Obama draws big crowd in PDX

Yesterday was the first day of Spring. Winter had been pretty mild, even by our standards. However, last evening the temperature was downright chilly and snow fell in the lower foothills of Mount Hood about twenty five to thirty miles from downtown Portland. No snow fell in the metro area, but it was cold for sure.

That didn't stop a huge crowd from gathering outside the Memorial Coliseum, starting around midnight, well after it was obvious it was going to be a cold, wet evening. The coliseum holds right around thirteen thousand people. It's a cozy place with great sight lines and was home to our Portland Trailblazers for many years.

Around 6:30 AM today, organizers opened the doors. The report didn't say why they were opening the doors so early, but suggested the crowd was far bigger than expected. Admittance required a ticket but the seating was general, not assigned. First come, first served. There were no tickets available, all had been issued.

Whether or not one agrees with Obama's perspective on the issues, it is hard to imagine any other candidate in recent memory that could get people to stand outside for hours in near freezing temperatures. He is becoming a true leader.

Bill Richardson is correct; Barack Obama is a once in a lifetime candidate. Instead of talking down to Americans, he speaks to us directly, appealing to our better angels. None of this 'You gotta understand' stuff. He knows that we understand already.

Just letting you folks know that people are lining up in the cold and dark of night, for hours on end, merely to see Barack Obama speak in person. Sounds like a man that can pull this nation together and push ALL of us forward.