Barack Obama fires up 14,000+ in Boise

It's a big day in the City of Trees. Idaho doesn't see many presidential candidates from either major party, never mind someone poised to pack the largest arena in Boise early on a weekend morning. (The Taco Bell Arena doors open at 7 a.m.) My dream today is that, when he walks onstage for the rally, Obama will be accompanied by the same guy who visited just over a year ago: Al Gore, as a surprise endorser. (I'd love to see John Edwards endorse Obama, too; it's just I think JRE would do so, if he does, in a bigger city.)

But I digress. Obama's rally itself will be exciting enough! I'll plan to post some reaction and photos later today. In the meantime, if you attended the rally, please offer your reaction in the comments below.

Update 1:45 p.m. - Sorry it's taken me hours to get back online; I had another event at BSU right after the rally. As you can see from the pix, my daughter and I were close - close enough for Natalie to shake the next president's hand on his way in. (I'd had that privilege in Elko two weeks ago, so I hung back.)

For me, it wasn't so much about the speech, although that was great. But after hearing Barack in person two weeks ago and on TV many more times, I know many of the lines by heart. So today, I mostly relished the sheer vibe of the scene. The crowd (especially down on the floor) looked like America - white, black, brown, multiracial, young, old, short, tall. I was standing near some recent immigrants from Africa and a whole bunch of Borah High students, most of whom can't vote this year - but if we're lucky, they - like my daughter - will have a chance to re-elect this man in 2012.

"I heard there weren't any Democrats in Idaho," the senator said, and the place roared. But as the speech went on, Obama showed what to me is the hallmark of his campaign: the recognition that if we can come together across partisan lines, and if we can replace fearfulness with hope and grit, we can put our beloved nation back on track toward the greatness to which we've always aspired.

As I'm writing this, I just got a text message from the campaign. "Watch Barack on MTV this afternoon at the MySpace/MTV Forum  live at 6pm ET/3pm PT." After he left here, Obama was bound for a rally at the Target Center in Minneapolis. After the MTV thing, he's on to another arena rally in St. Louis. What a gauntlet we ask our candidates to run! He and Senators Clinton and McCain and Governors Huckabee and Romney will all get a break in a few days, but then the race will resume. It's a crazy way to elect the leader of the free world. (Note 4:45 p.m.: He's not at MTV studios doing the dialogue but live from ... St Louis, I'm guessing. By the way, the arena there holds 60,000 people and word it is will be filled.)

But no one is packing them in like Obama, because no one else on the trail approaches him as being the right person for this job at this pivotal moment in our history. All of us fortunate enough to be there today got a glimpse of someone - and something - very special. We're taking back our nation, right before our very eyes. The momentum is undeniable; the moment is nigh. Don't be afraid of what will happen Tuesday night - whether we'll have enough room, or whether it takes a ridiculously long time to get signed in, or whether you're missing American Idol. Just be there - and help us make history.

By the way ... the world is watching. Here's an Agence France Presse story datelined Boise, noting a crowd of 14,000 ... also stories from The Washington Post ("Obama's Private Idaho"), the Baltimore Sun ("Obama draws some 15,000 in 'red state' Idaho) ... and a post-rally diary with video from dansac at Daily Kos ...    

and here's local coverage from the Idaho Statesman plus a Dan Popkey column on how Obama is wooing Baptists, Republicans, and making government cool again. ... KTVB has a link to the full speech ... check out the awesome will.i.am "Yes We Can" video at the Unequivocal Notion ...

And yet more links ... check out the coverage at 43rd State Blues (Sisyphus and untamedshrew), New West (Jill), We Have Failed (Diana), and The Huffington Post (Michael Ames).

Finally, don't miss the photo galleries at Idaho for Obama, packed with photos by Boise-based rock lensman Otto Kitsinger.

YES WE CAN! SI SE PUEDE!!

Comments

[Diana Rowe Pauls]

See ya there! I'm leaving now!

[Wordsmith]

Holy SHIT! The number of people!!

[Sisyphus]

Holy SHIT indeed. The place was packed to the gills and hundreds, if not thousands, were turned away. The turnout exceeded the Gore lecture as they funneled people into the place previously screened off by the curtains which were to form the backdrop of the stage. He spoke for an hour. Nobody was disappointed. I'll post a detailed account at 43sb if we can get her up again.

Man, I'm worried that caucus night will be needing those volunteers in a bad way.

[Wordsmith]

I'm putting up something as well - got a few pics. But right now I'm going in to lie down. Been up since 5:30 (work evenings) - AND, I'm old. I could feel that climbing all those damned stairs. Down was easy.... :-))

I'm off Tuesday - so I'm thinking I'll volunteer. My kids were impressed.

[idagreen]

I arrived at 6:10 and ended up in line close to entrance 2 on the SE corner of the Pavilion. As we shuffled towards the door I heard folks talking on their cell phones with friends farther back in the line. They said the line behind us went across campus and onto Broadway. Don't know if that was an exaggeration or not, but they reported on KTVB that at least 1,000 people were not able to get in the doors. They also said that this was the largest event ever at BSU, more than Elton John, which was the previous record. The facility was absolutely packed, every section was filled with the exception of a few roped off seats behind the stage.

I talked to a lot of people and overheard many more talking about attending the caucus. So holy macaroni folks, hold onto your hats, this will be a wild one, even if half of those people show up on Tuesday!

One of the most exciting aspects of seeing this event in person is the number of young and new faces in the crowd. Cecil Andrus mentioned this too in his introduction. If even part of this enthusiasm and participation can hold up through November, and this man is not elected, then I don't know what more a candidate could do.

Happy now Julie ;-)? I have been assimilated.

[Irwin Horowitz]

I arrived in line about 7:30 (and had to walk all the way around Bronco Stadium to find the end). It took maybe 45 minutes to finally get into the doors, but I did make it and headed up the stairs to the mid level. It was quite a madhouse finding a place to park myself, but eventually I found a seat in the first row with a decent view of the stage area (sort of behind the curtain on the right side as you faced the stage but not on the other side of the arena).

It was indeed an energized crowd but still quite respectful of all who were there. Obama was quite enthralling in giving his stump speech.

This was the first event like this I've attended since seeing Clinton and Gore in an amphitheater in southern California back in '92. I still have my campaign sign from that event, and only wish that they could have handed out more signs today to everyone in attendance!

I wish everyone well on Tuesday and am sorry I won't be available to caucus with you at Quest Arena.

[W. Lane Startin]

I'm sorry I couldn't make it, but it sounds like things went just fine without me.

I'm struck by the contrast between this and the modest turnout at an HRC event yesterday (see http://www.idahostatesman.com/newsupdates/story/283056.html ). I think it's safe to say Obama has this Super Tuesday state well in hand.

[Larry Polsky]

Sorry I couldn't make it but I urge everyone to read Dreams from My Father - it will give you a depth of appreciation for Obama beyond his gifted speech presentation.

[Steven Shofner]

This was a first for me. I've never gone to a political rally before. Like so many others I have always felt like I was voting against someone rather than for someone, and for the first time that has changed.

I showed up at 6am, and like Idagreen found myself near entrance 2. I was disappointed, but as the line kept growing far beyond my line of vision I started feeling less bad.

They were initially running everyone through metal detectors, but eventually gave it up, and just opened the doors.

[Julie in Boise]

There were about 70 people at the local Clinton event yesterday, and I think a few just came to be polite. (I personally went to pay my respects to Senator Cantwell for her efforts to prevent drilling in the ANWR.)

So yes, that tells you something, although it was done on just hours' notice. Then again, people had only a few days' notice for this, and with a 7 a.m. start time!!!

Larry, I agree with you on Dreams From My Father. It's a much more revelatory book than The Audacity of Hope. Obama is a very good writer, and to think that he wrote that in his early 30s ... it pretty much gives the lie to the idea that he's been planning all along to run for prez.