From the News-Herald
Sen. Barack Obama, D-III, brought the campaign trail buzz to Northeast Ohio on Monday with a rally drawing thousands to Cuyahoga Community College's eastern campus in Highland Hills. After the gymnasium filled, many supporters were funneled into overflow rooms to watch the Democratic presidential candidate on closed-circuit television as he took the stage just after 8 p.m.
"This is the end of the first leg of a long journey, and it's a good place to end it - in Cleveland, Ohio," Obama said, adding that he expects to win the Democratic nomination and turn Ohio into a blue state in 2008.
Obama spoke for half an hour on topics ranging from the war in Iraq and the war on terror, to domestic issues like health care and education. The turnout surprised campaign volunteer Julie Stipich of Perry Village.
"I've been somewhat involved in small ways with candidates like John Kerry, and I couldn't imagine this kind of energy a year and a half before an election," she said. "I think where we're at in the country is a big reason for the interest. Obama is what people are looking for that we haven't had."
Stipich said Obama comes off as a "thoughtful" person with good judgment, which she hopes will resonate with voters who might dismiss him for lack of experience. The senator wasted no time in distancing himself from fellow candidates who supported the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
"We know that we are in the midst of a war that should have never been authorized," he said, adding that money spent on Iraq could be better spent on things like urban renewal.
"It's time to give the Iraqis their country back," he said. The senator supports a phased redeployment of troops out of Iraq beginning in May, with all combat troops being removed by March 31, 2008.
"It seems to me that he is way more in tune with the average, middle-of-the-road American and what we're thinking about," Stipich said.
She said the diversity of the crowd - black, white, young and old - was also a very positive sign for supporters.
"People are so anxious - they are so desperate for change," she said. "We deserve an inspiring candidate like this."
A special salute to our own Julie Stipich of Perry Village for getting active for 2008 so early. Together we can take back our country!
