Barack Obama was greeted by the largest crowd of his

"Wilbert J. Roget " <wilbert@temple.edu> wrote:

Just want to let you know my reaction to the Obama
rally tonight. Please believe me when I say that in
Obama the United States has an opportunity to be led
by a talented, insightful, tactful, decent, and
honorable young man whose wisdom and caring attitude
are really amazing. He has the ability to connect with
people of all ages, races, social levels and cultural
identities. During his speech, which came about two
hours after I got to the open mall, I found myself
hanging on every word and every nuance that he
incorporated in his delivery. Even though he
criticized Senator Clinton, he did so while
acknowledging her leadership qualities. I admired his
phenomenal strength in being able to do this, given
the insults and lies that she has regularly hurled at
him.
What I found especially surprising was the
impact that he had on the audience. People did not
want to leave at the end of his speech. And as I
entered the crowded subway to go home, I could see
that in spite of the urgency to get on the train,
there were smiles on the faces of the crowd. Isn't
that incredible, happening on a warm Friday night in a
crowded Philadelphia subway?
Clearly, Barack is bringing something new and
good to America. I hope he will be given the
opportunity to lead this country in a positive,
inspiring direction. As I told my wife when I returned
home, Barack is Providence's gift to America. Let's
hope America accepts it.

Please see below the Associated Press report on the
rally:
Obama greeted by largest crowd of his campaign

The Associated Press

Fri, Apr 18, 2008 (7:42 p.m.)

Barack Obama was greeted by the largest crowd of his
campaign Friday night in Philadelphia.

Some 35,000 people jammed into Independence Park to
see the Democratic presidential candidate, four days
before this state's crucial April 22 primary.

Frank Friel, director of security at the Independence
Visitor Center, made the official estimate.

The crowd exceed the 30,000 who greeted Obama and
Oprah Winfrey in December in Columbia, S.C.

Obama told the crowd the United States is at a crucial
moment in its history, much like what the founding
fathers faced in Philadelphia.

"It was over 200 years ago that a group of patriots
gathered in this city to do something that no one in
the world believed they could do," Obama said. "After
years of a government that didn't listen to them, or
speak for them, or represent their hopes and their
dreams, a few humble colonists came to Philadelphia to
declare their independence from the tyranny of the
British throne."

The Illinois senator called Democratic rival Hillary
Rodham Clinton a "tenacious" opponent but said it was
time to move beyond the politics of the 1990s.

"Her message comes down to this: We can't really
change the say-anything, do-anything, special
interest-driven game in Washington, so we might as
well choose a candidate who really knows how to play
it," Obama said