by Jessica Reaves
PITTSBURGH -- Barack Obama’s voice rang out across the cold, depleted expanse of lawn connecting Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall to the broad, busy avenue below. Audible for blocks in any direction, the familiar cadence drew curious onlookers away from their daily routines and up the Hall’s wide staircase.
Those who approached were met with an odd sight: Hundreds of people huddled around a pair of loudspeakers, apparently mesmerized by a disembodied voice. These hardy souls, blowing into cups of coffee, shoulders hunched against the chill, were just a few of the people who couldn’t get tickets to see Obama in person. University students, administrative staff, restaurant employees, retail workers, faculty members -- they were all settling for the next best thing.
A few yards back from the main crush of bodies, Obama supporters Anh Ninh and Ida Bormentar sat on a low wall, shivering slightly and nodding along with Sen. Obama’s words.
Ninh, a 26 year-old from Oklahoma City who’s pursuing a dual graduate degree in social work and international development, is drawn to Obama’s biracial background, which she says makes him more accessible to a wide range of people. She’s also impressed by Obama’s decision to be a community organizer when he could have taken much higher-paid jobs. “I’ve worked as an organizer,” Ninh said, “and it’s incredibly hard work.”
For Bormentar, also 26, supporting Obama means breaking the Bush-Clinton-Bush-Clinton cycle. Born in Liberia and raised in Philadelphia, Bormentar was never all that interested in politics, and never considered abandoning her Liberian citizenship. Obama’s candidacy, she says, changed all that. She’s now a self-described “politics junky” and is pursuing U.S. citizenship. She hopes to cast a vote in the general election this fall.
This was an overwhelmingly pro-Obama crowd, cheering vociferously for his pledges to improve health care coverage, his tuition offset/community service plan, and for this jab at the Patriot Act: “You’ll have a President who taught the Constitution, who knows the Constitution, and who’ll obey the Constitution.”
But even in the midst of Obama-mania, there were at least a few people still making up their minds. One young woman, a nineteen-year-old freshman at the University of Pittsburgh, was there to "gather information." She's mostly concerned with "moral issues," and has registered as an independent, reserving the right to vote for either party's candidate in the fall. Her parents are very conservative, she says, but her friends will have more impact on how she eventually votes.
Across the lawn, anti-war veterans’ groups handed out yard signs, community activists trolled for signatures, and everywhere you turned, someone wanted to sell you something with Obama’s name on it. Ken, a vendor from Ohio, hawked black and gold t-shirts to the departing crowd, hoping to make up for a disappointing start to the day
“It’s been slow,” he said, stopping to give his sales pitch to a hesitant would-be customer whose lapels were obscured by Obama buttons.. She walked away empty-handed. “Nothing like it was in Cleveland,” Ken added, shaking his head.
But for all the enthusiasm that met the candidate on his latest visit, Pittsburgh, a staunchly Democratic city, presents a particular challenge to the Obama campaign. This former steel hub has been moderately successful in reinventing itself as a center of high-tech industry, but real economic hardships linger, especially in city’s blue-collar communities and suburbs.
Beyond the university community in Oakland, Obama is also doing well in the city’s 14th ward, with its population of students and liberal, highly educated whites. The rest of the city is polling strongly for Hillary Clinton, who has been endorsed by many of the state’s Democratic party leaders, including Ed Rendell and Rep. John Murtha.
While Clinton leads Obama by at least 10 points in statewide polls, a lot can happen between now and the April 22nd primary. Case in point: Friday morning, Obama picked up the key endorsement of Pennsylvania Senator Bob Casey, son of the former governor. Casey’s support, which could prove critical among the state’s 4 million Catholics, came as a very pleasant surprise to the Obama campaign; the Casey family has a long-standing association with the Clintons.
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Comments
This article is so over-the-top fawning that it's actually funny.
Posted by: Bruce | March 28, 2008 5:04 PM
"New generation of voters" my eye. You talkin' about Obama girl? SHE DID NOT VOTE!
Posted by: geraldinetoo | March 28, 2008 5:13 PM
Is this woman even registered to vote? How can she vote for anyone if she's not a citizen?
Also, instead of calling for Hillary to drop out, Obama should be seriously trying to win PA instead--and should be demanding revotes in FL and MI as well.
Posted by: amberglow | March 28, 2008 5:24 PM
Now..Now settle down. There's no need to be sad just because your girl is a lying, do anything to win Republican in a democrats pantsuit. Obama will win this and you all know it so it's time to take a woppie blanket, snuggle up to the fireplace with a hot cup of cocoa. Obama will make it better in the morning.
Posted by: Karen | March 28, 2008 6:53 PM
OBAMA IS UNELECTABLE IN GENERAL ELECTION. With each new utterance on the topic of Reverend Wright, Barack Obama seems to confirm his own moral obliviousness. Worse yet, he seems to have disdain for those who are troubled by his own unwillingness to break with Wright. But it gets worse. Obama insists Wright is “a brilliant man who was still stuck in a time warp.” So brilliant, apparently, that he has uncovered the plot by white America to kill African Americans and so insightful as to perceive the 9/11 attacks as caused by America’s own terrorism. Then there was his discerning observation that Israel is a “dirty” word. And after all this, still Wright, in Obama’s eyes, is brilliant. This, we are told by the legions of Obamaphiles, is not supposed to affect voters’ view of Obama’s judgment. perhaps they are just embarrassed to tell pollsters they are privately offended. But in a general election contest this is not going to go unnoticed, we will see Republicans and many independents are irked by this moral obtuseness. Do not believe what you see on CNN or Hardball. Easy to see already see Republican attack ads against Obama, especially since he just came out again yesterday defending Wrights hateful Racism and attacks on white America. Is he an idiot? First open with videos of racist wife, Michelle, saying she was proud of America "for the first time" because of her husband's presidential candidacy, next Obama explaining that he doesn't wear an American flag lapel pin or hold his hands to his heart during the Pledge of Allegiance because it is a "substitute for true patriotism." Then flash a clip of Obama explaining that his Caucasian grandmother was a "typical white person" because she uttered racial epithets and was afraid of black people. Finally, the coup de grace, pictures of Obama's angry, arm-waving preacher blaming the United States for 9/11 and shouting "God Damn America" to the rafters of Chicago's Trinity United Church of Christ and preaching the U.S. government formulated the HIV AIDS virus to commit genocide against blacks. Even though Obama supposedly condemning Wright's shocking verbal assaults against the U.S and White Americans, even last year; Obama was the first to public ally demand Don Imus ouster for making a racially insensitive remark, and Obama continues to support Wrights racism and remains at the church for more than 20 years, he and Michelle obviously feels it’s a good environment to expose his young daughters too. His opinions and issues change with the weather, he is too UNSTABLE and proven he cannot make a decision or stay with one.
Posted by: jose | March 28, 2008 7:56 PM
OK Jose, settle down. Just a few, succinct words to make your point, and maybe someone will bother to read you --I did not, I skimmed and started laughing. You don't even address the blog and instead rant on and on about old news that has already been covered. Get over it. Understand and try to accept (according to the popular vote) that more people disagree with you than agree.
Posted by: tony.s | March 28, 2008 8:50 PM
Obama can only court the younger voters. The older more wise Pa. voters have seen through his Rhetoric. Hillary will win by a landslide. Now thats going to be real hard for the DNC to swallow now that their calling for her to bow out! What ever happened to the popular vote? Do we not count anymore? I will have to switch my party if she's forced to quit!
Posted by: Kathy | March 28, 2008 9:56 PM
Posted by: Kathy | March 28, 2008 9:56 PM
I see, Kathy. Older equals wiser. Yes, makes much sense now.
But what I don't get is how those older/wiser folks HAPPENED TO PUT SUCH A BLATHERING IDIOT LIKE BUSH IN OFFICE, NOT ONCE, BUT TWICE!
I think it's time for the young fools to take back our country.
Posted by: Dan M | March 28, 2008 11:14 PM
For your information amberglow, I've been in this country more thank 17 years as a legal and permanent resident and have long been qualify for citizenship but have never thought about becoming a US citizen. However, I apply last year for my citizenship and for your information I will be a US citizen by June 21, 2008. If you have read the article correctly, it clearly stated that I will not be voting for the PA primary due to that problem but instead, will be voting in the general election. The whole article focuses on the fact that Obama appeals to a new generation in Pittsburgh.
Please note, it was because of Barack Obama that I decided to participate in this historic election. I believe in Obama message of Change. I am confident that he will be the Democratic Nominee. And even if he’s not, the fact is it was because of him that I decided to partake in this election.
Posted by: Ida Bormentar | March 29, 2008 12:24 AM
Pennsylvania, please turn the page and save our beloved republic. The Clinton dynasty machine will do anything, throw the kitchen sink, kneecap, lie, slime, smear, destroy the Democratic Party, to return Bill and Hill to the WH for an unconstitutional 8 more years. We are on the brink of transformation, into a banana republic owned by a few super-rich, by lobbyists and by Middle Eastern and Eastern European despotic donors to the Clinton Presidential Library. Hillary has not been vetted, else why not release her tax returns, why the thousands of blacked out pages on her WH record, why the emergence of her outrageous lies of coming under sniper fire? There is a ton of corruption held in that pantsuit beside the history of Bill lying under oath that is captured on camera. Turn the page for all of US.
Posted by: lin | March 29, 2008 12:38 AM
Corporate media is pushing all the panic buttons. Notice how UGLY sexist they got this week? People calling Hilary names in headlines, letting Obama off the hook for:
1. taking a VACATION in middle of campaign
2. Not coming clean about the Rezko designed health care committee OBAMA CREATED FOR HIM in ILLINOIS
3. Michelle's Daley hack job post at u of 4. LYING that he's anti war when he voted for the war
5. Up to his eyeballs in AIPAC connections ('my friend Joe Liebermann" he said when campaigning against a DEMOCRAT in CT)
6. not questioning why the DLC loves Obama
GIVE US A BREAK!
HILARY IS IN A DEAD HEAT WITH THIS ARROGANT CONNIVING YOUNGSTER. And the only reason for that is Republicans voted Obama up so they can vote him down in the fall.
Hilary can win this thing.
SEXISTS GO HOME. AGISTS GO HOME. Oh, wait, you never LEFT mom and dad's udders.
Posted by: geraldinetoo | March 29, 2008 12:41 AM
Relax people before you make idiots of yourselves did you read up on Obama's his books his beliefs why he is where he is.
Do you want more of the same bush bill hill bush bill hill enough already. Obama graduated summa cum laude from Harvard he must know something. Both parents were Phd's and he had to good fortune to grow up in Hawaii multicultural, blue skies and elite schools. He must know something so give him a break and lets move this country out of this stale mate administration who claims progress in Iraq while more Americans die everyday. Aren't you watching the news. Breaks my heart. and guess what Hillary voted for it.
Posted by: gg | March 29, 2008 1:19 AM
I like Obama...he has alot of experience in Chicago as a community activist....and
He did alot as an Illinois
Senator....I think?
He has done alot in the U.S. Senate.....I think?
And that old man John McCain is just a stupid war hero with alot more experience.
I like Obama....I think?
***********NOT*************
McCain 08
Paulo
Posted by: Paulo | March 29, 2008 2:08 AM
Jose, that was an excellent response. With all that has been unearthed so far about Obama you pretty much hit the nail on the head. I believe that in the months to come many many more incidents will come out about Obama. This will ruin the DNC. Atleast we all know what Hillary is but She stands the best chance to pull this off.
Posted by: Kathy | March 29, 2008 8:59 AM
Yo Jose,
(1)unellectable? Are you clairvoyant or just stupid-who is ahead on all factual accounts?
(2)Break with Wright? 'Stand by your man' Billary didn't break with her partner in crime as he looked into the global camera lying when he said "I have never had...relations...." Everyone one of us often condemn what relatives, friends, associates 'say', but must we break with those? I personally would have to leave many relatives and friends behind if I left them because because of what they say. We can judge statements, but we don't have to judge the person...that's up to a higher power.
(3)Let's judge candidates on what THEY say not what others say.
(4)In a dead heat? Again are you stupid? Obama is ahead in all known factual counts; unknown is superdelegates - stick to the facts, my friend.
(5)BTW, why is Billary hiding her tax returns and contributors to the library?
(6)And on no less than 3 occasions lying about Bosnia?
(7)Billary supported NAFTA, Iraq war, said on hundreds of occasions "I don't remember" during the property scandal - who wants a president who 'misspeaks' and 'doesn't remember'...enough said already
Posted by: lambs | March 29, 2008 5:30 PM
Pittsburgh is Obama country. An aging steel town, like the part of Chicago where Obama got his start. The blue-collar workers who are having a tough time are exactly the kind of people Obama worked with and for as a community organizer.
Sadly, many of those people seem taken in by Hillary Clinton's "fighter" rhetoric. Her posturing as Rocky and talk about "fighting to the end" is all blather from a former Walmart corporate lawyer.
Posted by: David | April 1, 2008 1:50 PM