2008.10.17
Obama in Roanoke: What was the real headcount?
Part of a comment by Roanoke R n R on this morning’s post about why Obama came to the Roanoke Civic Center intrigued me:
“What I do find really interesting is that if the numbers are correct…only 6,500 people showed up at a venue that can hold over 3,000 more, was free, and people didn’t even need to get a ticket to attend.”
That got me wondering about the number myself. I decided to poke around Google news to see what numbers people were reporting. I’m the first to admit we reporters can get wild of reality in these estimates sometimes (Roanoke R n R is right to be skeptical), but not so much this time.
The Washington Independent, Reuters, and CBS News all put the attendance at 8,000.
WSET in Lynchburg reported mid-rally that “the Coliseum holds about 10,000 people and it is filled to capacity right now.” (The Roanoke Civic Center website reports the capacity this way: “10,600 In The Round (general admission); 10,500 Proscenium Stage; 8,672 Hockey; 5,626 Basketball.”)
A news source called AFP put it at 8,250.
Naturally, I wanted to know what number we’d be reporting, too. So, when my colleague Mason Adams, who has the unfortunate fate of seeing me five feet from him everytime he looks up from his computer, came in from covering the rally, I asked him the number.
His immediate response: 8,250.
His source: The Roanoke City Fire Marshall, based apparently on counts from clickers at the doors.
And, just for the sake of trivia — and what is any of this but trivia? — if this were a ticketed event, it would rank among last year’s best-selling Roanoke Civic Center events at No. 4, behind the Winter Jam contemporary Christian music show, and just a head of Disney’s High School Musical on Ice.
I’m not kidding.
In his defense, political rallies are usually limited by the ability to handle security for the event. I wonder how many people were turned away or just couldn’t get in on time.
Packing a venue sounds good but it is a nightmare.
Comment by Henry — October 17, 2008 @ 4:42 pm
Matt, I have another data tidbit I’d be interesting in…how many students didn’t go into Roanoke schools today or left early?
Comment by Roanoke RnR — October 17, 2008 @ 4:57 pm
I had RSVP’d for it, but got tied up at work and couldn’t get away for long enough a time. Sounds like that might have been a good thing though, a short excursion to the Civic Center to hear what he had to say could have turned into a 3-4 hour affair, whereas I can just catch clips on youtube now.
Comment by Other John — October 17, 2008 @ 9:24 pm
What the heck, who cares about how many people were there, all that matters is that everyone in that civic center pulled together and helped one another out while in the rain, giving their umbrellas to people they dont even know, and jackets to ones that were cold. It was an awesome sight to behold, if the whole country could pull together like that no other country on earth could touch us. So all of you out there that alaways want to find something negative in something that was done good, you need to be thinking of your childrens and grandchildrens future. This made me think of the story of Mr. Scrooge, the haves have, and the donts , dont.
Comment by Adrian Fulton — October 18, 2008 @ 7:34 am
re: school kids
In 1952 I was in second grade. Dwight Eisenhower came through town on a whistlestop train speaking tour. My parents came and got me out of school and we went to the speech. I remember seeing a bald guy way off in the front of the crowd standing by the train, and I remember looking around and seeing a lot of my classmates. At a class reunion this summer I mentioned this and all of the others remembered it, too.
If only all of our educational activities could have that lasting an impression!
Comment by MHammond — October 18, 2008 @ 9:21 am
Thanks for the facts. Once again the facts (truth) are ignored by those of the Obama Machine and the comatose who linger to see “That One”. But, he (barak) is a true blue politician so exaggerating is not optional.
Comment by Bill — October 18, 2008 @ 12:35 pm
In response to Adrian, It was an awesome sight. I was glad to see as many people there. The audience was diverse in culture and age. I am really glad I attending so I can tell my child that his mother was a part of history.
Comment by KOKO — October 18, 2008 @ 8:56 pm
As usual the people from the Obama campaign lie. Make it sound like more people go than actually do. Does not surprise me the way his campaign is full of S—! The only way he can rise is to put others down. I can not wait till he gets elected and see his followers then when all they have left is empty promises or should I say DILUSIONS. How can you give 90-95 percent of Americans a tax break when only about 40% pay taxes. He also says he is for the working man then why has he and the Democratic party tried so hard to tear apart Joe the Plummer. There is going to be a lot of Sorry people out there who helped this idiot get elected.
Comment by Roger — October 18, 2008 @ 9:12 pm
I was at the rally and it was every bit as many as reported, the fact that so many people stood in a cold driving rain for as much as fours hours to show their support for the man who is about to lead our great Nation out of this Republican Disaster of the last 8 years.Listening to Barack Obama speak with such promise that we can turn things around in our country should inspire all Americans to put aside thier partisan differences for the good of us all
Comment by Ricky Duncan — October 18, 2008 @ 11:14 pm
I so wanted to be there, but the crowds are too much for my autistic son. So if I had been there I would have added to the numbers!
I wanted to see the candidate that is going to give 95% of Americans tax cuts, despite the lies coming from the McCain campaign (Sen. McCain, a long Bush supporting Republican, doesn’t seem to understand what tax cuts mean!). And as a small business owner I wanted to see the party finally supporting small business, instead of the Republican support for Exxon/Mobile.
I remember my grandparents talking about FDR; Obama is the president, like FDR, that this nation needs.
Comment by specialneedsmom — October 19, 2008 @ 8:18 am
Matt, I had the exact same thought. Yes people stood in the rain, yes it took hours, but The Roanoke Civic Center was not full! Obama is hailed as the new leader of the free world and yet the motivated population of The Roanoke Valley was unable to attend.
I know this says volumes about Roanoke and little about Obama.
Build us an Amphitheater and we could fill it, with empty seats.
If Roanoke can’t support the front runner in a Presidential Election how can we possibly imagine people paying money to fill any venue.
Comment by Chris G. Muse — October 19, 2008 @ 10:02 am
How many of those who showed up were urged to show up to pack the event? Most political events are shows put together behind the scenes. I heard there were many students there. Now the real question I would be interested in having answered is, “how many of those who showed up will or can vote?”
Comment by Leslee — October 19, 2008 @ 10:52 am
I love my country and carry a copy of the Constitution in my purse reading it often. I cherish the right to vote with soberness and dignity realizing that this right was unavailable to women until 1920, and given only then, after much trial and suffering by those who cared enough to see that the constitutional promises were established for all. I wish I could have attended the Obama political event but was unable to do so.I wish more people would spend their time reading the Constitution instead of wasting time with silly bickering over such things as the accuracy or inaccuracy of the number of people attending the Obama political event . With the hard economic times we are going through, it is amazing to me that anyone could take off work during a week day and attend. We may not vote for the same person but as Americans, we need to be respectful and appreciative of the right given us according to the Constitution and stop making friends and neighbors our enemies because we don’t all think alike. I feel sorry for our next President having to clean up the mess we now have before he can begin his change for America. Let Freedom Ring!
Comment by Nancy Shorter — October 19, 2008 @ 9:13 pm
It was an awesome sight – the lines wrapped all the way around the building, and people waited outside in a cold soaking rain for hours to get in. The energy was palpable, and the smiles were pure gold.
This has to be devastating to local GOP partisans. Nearly everyone in attendance texted their contact info per the campaign’s request during the event, instantly adding over 8000 names and phone numbers to what is already the largest political database in history. People were organizing GOTV efforts, making connections, and exchanging contact info… it was like watching a fire slowly catch and build.
We are looking a juggernaut already, and it’s still picking up steam with 16 days to go. I’ve never been so proud of my city.
Comment by ronbailey — October 19, 2008 @ 10:52 pm
I was there but wasn’t much moved by his talk. For some reason, I can’t believe he can do all he says. There is no way with the economy down and going lower, he will be able to give what he says. People will just stop working and wait for a check. I don’t trust Pelosi, Dodd, Dean and Frank. They are all crooks and got us in this mess. I also am worried about how he would handle security in this country. I am afraid he will not do the right thing for us.
Comment by Lanie — October 19, 2008 @ 11:17 pm
I think some could not get off from work. I don’t understand what the hub-bub is all about when it comes to numbers that attended- OH, you must think this represents the number of votes he will get on voting day????
UM…I predict he will get WAY more votes than some 8,000 from Roanoke so please, put your mind at ease.
Comment by Vera Mcllaughlin — October 20, 2008 @ 7:47 am
Curious, anyone know how if there is a way to determine how many attended who were NOT from the Roanoke area? I mean, there may have been people from NC and WV in the crowd, and I hear several busses of people came to Roanoke from somewhere.
As you can imagine, I’m going for McCain/Palin because McCain is what we need, and Palin has a vast amount more executive experience than Obama regardless of how the media spins it. That said, it is going to be a mess for whoever takes office as another poster alluded to.
Comment by Virginia Republican — October 20, 2008 @ 11:31 am
I agree that the numbers don’t mean that much. I, as well as many others, would have been there if able to get off work. To me it seems that 8,000 and some persons to be able to get off work or other obligations with only a little notice is ALOT! Does anyone know the numbers he has drawn at other speaking events?
Comment by Brandi — October 20, 2008 @ 12:21 pm
My guess would be that most people didn’t come out to see Obama because they had heard stories that they would be waiting in line for hours with no umbrella and no guarantee of getting in. Starting at 7 am we heard reports of cars backed up on I-81. The City and the News were all warning us to be prepared for the worst if you wanted to go. The diehards took heed and ALL showed up ridiculously early. Unless you wanted to be in the first couple of rows at the rally, there really was no need to show up that early. I took what I thought would be a gamble and left my downtown office at 11:50. Much to my surprise I had a seat at 12:05.
My co-worker (who weeks earlier drove to Charlotte, NC then waited for six hours to see Obama) opted not to go because he didn’t want to stand in the rain and fight the crowds. If the weather had been better, I’m sure the place would have been at capacity.
At the start of the event my co-worker texted me asking how many people were there. My response was 80%. After hearing the firemarshall’s count of 8,250, I’d say I was pretty dead on.
I was totally surprised afterwords hearing WSET reporting the Civic Center was “at capacity”. After all, don’t they lease office space at the Civic Center? Did they even have a reporter in the coliseum? Maybe they just looked out their window and saw the parking lot was full.
Comment by Paul — October 20, 2008 @ 1:24 pm
Really,
You are all a bunch of kool-aid drinkers!
WAKE UP seriously!
Comment by rfk — October 20, 2008 @ 1:46 pm
I wanted to go so badly. This was truly a historic visit by Roanoke’s standard and certainly an important election. I would venture to say I am a Clinton supporter now supporting Obama for President.
The short notice of event, downpouring rain and promise of hours long lines at the Civic Center kept me away on this work day however I was glad to see so many Roanokers showed up to support Obama.
As Yogi Berra once said, “Nobody goes there anymore, it’s too crowded!”
Comment by Seth — October 20, 2008 @ 2:28 pm
Lets not forget that Obama pulled in 8,000+ people on a Friday, during the middle of a school and work day. Lets see McCain try and pull the same number of people in Roanoke under the same circumstances!!
Comment by Virginia Liberal — October 20, 2008 @ 8:49 pm
Pull out of Iraq?!?
Perhaps the U.S. should pull out of Chicago?!
Body count:
In the last six months:
292 killed (murdered) in Chicago;
221 killed in Iraq.
Chicago…. Who Runs it:
Senators: Barack Obama & Dick Durbin
Rep: Jesse Jackson Jr.,
Illinois Gov: Rod Blogojevich,
Illinois House leader Mike Madigan,
Illinois Atty. Gen. Lisa Madigan (daughter of Mike),
Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley (son of Mayor Richard J. Daley)
…..our leadership in Illinois…..all Democrats.
Thank you for the combat zone in Chicago.
Of course, they’re all blaming each other!
Can’t blame Republicans; they’re aren’t any!
State pension fund $44 Billion in debt, worst in country.
Cook County (Chicago) sales tax 10.25% highest in country. (Look ‘em up if you want).
Chicago school system rated one of the worst in the country.
This is the political culture that Obama comes from in Illinois.
And he’s gonna ‘fix’ Washington politics for us!
WAKE UP AMERICA!!
Comment by lynn — October 21, 2008 @ 9:36 am
The last time there were crowds like this they were attending a Karl Marx rally.
Comment by Craig Harris — October 21, 2008 @ 1:28 pm
Im true that it wasn’t as many people that could have been there if it was in the afternoon or later in the day!! A lot of people were working and could not get off!! I for one would have been at the civic center if I did not have to work!!
Comment by Donna Jones — October 21, 2008 @ 1:49 pm
http://www.pennypresslv.com/Obama%27s_Use_of_Hidden_Hypnosis_techniques_in_His_Speeches.pdf
Here’s how he does it.
Comment by Wide Awake — October 21, 2008 @ 4:03 pm
I was there, in the cold rain, waiting for hours with my 12 year old son Kory. I am humbled to be able to share history,(first nominated African American to a major party) and the making of history, seeing the next President of the United States of America, Barack Obama! My roots are in Roanoke. My family from Hollins. To see Blacks and Whites, men and women, young and old together, in support and encouragement was amazing. We all know Roanoke is divided by the tracks… However, we all share the same color of money! I was one who drove from Maryland and no one from Barack’s campain asked me to. I came to see, witness and feel history. And it was well worth it. Does it matter how many people where actually in there? It was cold, raining, a school day, a work day and mid day! How many do you think would have been there on a lets say Saturday?? I do not expect Barack Obama to do all and be all. I do think he will listen to the people. I do think he has a genuine and humble. America needs a good dose of humility. We have not been the greatest country in the world. Not when we have millions of families going under behind medical bills, or Americans still starving right here at home. We still have folks without electricity and using outhouses!! We are all connected people. Change does happen from the bottom up. How many of you know who is on your child’s school board? How many are part of the PTA? How many of you know who your Representatives are? What district do you live in? My allegiance is not to a “party” but to the best candidate for this country. And I went to see who I believe should be and will be , the next President of the United States, Barack Obama!
Comment by Angela Muse — October 22, 2008 @ 1:02 pm
I sure hope none of you followers have no kid’s because did you know Barack does not believe in putting sex offenders in prison, nor violent crimes. There was a lot of people that thought Jim Jones was a good leader also. Enough Said.
Comment by Roger — October 24, 2008 @ 8:38 pm
For those of us who did take the day off work, stand in the cold rain for 3 hours and then scramble for a good seat, it was more than worth it! Regardless of how far right you are, you cannot diminish the historic ramifications of this election year and if you really loved America and not just the “party line” fed to you by the Republican machine, you would work to be part of the solution not just be someone who goes online and hurls insults and lies. Parts of Chicago and many inner city areas in America are the result of the separation of Americans (fostered by white money), the marginalization of the minorities, the results of festering poverty, the lack of decent jobs, and the lure of easy money from selling drugs; not the result of their politics. To condemn a whole city or a state and use code language like “real Americans” and “real American values” to defend your racisim and fear is as un-American as you can get. Read the words inscribed on our much prized Statue of Liberty. Fight over the issues and give up the insults. Jesus instructed us again and again to help the poor, lift up the lost, shun wealth and use power for good and yet just today at a restaurant here in Roanoke, a group (apparently related) of 5 adults of several generations and 1 elementary age child seated near my husband and myself, sat down, held hands and had a few moments of prayer then proceeded to discuss the upcoming election. The gist was a sincere hope that Obama does not win and that “they don’t like it when you mention his middle name”. I had to walk out at that line. Do you seriously think God only hears you when you are praying? Or that the Lord would condone such disparaging talk of someone who is literally risking his life in an attempt to restore the America that gave him so much? I have no problem mentioning and applauding his entire name: Barack Hussein Obama, and I celebrate his true American story! Senator Obama will do his best to represent all Americans, even those who do not deserve the name.
Comment by Sandi Saunders — October 26, 2008 @ 9:20 pm
No. 27 states that Obama will do all and be all…
the alpha and omega is the LIVING CHRIST –
NOT OBAMA!
Comment by lynn — October 27, 2008 @ 10:25 am
No 30 if you are going to disparage, at least get the quote right! No 27 said she DID NOT EXPECT Obama to do all and be all and she was in no way being sacrilegious, but you were!
Comment by Sandi Saunders — October 28, 2008 @ 9:35 am
No. 30.. Lynn, I see that you are another one of those so informed persons that misses the entire point!Goes completely over your head! It’s amazing how ONE WORD can change the entire context of a sentence or thought. And you are obviously someone who repeats everything inaccurately if you can’t even READ ACCURATELY.
What I said was, (and I quote…which means verbatim) “I do NOT “(key word there! NOT )” expect Barack Obama to do all and be all.”
I find it interesting that I mentioned a lot of things, like Roanoke being divided racially, Americans without electricity,Americans without running water, families going under from medical bills! We are “suppose” to be the greatest country on earth! This is unacceptable..And you comment on something I didn’t even write! Unbelievable.
No.29…YOU ROCK..It is so good to hear an intelligent thoughtful person speak. How refreshing. How said that it is “refreshing” and not the norm.
Comment by Angela Muse — November 10, 2008 @ 8:40 pm