Obama electrifies Magness

DU appearance features lofty words, wild cheers

By David Montero, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Chris Schneider / The Rocky

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama shakes hands after speaking at Magness Arena at the University of Denver on Wednesday. The Illinois senator attracted an overflow crowd in advance of Tuesday's caucuses.

It seemed less of a campaign event and more of a feeling.

When presidential hopeful Barack Obama took the stage Wednesday in Denver, the crowd - one person was spotted wearing a "Barack and Roll" T-shirt - had already been whipped into a frenzy.

First came a last-minute speech by Broncos wide receiver Rod Smith and then an introduction by President John F. Kennedy's daughter, Caroline Kennedy.

Not one for big public appearances, Kennedy waved shyly and smiled moments before she introduced the candidate and said that people, over the years, have been seeking the feeling they had when John F. Kennedy was president.

"They wish they could feel the same sense of hope and inspiration that Americans felt when my father was president," Kennedy said. "Fortunately, one candidate offers that same sense of hope and inspiration, and that candidate is Barack Obama."

For about 50 minutes, the Illinois senator tried to infuse the crowd with that feeling. He joked early about it being "more of a Democratic National Convention crowd, except you don't have the funny hats yet."

Obama played nice, asking the crowd to offer a long ovation for former Sen. John Edwards, who announced Wednesday he was dropping his bid for the Democratic nomination.

They did. Loudly.

Then he tried to make the party tent bigger.

Other candidates praised

He praised the Democratic candidates who have dropped out of the race - Bill Richardson, Chris Dodd, Joe Biden, Dennis Kucinich and, when it didn't appear the tent could get any bigger, even included long-shot candidate Mike Gravel.

He also included chief rival Sen. Hillary Clinton - calling the entire roster of candidates an "all-star cast" for the Democratic Party.

But it didn't stop him entirely from taking a few jabs at Clinton - questioning her electability and attacking her votes as a senator, most notably on the war in Iraq.

The crowd ate it up.

"We've reached Americans of all political stripes who are more interested in turning the page than turning up the heat on our opponents," he said.

"That's how Democrats will win in November and build a majority in Congress - not by nominating a candidate who will unite the other party against us, but by choosing one who can unite this country around a movement for change."

Former Denver Mayor Wellington Webb offered a quick response for the Clinton campaign.

"Senator Clinton's looking forward to debating whoever the Republican nominee is going to be," he said. "Our campaign is going to be focused on issues - issues that matter, and we think that, again as we've said all along, that when you deal with the issues, Senator Clinton comes out on top because she's ready to be president on Day One."

Chanted his name

With Super Tuesday looming next week for both campaigns - 22 states holding primaries or caucuses, including Colorado - each is trying to position itself in as many locations as possible.

Obama's visit was announced over the weekend and, by showtime on Wednesday, Magness Arena was packed and the crowd spilled into an overflow room and onto the lacrosse field.

They chanted his name repeatedly. Before he showed up, they did the wave and even did a call-and-response cheer led by state Senate President Peter Groff and former Denver Mayor Federico Pena.

Obama fed off that feeling of excitement and even managed to turn boos into cheers when he acknowledged the endorsement of the Broncos' Smith. The wide receiver said he heard Obama speak after his South Carolina primary victory. "I had to go just to be a part of this," he told the crowd.

Obama admitted to being a Chicago Bears fan, but got back in the crowd's good graces by saying he "recognized a Hall-of-Famer" when he saw one.

The speech was short on specifics but long on ideas, hope and inspiration. He evoked images of Martin Luther King Jr. to Robin Ennis, a 24-year-old student at DU who has been blind for six years.

She said the comparison struck her when Obama spoke of Denver as being the site of the Democratic National Convention in August.

"It is fitting that the journey leads to Denver - a city that is younger than the Democratic Party itself, but filled with the promise that our party has always fought for," Obama said. "This city, built at the base of the Rocky Mountains, stands as a monument to a uniquely American belief in things unseen."

Ennis said Obama's cadence coupled with the passion she heard in his voice made the words alive to her. It prompted feelings, not politics.

Wild cheers

Obama's oratorical abilities resonated with others in the crowd, too.

Ilise Meyers, who signed for the deaf during the speech, tapped her heart when she said that was how she captured the spirit of his speeches.

And when Obama said near the end of his speech, "Colorado, our moment is now," the arena seemed to combust into wild cheers.

After it was over, people lingered inside the arena. Obama worked his way down a row of people standing 12 deep trying to get a picture with their cell phone or a brush from his hand. Even after Obama departed - he had an event in Phoenix later in the day - fans stood waiting and hoping that he had autographed items they handed to campaign staff.

Kristen Goldberg and Jackie Bradley waited for almost an hour before the goods came back - Goldberg's textbook now imprinted with Obama's signature and Bradley the same on her three-ring binder.

They smiled - hooked on the feelings evoked by Obama.

Hours later, though, came the Republicans' bucket of ice cold water.

"Behind the crowds and the lofty rhetoric, Barack Obama's insufficient transcript of accomplishment gives voters in Colorado good reason to question his qualifications to serve as our nation's commander in chief," said Paul Lindsay, regional press secretary for the Republican National Committee.

Feelings, it would appear, can run both ways.

monterod@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5236

• January 31, 2008

  6:27 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  Chadley25 writes:

  I think each of the Democratic front-runners has unique strengths, coupled with glaring weaknesses. Obama is a terrific orator, certainly a huge strength. But does being good at giving charismatic speeches to a crowd make one qualified to be President? I think Obama could be a wonderful President... but maybe not just yet. Then there's Mrs. Clinton, who is tenacious, experienced, intelligent, and would doubtless be a fine choice as America's first female head of state. But is she too polarizing? Would she continue the trend of divisiveness that Bush has perfected? Seems likely. So as a Democrat, I'm torn. I wouldn't mind McCain so much if he wasn't such a flip-flopper, and was about ten years younger, and Romney has a lot of baggage too, so I'm not sure the Republican candidates are going to fare much better.

• January 31, 2008

  2:01 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  LillianIowaDem writes:

  Obama may "electrify" his crowds, but he can't unify the Democratic Party. As you noticed at this event, his crowds are quick to boo people (even Barack, apparently). Well, they've booed at one too many Democratic events, from dinners to debates to caucuses. I don't know why the press is completely missing this story: Old guard Democrats are looking for someone who can not only WIN the White House, but who won't muck it up once they have the job. Obama is not such a person. He simply hasn't done much--and what he has done is different from what he (and the press) are telling you. He belongs to a "Christian" church (Trinity United Church of Christ, Chicago) that believes all the main characters in the Bible (the good guys, anyhow) were black Africans. His church magazine just gave a humanitarian award to that racist Farrakhan! (Don't believe me? Check the website.) His preacher doesn't think Israel should exist and says the 9/11 attacks were white America's "just deserts." Don't vote by how good some fellow makes you feel, without learning who he really IS.

• February 1, 2008

  1:11 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  greenwood writes:

  LillianowaDern is full of beans. Obama unifies not only Democrats but also brings unprecedented amounts of independents and disaffected Republicans to the table. Hillary Clinton, on the other hand, unites only Republicans. She is horribly divisive amongst Democrats - many of us will not vote for her under any circumstance as she has proven herself to be a dishonest and calculating representative of the status quo. She"ll say anything and change nothing. Go Obama!