Pittsburgh Obama Events Sold Out
This story was written by Leigh Remizowski, The Pitt News
Word of Sen. Barack Obama's statewide bus-tour stop in Pittsburgh scheduled for Friday spread through the community like wildfire Wednesday.
The events -- a rally in Oakland at 11 a.m. and a town hall meeting in Greensburg at 5:30 p.m. -- are both sold out.
Tickets were free and slated to be given out Wednesday from noon to 9 p.m. and all day Thursday at Obama's regional campaign headquarters at 208 North Highland Ave. in East Liberty.
Thursday's ticket distribution has been cancelled.
The Obama camp released a statement yesterday saying that tickets were distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis and are no longer available.
University of Pittsburgh student Ben Ostroff was a part of the group who did secure a ticket.
"I woke up and got an e-mail from the [Obama] headquarters and went over since I only live 10 minutes away," he said.
After waiting for a half an hour in a line that he described as being a block long, Ostroff was handed a ticket at 12:15 p.m. First, he had to provide his name and contact information.
Student Malia Mason wasn't so lucky.
"Before I even got a chance to leave campus, I heard they sold out," she said in an e-mail.
Mason heard at about 2 p.m. on Facebook and then through friends that there were no more tickets available.
Pitt student Beth Mumper went to the headquarters at 12:30 p.m. and was met with a winding line.
Shortly after her arrival, Obama representatives told those in line that the tickets were gone.
"We decided to wait and see what happened," she said.
Mumper, who was waiting in line with a friend, was then told, along with the entire crowd, that a waiting list would be compiled.
She was the 63rd person on the list.
"Someone said there were 700 people on the waiting list," she said, though the number was not confirmed.
Later Wednesday night, Mumper's friend -- No. 62 -- was called by the Obama headquarters and collected his two tickets. Mumper was not called.
"I got lucky," she said. "He's taking me as his guest."
People were allowed to request a maximum of two tickets.
Friday's rally, for those with tickets, will be filled on a first-come, first-serve basis. It will be held at Soldiers & Sailors Memorial in Oakland. Doors open at 9 a.m.
© 2008 The Pitt News via U-WIRE