Part of the second half of his two week economic tour.Monday, June 16

Detroit “Change That Works For You” Rally with Barack Obama
Joe Louis Arena
600 Civin Center Dr
Detroit, MI 48226
Detroit, MI
Doors Open: 6:30 PM
Program Begins: 8:30 PM

Part of the second leg of his two-week Economic Tour.

Flint “Change That Works For You” Event with Barack Obama
Kettering University
Connie and Jim John Recreation Center
1700 West 3rd Ave
Flint, MI
Doors Open: 10:00 AM
Program Begins: 11:45 AM

Monday June 16th

One of the reasons why many speculate that Obama has more superdelegates lined up to vote for him than his current list of pledged super delegates is due what I witnessed during last night’s Obama rally in Pittsburgh’s Petersen Events Center.

Both Jason Altmire and Mike Doyle sat in the VIP section of the event. Altmire attended the previous Pittsburgh Obama rally. Quite simply, you don’t attend these events as visibly as these guys do if you’re not supporting the candidate. My hunch is that after the Pennsylvania primary ends, Obama will snag the public endorsements of both Rep. Altmire and Rep. Doyle. By the way, Doyle is an interesting get for Obama, because his mentor, Rep. Jack Murtha, is a big Clinton supporter. Plus, he’s my Congressman.

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.

The Clinton campaign held a final rally in Pittsburgh’s Market Square yesterday in the early afternoon. I haven’t seen other estimates, but in talking with others covering the event, there seems to be a consensus of 2-3,000 supporters in attendance. The crowd was mostly white baby boomers and more female than male, but not exclusively so.

The former President warmed up the crowd for his wife. He was introduced by local Pittsburgh Clinton supporters Mayor Luke Ravenstahl and Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato as well as by Lt. Governor Catherine Baker Knoll.

When Hillary arrived, she quickly took to the stage to deliver a somewhat condensed version of her stump speech. She drew applause in all of the right places, having the effect of rallying her troops for get out the vote operations tomorrow.

I couldn’t help but notice after the rally ended, however, as I looked out to the sidewalk through a sandwich shop window, that her supporters seemed a little uncertain. Their smiles had faded, and their signs were rolled up. Were they wondering if this was the end? If so, they’ll likely be relieved tonight.

In any case, I have a slideshow of the Pittsburgh Market Square Clinton rally.

In Philadelphia Friday night, Obama drew about 35,000 people in downtown Philadelphia, easily surpassing his previous high of 30,000 in South Carolina with Oprah Winfrey.

Sen. Barack Obama drew 35,000 people at a downtown rally tonight in Independence Park, local security officials told the campaign, making the crowd at this evening’s event his largest ever. The sea of people sprawled across nearly three city blocks.

The crowd – the estimate of 35,000 came from officials at the Independence Visitors Center – began assembling early, filling Independence Mall and spilling into the surrounding streets. They waited with relative patience, chanting “O-ba-ma” whenever the music stopped, until 8:45, when the rally finally started. They gave him a thunderous greeting and cheered often throughout a speech that was crafted with the setting in mind.

His speech, a new one, painted Clinton as an opportunist.

She’s taken more money from Washington lobbyists than any other candidate in this race, even John McCain, because she says that lobbyists represent ‘real Americans’.  She’s taken different positions at different times on issues as fundamental as trade and even war to suit the politics of the moment,” Obama said. “And in the last few months, she’s launched what her campaign calls a ‘kitchen sink’ strategy of negative attacks, which she defends by telling us that this is what the Republicans would do.

Clinton returned to Philadelphia later that night for her own Pennsylvania barnstorming tour.

As with President Clinton, Hillary has a full Saturday 4/19 schedule across Pennsylvania. Here’s where she’ll be:

“Solutions for Pennsylvania” rally in West Chester

7:30 AM – 10:00 AM

West Chester Fire Department, Station 52
552 East Union St
West Chester, PA 19382

“Solutions for Pennsylvania” rally in West Lawn

10:00 AM – 1:00 PM

Wilson Senior High School
2601 Grandview Blvd
West Lawn, PA 1960

“Solutions for America” rally in California, PA

5:00 PM – 8:00 PM

California University – Hamer Hall
250 University Ave.
California, PA 1541

UPDATE:

Hillary Clinton will also hold a “Solutions for Pennsylvania” rally with Rep. John Murtha in McKeesport from 7-10 PM.  No word on the obvious rescheduling to her California visit yet, but I would assume that it will now end earlier.

Renziehausen Park Bandshell

160 University Drive

McKeesport, PA 15132

Like her husband, Hillary Clinton will be in Pennsylvania on Friday 4/18.  Here’s her schedule:

Town Hall meeting with Rep. Joe Sestak in Radnor

9:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Radnor Senior High School
130 King of Prussia Road
Radnor, PA 1908

“Solutions for America” rally in Philadelphia

9:00 PM – 11:00 PM

Crane Arts Center
1400 North American Street
Philadelphia, PA 19122

President Clinton continues his tour of rural and small town Pennsylvania on Saturday 4/19. Here’s his schedule:

“Solutions for America” rally with Rep. Paul Kanjorski in Wilkes-Barre

9:45 – 11:45

Wilkes University – Marts Center
274 Franklin St
Wilkes-Barre, PA 18701

As an aside, this also happens to be at the same place and time as the Ecological Society of America (ESA) Mid-Atlantic annual meeting. Traffic and parking are likely to be issues!

“Solutions for America” rally in Meadville

1:15 – 3:15

Allegheny College – Tippie Alumni Center
520 North Main Street
Meadville, PA 16335

“Solutions for America” in Hermitage

3:30 – 5:30

Hickory High School
640 N. Hermitage Road
Hermitage, PA 16148

“Solutions for America” in Beaver Falls

5:15- 7:15

Beaver Falls Middle School
1601 8th Avenue
Beaver Falls, PA 15010

On Wednesday (4/16) and Thursday (4/17), President Clinton will stop in the Pennsylvania small towns of Indiana, Kittaning, Clarion, New Castle, Cranberry, St. Mary’s, Clearfield and Lock Haven for “Solutions for America” events.

Indiana:

When: Wednesday, April 16, 2008 at 9:15 AM – 11:15 AM
Where: Indiana University of Pennsylvania – Memorial Field House
660 S. 11th St.
Indiana, PA 15705

Kittaning:

When
Wednesday, April 16, 2008 at 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Where
Kittanning Senior High School
1200 Orr Avenue
Kittanning, PA 16201

Clarion:

When
Wednesday, April 16, 2008 at 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Where
Clarion University of Pennsylvania – Gemmell Student Complex
Wilson Avenue & Payne Streets
Clarion, PA 16214

New Castle:

When
Wednesday, April 16, 2008 at 3:45 PM – 5:45 PM
Where
New Castle Junior/Senior High School
300 E Lincoln Ave
New Castle, PA 16101

Cranberry:

When
Wednesday, April 16, 2008 at 5:45 PM – 7:45 PM
Where
Rose E. Schneider Family YMCA
2001 Ehrman Road
Cranberry Township, PA 16066

St. Mary’s:

When
Thursday, April 17, 2008 at 1:45 PM – 3:45 PM
Where
American Legion Post #103
168 Center St
St. Mary’s, PA 15857

Clearfield:

When
Thursday, April 17, 2008 at 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM
Where
Clearfield Area Middle School
602 Mill Road
Clearfield, PA 16830

Lock Haven:

When
Thursday, April 17, 2008 at 7:45 PM – 9:45 PM
Where
Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania – Thomas Field House
401 N Fairview St.
Lock Haven, PA 17745