Yesterday I attended an Obama/Biden rally in Fredericksburg, VA on the campus of the University of Mary Washington. I figured it wasn't that far and it would be my first time seeing the two candidates together; I also wanted to see how the crowds were reacting to vice presidential candidate Joe Biden.
The rally was supposed to begin around 6:30pm but around 6:00pm the rains came down. Serious rain. Lightening and everything. Nobody left, people looked for shelter if that was possible but nobody left. Rain was in the forecast and some people came prepared but most just didn't care. At this time they're telling us we have to leave from under the tented traveling press area repeating the lie that "they're on their way". After about 30 or 40 minutes the rain let up and everyone soaked up the few minutes of sun to get ready for the main event.
Around 7:00pm Joe Biden and Barack Obama appeared on stage, no opening acts, straight to the main event. Joe Biden stepped up to the podium and his first line of attack was John McCain's comments at the preceding night's debate. He attacked his foreign policy angles on Iraq, Afghanistan and Russia. He primarily questioned his judgment and attempted to prove that this characteristic is what defines Senator Obama's ability to be President not John McCain. The audience appeared very lukewarm to Senator Biden's comments, I'm not sure if it was the foreign policy topic or just the general response to Biden.
On the main road that takes you into downtown Fredericksburg there's a huge sign that reads "McCain/Palin country"?!?!?!?!
Found a good space in a local business area and walked down to the rally area in Ball Circle. There were tons of people in line to get into the rally and right outside the campus on College Avenue was a house with a huge, wooden McCain/Palin sign. So back to the line, there were tons of people winding around the campus into the Ball Circle area. I thought the line would never end. It was quite chaotic finding the press check-in but once I got in I saw that there was hardly any press there. I'm wondering why they weren't trying to get more folks in.
So of course, they have the oh-so glorious tented section for the traveling press and everyone else is relegated to the elements. Any who, the section set-up for attendees was very small. There was an area around the primary viewing section for people who got in but there was a large amount of people who didn't get in but still had a great view of the stage.
The rally was supposed to begin around 6:30pm but around 6:00pm the rains came down. Serious rain. Lightening and everything. Nobody left, people looked for shelter if that was possible but nobody left. Rain was in the forecast and some people came prepared but most just didn't care. At this time they're telling us we have to leave from under the tented traveling press area repeating the lie that "they're on their way". After about 30 or 40 minutes the rain let up and everyone soaked up the few minutes of sun to get ready for the main event. 
Around 7:00pm Joe Biden and Barack Obama appeared on stage, no opening acts, straight to the main event. Joe Biden stepped up to the podium and his first line of attack was John McCain's comments at the preceding night's debate. He attacked his foreign policy angles on Iraq, Afghanistan and Russia. He primarily questioned his judgment and attempted to prove that this characteristic is what defines Senator Obama's ability to be President not John McCain. The audience appeared very lukewarm to Senator Biden's comments, I'm not sure if it was the foreign policy topic or just the general response to Biden.
Obama then took the stage and immediately discussed the need to turn Virginia blue. He started with the economy and addressed some of McCain's comments from the debate at Ole Miss on September 26th. About 20 minutes into Obama's comments the rain starts up again and people started leaving. I guess they figured they couldn't take any more rain and since they'd gotten a taste of Obama in person it was OK to leave.
The Senator continued to attack McCain as it relates to the financial bailout and commented that "American people should not pay for the bailout" and that these big money CEO's "shouldn't even think about cashing in" and that there will be "no welfare for Wall Street".
The biggest zinger of the night immediately followed when he alluded to the misperception that McCain is for regulation. Obama said "if you believe that, I've got a bridge to sell you in Alaska" referring to Alaska's infamous government project "The Bridge to Nowhere".
The rain kept coming down but all Obama did was take-off his jacket and roll-up his sleeves half-way (the signature look he wears now when trying to look casually dressed). Since this setting was a college campus he touched on financial aid problems and his proposed idea for absolving financial costs, he also took a hit at No Child Left Behind (NCLB) saying he will support teachers so they won't have to only teach to the test.
The crowd was completely riled up and Obama closed it down. The two men waved to the audience, shook hands while their usual campaign song played "Signed, Sealed, Delivered" by Stevie Wonder.
Overall, it was another good campaign event; not great but good. The weather and predictions for rain definitely hurt the event. The space designated for people to get in was just way too small. There was no build up of local politicians and supporters to help get the audience ready. In late night television and comedy shows they always use people to warm-up the audience and this event could have definitely benefited from that. Biden and Obama did a great job of addressing McCain's points on the economy and foreign policy but these topics are hard for crowds to get a handle on and for politicians to get a strong crowd response. I've been to better campaign events indoors and outdoors and this was pretty much a six on the scale of one to ten.
I did however get some cool pics of the different Obama T-shirts. Check it out http://www.slide.com/r/QOmWBKK2oD8VseRQJesTaaCsBQt13xPY?previous_view=mscd_embedded_url&view=original
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