by John McCormick
Early details about ticketing information are coming out this afternoon for what Sen. Barack Obama's campaign hopes will be an Election Night celebration in Chicago's Grant Park.
An electronic invitation being sent exclusively to Illinois supporters also says gates for the event will not open until 8:30 p.m., well after the end of the downtown rush hour.
After proving a Web address for ticket applications, the invitation states that "an official printed ticket is required for entrance" and that each ticket will be valid for two people.
The e-mail also says that supporters will have the printable tickets e-mailed to them prior to the event.
"One request per person," the invitation says. "Duplicate requests from the same name will be rejected."
As expected, it appears that people will need to pass through metal detectors to gain entry, similar to going through security at the airport.
"For security reasons, do not bring bags. Photo ID is required. Please limit personal items. No signs, banners, chairs, or strollers allowed," the invitation says.
Like virtually all electronic communications from the Obama campaign, there is also pitch for financial contributions and volunteer opportunities incorporated into the invitation.
An Obama spokesman declined to say how many tickets the campaign expected to distribute or how large a crowd it was building the event site to hold.
The campaign is somewhat concerned that the event could draw get-out-the-vote workers in Northwest Indiana and southern Wisconsin, both key areas in battleground states that Obama is working hard to win.
Comments
All of this to see a Living God-
Posted by: LOAM | October 28, 2008 4:06 PM
I don't think he's a god. I think he's a great presidential candidate that has great ideas.
Posted by: Dan | October 28, 2008 5:27 PM
It's already at a wait list. See the story in the link I've posted.
Posted by: Alex | October 28, 2008 5:56 PM
I responded to the e-mail 2 hours after it was sent out and am out a waitlist. This could be crazy.
Posted by: AMM | October 28, 2008 5:58 PM
They've already run out of tickets apparently. I was wait-listed along with others who just tried to get tickets. Any word on if they'll offer more?
Posted by: Patrick | October 28, 2008 6:01 PM
There are a whole lot of people in this town who need to get a life...Like a million. Nice to see Mr. Hope and Change (Nice euphemism for a Chicago politician) hasn't let up on the fundraising. Maybe, he can use some of his leftover campaign money when he starts redistributing the nation's wealth. I hope everyone enjoys the festivities in Grant Park, as the country elects not only its first completely media-created president, but also gives the Chicago Machine and the cess pool that is Illinois politics its first member as President. I can't wait
Posted by: Mike | October 28, 2008 6:19 PM
Is anyone confirmed to have tickets? I have a feeling that at this point everyone will be waitlisted, and then they will draw names for the tickets.
Posted by: Matt | October 28, 2008 6:23 PM
I was able to get tickets, but I requested them literally 30 seconds after I got the e-mail announcement. I said as much on this site an hour and a half ago, but for whatever reason, my (innocuous and in fact kind) post didn't make it through the Trib censors.
Posted by: Kit S. | October 28, 2008 6:26 PM
I was able to get tickets. I responded within about 40 minutes of the email being sent. I got lucky I guess.
Posted by: JRP | October 28, 2008 6:43 PM
Signed up about 30 minutes after I received the email announcing it - got this in reply -
"***THIS IS NOT A TICKET. THIS EMAIL CONFIRMS THAT YOU HAVE SIGNED UP TO RECEIVE AN ELECTION NIGHT EVENT TICKET. ***
You will receive further ticketing information in the coming days.
Thanks,
The Democratic Party"
Can't wait!
Posted by: Attrill | October 28, 2008 7:03 PM
I got in- but I guess I responded in about ten minutes...
Posted by: sas | October 28, 2008 7:07 PM
I signed up immediately and am getting a ticket...well at least when I signed up it said my ticket would be emailed to me prior to the event?... Now the link says to sign up for the wait list (it didn't state that when I signed up, so I am hopeful that I am getting a ticked) I am SO excited! They are saying that they are expecting over a MILLION people to be there:)
Posted by: Jilery | October 28, 2008 7:20 PM
Don't bring chairs, either. Looks like this rally is strictly for the young and healthy.
Posted by: Doug | October 28, 2008 7:27 PM
Mikey .... before your criticize a Harvard graduate and call him a media-created guy, you might want to check the spelling of cesspool!
Mikey ... it's ONE word!!!
Posted by: Alison Carnie | October 28, 2008 7:54 PM
This is going to be pure glory. 1 million strong braving the elements on what I consider the world's finest stage Grant Park. I cannot wait!
"We'll all be fine, Obama for mankind!
Posted by: Chava | October 28, 2008 8:07 PM
I hope everyone enjoys the festivities in Grant Park, as the country elects not only its first completely media-created president, but also gives the Chicago Machine and the cess pool that is Illinois politics its first member as President. I can't wait
Posted by: Mike | October 28, 2008 6:19 PM
Poor Mike. All the other kids were invited to the big party...
Actually, you are 'invited'. Put the sour grapes in the compost bin and join the rest of us in moving forward. That includes keeping ALL our elected officials accountable.
Posted by: DD | October 28, 2008 8:24 PM
I give it one day before the tickets start showing up on ebay?
Posted by: Fred | October 28, 2008 8:33 PM
Your right he is far from being God, you ppl are so blind.
He has pd. off Acorn, and his good friend Billy the terrorists.
I pray it will be a cold rainy,hail blowing event.
Posted by: terry | October 28, 2008 8:34 PM
I got a ticket! Hooray! Responded about 1 hour after I got the email. They must have given them out quickly.
Posted by: furrypeanut | October 28, 2008 8:41 PM
this is going to be funny. Daley expects 1 million people descending on Grant Park and they think they will collect tickets. Have plenty of police, this will be a debacle.
Posted by: jim | October 28, 2008 8:45 PM
Wow. I am very dissapointed that they are requiring tickets. While I have contributed to the campaign, I did not get an email. I also have been following this election forever. I also think it's pretty bad that if you go to the ticket website you are expected to make a donation. Hmm... bad taste here.
Posted by: Bill | October 28, 2008 9:16 PM
Yep, a million people crammed together in the middle of the night. I'm sure there won't be any problems. People must be nuts to want to attend an event like this. I'm sure employers will be thrilled to know that employees will be calling in sick after standing outside in the cold to be thousands of feet away from Obama. Ridiculous!!!!
Posted by: Hoops fan | October 28, 2008 9:18 PM
can't wait either, mike! hope to see you there so i can laugh in your face!!
Posted by: joe | October 28, 2008 9:19 PM
I WAS intvited via my e-mail AND filled out all the information requested about an hour after I reiceived the e-mail. I am a BIG Obama supporter but please do NOT invite me to an event that I was never REALLY invited to and am now wait listed for. It was never a REAL invite. You should have said that in the original INVITE!
Posted by: Jeanne Giles | October 28, 2008 9:35 PM
Watch out America! Chicago is front-and-center!! :-)
Posted by: JIM | October 28, 2008 9:40 PM
Alison, before you criticize someone in a blog for a typo, you should realize that triple punctuation does not really exist!
Posted by: Gene | October 28, 2008 9:45 PM
Okay sorry for my last angry e-mail but I had planned to be at the event and I REALLY want a ticket. Anyone have an extra??
Posted by: Jeanne Giles | October 28, 2008 9:51 PM
We maxed out Chicago donors don't get an e mail invite???
Posted by: ornery | October 28, 2008 9:56 PM
And let's not forget that -- really -- to get a ticket you have to DONATE MONEY. The man is a sham, a charleton and a fake. His ego knows no bounds...
Posted by: Beth | October 28, 2008 9:58 PM
"I'm sure employers will be thrilled to know that employees will be calling in sick after standing outside in the cold to be thousands of feet away from Obama."
You think i give a rats tail about what my employer thinks about what I do outside of 9-5? Because I don't. And I'd be willing to bet even money he will be there too....
Posted by: Matt | October 28, 2008 9:59 PM
Did everyone who got a ticket get a confirmation email? I think I got a pair of tickets (but i am now worried because I didnt fully read it and so many people are on the waiting list) and I didn't get a confirmation email yet.
Posted by: Sarah | October 28, 2008 10:41 PM
So much for Grant Park being forever "open and public." If Obama wants his big party in a public space, he should be charged top dollar. Not just to cover the security, but how about enough extra to keep the city from shortening many of the most popular Grant Park festivals?
Posted by: Wayne | October 28, 2008 11:00 PM
At least Obama won't be alone when he concedes defeat...
Posted by: Rey Flores | October 28, 2008 11:32 PM
You Libs are crazy...this is going to be a mass riot. I am out of the city that night. Take your life in your own hands.
Posted by: CLS | October 29, 2008 12:08 AM
Well after reading I actually need an invitation to participate in this historical event, it kind of blows the 'common people' image Sen Obama is supposed to be representing. Pretty sleazy to require tickets. It appears that you had to give money to even be invited. Now if you want to go on the waiting list you can't even submit the request without a donation. Tacky Barack...
Posted by: Bill | October 29, 2008 12:41 AM
ummm you arent required to make a donation to get tickets, I didnt....they just included an option to donate if you want! read carefully before you make rude comments!
and it's going to be 62 Tuesday, with a low at night of 50....hardly bad weather.
Posted by: Brian | October 29, 2008 1:27 AM
Photo ID required? I thought it was too difficult for Obama's supporters to obtain one. This violation of our rights cannot be tolerated.
Posted by: Andy | October 29, 2008 2:20 AM
What, I can't bring a bottle of water or my purse? Lame. And why should I have to have a ticket anyway?
Posted by: AI Tyler | October 29, 2008 2:46 AM
Does Jeremiah Wright have to get a ticket on line too? Or Ayres? Or Emil Jones?
What's the odds that J. Wright is on the podium once the polls close in all states?
Police are in a lose-lose. They keep Grant park under control somehow and the villains in other sections of the city go crazy with crime.
If the election is close and results are posted the following day....whamo.....B.O. loses...... then its chaos. Cops are tired from 14 hour shifts and now must deal with the riots. Gov B better have the National Guard on-stand by.
If you didn't like the idea of money being requested along with the ticket.......get use to it. 40 yrs of social programs with nothing to show for it and B.O. and his liberal friends in Congress salivate at the idea of adding more programs in future years. Then we'll have a MAJORITY of our society of do-nothings supported and funded by a MINORITY of workers and taxpayers.
Fist bump that one!
Posted by: STEWIE GRIFFIN | October 29, 2008 5:40 AM
I am looking forward to being there in the midst of a great celebration.
Posted by: Gail Beloch | October 29, 2008 6:58 AM
If Obama and Jeremiah Wright see the white race as oppressive to African Americans; doesn't this type of response to a US presidential candidate prove them wrong? or has 47% of America suddenly and overnight been converted? Maybe white America, be they democrat or republican, and perhaps to Senator Obama's and Jeremiah Wright's surprise, is open to any all races in leadership positions. Just observing, while I drink my coffee, don't mind me.
Posted by: Mark | October 29, 2008 7:33 AM
i really need a ticket anyone who cant make it can i get your ticket.
Posted by: Quintina | October 29, 2008 9:54 AM
Wow I am so excited and proud to be even a small, small part of this historic election night! Luckily, I happened to check my email just one minute after I got the "invite" so of course I signed up immediately to get a ticket. No, you don't have to have donated to have been invited; you just needed to be a member of the Moveon.org email list. I signed up a long time ago and have been following every aspect of the campaign. I donated $10 a while back, but my mom didn't, and she still got an invitation (unfortunately she was too late in signing up). As for a million people in Grant Park? Well, it's a tall order to be sure, but I'm sure that the people who make it out there will be full of such energized, positive enthusiasm and support. I don't even care if we can't bring bags or whatever... all I need is my I.D. and my camera (hopefully no one in the crowd will snatch it from me). The ticket is good for the person who signed up plus one guest. Hopefully the weather will be okay, but we'll all be bundled up and crammed together anyways. Maybe we'll stay warm just from the heat of all the bodies, lol.
To Mike... I must disagree with you. Barack Obama is not "media-created" (although he will be President). Most of his supporters are involved in the grass-roots movement, and have only donated $10-$50. What's wrong with that? No one is perfect, and no one should have free reign when it comes to deciding policies or spending money. But Obama has extraordinary vision, he has a strong moral compass, he is thoughful and intelligent and he has a plan to restore America, both in regards to the economy and pressing social issues at home, and in our place in the world. This is the greatest country in the world, but we've lost our way a bit. We've been reckless and we've alienated other countries. Obama is not only qualified, but he also represents the frustrated people in this country who want to see us get back on track. He is the voice of a new generation who loves his country and will make a fine leader. Again, I cannot wait for this historic night! It'll be hectic, yes, but worth it. HURRAY! OBAMA/BIDEN 2008!
Posted by: Lindsay | October 29, 2008 11:07 AM
In reply to:
Well after reading I actually need an invitation to participate in this historical event, it kind of blows the 'common people' image Sen Obama is supposed to be representing. Pretty sleazy to require tickets. It appears that you had to give money to even be invited. Now if you want to go on the waiting list you can't even submit the request without a donation. Tacky Barack...
Posted by: Bill | October 29, 2008 12:41 AM
No, you didn't have to make monetary donations. Folks who volunteered their TIME, Billy Boy, received an email invite, as well. Sleazy to require tickets? Are you high? Have you seen the chain link fences already erected there this week? Um, "SECURITY and CONTROLLED ATTENDANCE" is an expected requirement for a PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE! Peace to you, Bill. Feels like you need it.
Posted by: Marie | October 30, 2008 10:45 AM