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Barack Obama Rallies the Faithful in Pittsburgh on Primary Eve

By matt carter ⋅ April 22, 2008 ⋅  Email This Post ⋅  Print This Post ⋅ Post a comment

The Obama campaign drew a huge, essentially capacity-filling crowd to Pittsburgh’s Petersen Events Center, home of Pitt Panthers basketball. The crowd began pouring in at 7:30 pm and didn’t really stop coming until Obama took the stage after 10 pm. Obama’s crowds, due to their sheer size if for no other reason, draw a greater diversity of people in Pittsburgh. It was the largest political rally I’ve ever attended, and the sound inside the stadium was deafening at times.

The atmosphere at these rallies has been described as like a rock concert, but to me they more resemble a sporting event. Of course, the energy and excitement is palpable among the supporters, and frankly, a lot of the press as well, and yet there’s also a sense of drama to the spectacle. The campaign’s event orchestration and Obama’s rhetoric itself has a rhythm to it that, much like an African-American sermon, takes the crowd on an emotional journey. Folks are literally on the edge of their seats with tension and leap for joy at all (and I mean all) of the applause lines.

Obama was introduced by Teresa Heinz Kerry, his wife Michelle and Senator Bob Casey. He gave basically his latest stump speech. Afterwards, the crowd poured out into the Oakland night. Their enthusiasm was evident, but one wonders whether that will translate into tangible votes in the morning. If so, the rally would indeed have been a rousing success.

I have a slideshow of this Obama rally in Pittsburgh.

Tags: media coverage, Obama, pennsylvania primary, pittsburgh, rally