelight. All they try to do is do the right thing."
Obama made several references to his grandmother through out the speech as well as a veiled reference to his candidacy.
"There are many people here tonight whose parents and grandparents said may be I can't vote, but if I march and organize, maybe my child or grandchild can run for President someday," he said as he grew emotional.
Obama also thanked John and Cindy McCain for their statement on Dunham, calling it "extraordinarily gracious."