Video from Obama's appearancePosted Oct17, 2008 at 05:51 PMWatch excerpts from Obama's speech, and view video from his surprise visit to Total Elegance Salon on Jefferson Street. Obama ends by calling crowd to actionPosted Oct17, 2008 at 01:47 PM Obama ended his speech with an appeal to action. He repeated portions of his stump speech from Thursday, saying he’d been ahead in the polls prior to the New Hampshire primary – where Hillary Clinton won. “You can’t pay attention to the polls,” Obama said. “We’ve got to keep making our case for change.” The entire speech lasted just under 40 minutes – significantly shorter than the town halls in Bristol, Martinsville and Lynchburg earlier this summer. Too, Obama kept largely to his stump speech and talking points that emerged from Wednesday’s debate with McCain. Still, the crowd of about 8,250 – according to an official from the Roanoke fire marshal’s office –was enthusiastic. Over the next few days Obama is scheduled to continue his tour through a number of battleground states, including Missouri, North Carolina and Florida. -- Mason Adams | Photo by Sam Dean Obama outlines policy pointsPosted Oct17, 2008 at 01:20 PMObama listed a number of policy points, from health care to education. He ended by saying he plans on going through the federal government to look for and cut unnecessary programs. "We will eliminate programs that don’t work, and aren’t needed – and we will start by ending the war in Iraq," Obama said. -- Mason Adams Obama triggers responses from crowd of supportersPosted Oct17, 2008 at 01:14 PMObama said that McCain is trying to shift the race's focus from the economy to personal attacks. "But it's not going to work," he said. "Not this time." The next few lines triggered the biggest response from the crowd so far, aside from his entrance. "I can take three more weeks of attacks from John McCain," Obama said. "It’s better than taking four more years of the same failed policies. That’s why I’m running for president." The crowd in the nearly full civic center responded with chants of "Obama" and "Yes we can." -- Mason Adams Obama: McCain's not Bush, but votes like himPosted Oct17, 2008 at 01:11 PMObama referenced Wednesday's debate: "Sen. McCain felt need to inform me he’s not President Bush. In fairness, Sen. McCain doesn’t look like President Bush. Doesn’t have that Texas accent like Bush. I don’t blame Sen. McCain for all of President Bush’s mistakes. "After all he’s only voted with George Bush 90 percent of the time." -- Mason Adams Obama: Economics firstPosted Oct17, 2008 at 01:10 PMObama started off on economic issues right off the bat. "You're paying more for everything from gas to groceries, but your paychecks have flatlined," Obama said. "But I believe we can steer ourselves out of this crisis because I believe in this country." -- Mason Adams Obama on stage; thanks SW VirginiaPosted Oct17, 2008 at 01:05 PM He also cited Boucher but misidentified Roanoke as being part of Boucher's 9th district. Obama also recognized Virginia Del. Onzlee Ware, Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine and former Gov. Mark Warner. -- Mason Adams | Photo by Sam Dean Webb takes shots at Palin selectionPosted Oct17, 2008 at 01:03 PMWebb took some shots at McCain’s selection of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his vice-presidential candidate. “Do you really think Sarah Palin is the most qualified person in the Republican Party?” Webb asked. He cited a country song of a couple of years ago: “I Know What I Was Feeling But What Was I Thinking?” “I think John McCain’s singing that song right now,” Webb said. A couple of minutes later, Webb introduced Obama to a roar and standing ovation. -- Mason Adams Webb takes the stage, Obama up nextPosted Oct17, 2008 at 12:41 PMAbout 6,500 people had streamed into the civic center coliseum by the time state Democratic Party chairman Richard Cranwell emerged for a couple of minutes to warm up the crowd. “My question is, ‘Can we turn Virginia blue,’ and the answer is,” Cranwell said, pausing, before the crowd erupted, “Yes we can!” Congressman Rick Boucher, D-Abingdon, cited Obama’s visits to Bristol and Lebanon in the time since he won the Democratic Party’s nomination. Boucher said that since then he’s seen a movement by southwestern Virginia voters to Obama, who he predicted would win not only the region but the state. U.S. Senator Jim Webb is now speaking. He asked “When’s the last time you saw John McCain in this part of Virginia?” The crowd responded with boos at the mentioned of McCain. Event has startedPosted Oct17, 2008 at 12:40 PMState Democratic Party chairman Richard Cranwell emerged for a couple of minutes to warm up the crowd. "My question is, ‘Can we turn Virginia blue,’ and the answer is," Cranwell said, pausing, before the crowd erupted, "Yes we can!" Congressman Rick Boucher, D-Abingdon, cited Obama’s visits to Bristol and Lebanon in the time since he won the Democratic Party’s nomination. Boucher said that since then he’s seen a movement by southwestern Virginia voters to Obama, who he predicted would win not only the region but the state. U.S. Senator Jim Webb is now speaking. He asked "When’s the last time you saw John McCain in this part of Virginia?" The crowd responded with boos at the mention of McCain. Crowd estimated at 6,500Posted Oct17, 2008 at 12:39 PMActing Civic Center Director Robyn Schon just said she believes the crowd number is around 6,500. The Civic Center coliseum capacity for the event is 9,900, she said. Taking a day off to catch some 'history'Posted Oct17, 2008 at 12:15 PMMaxin Casey of Vinton arrived at the Roanoke Civic Center about 9 this morning to find herself about 2,000 places back in line. Using her cellphone, she managed to find a cousin, Sharon Graves, who was 1,800 people ahead of her. "I moved up, thank goodness," said Casey. She took a personal day off from work as a public school administrator. "This is history in the making." Not everyone took the day off to attend. Adrian Stowe made the most of history, from a free enterprise perspective. He owns A Plus Promotions, a Charlotte-based clothing company whose team of sales representatives, led by Stowe, has followed Obama to events in Greensboro, N.C., and Nashville, Tenn., among other stops in the South. "Business in Roanoke is good today," he said. Stowe set up his tent outside the civic center about 6 a.m. Among his best sellers: chocolate colored sweat shirts with pink lettering that read, "Obama 08." -- Rob Johnson Supporters brave rain to see ObamaPosted Oct17, 2008 at 11:19 AM The line to see Sen. Barack Obama started at one of the civic center entrances facing Orange Avenue and wound around the edges of the parking lot. A man from Rocky Mount who was standing on the stairs outside the entrance said he got to Roanoke about 6 a.m., parked his car blocks from the civic center and waited with his brother until the gates to the center were opened at 7 a.m. Then they ran to the gate. "I want to shake his hand," explained Roy Flynn, who stood next to his brother, Michael. Pat Cargill of Roanoke showed up in her red pickup truck at about 9 a.m. with three large mocha-flavored coffees -- one for herself and two for friends who were already waiting. Cargill said that her friends were "a lot closer to the door than I am" but that she didn't want to stand in the rain all morning. "I know I can still get in," said Cargill, who wore a thick black jacket and a gray hat. "Or at least I hope I do. There are a lot of people here." -- Jorge Valencia | Photo by Jared Soares Traffic clears; line forms outside Civic CenterPosted Oct17, 2008 at 08:39 AMTraffic cleared on Williamson Road, Orange Avenue and the areas immediately surrounding after the Civic Center opened its gates this morning. A long line of people with umbrellas, jackets and rain ponchos has formed from the entrance that faces Orange Avenue and has spilled into the perimeter of the parking lot. -- Jorge Valencia Traffic begins to clog as crowd gathers for Obama rallyPosted Oct17, 2008 at 08:06 AMTraffic lines have clogged the main arteries immediately adjacent to the Civic Center, with cars lined up on Williamson Road and Orange Avenue. Traffic has also backed up on Williamson Road toward downtown. The Virginia Department of Transportation has advised that traffic traveling to the Civic Center can cause delays from about 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the northbound and southbound lanes of Interstate 581. -- Jorge Valencia Parking and other details for today's Obama eventPosted Oct17, 2008 at 05:51 AMDemocrat Barack Obama’s rally today marks the first time since 1960 that a major-party presidential candidate has appeared in Roanoke during a general election campaign. The last time was Nov. 4, 1960, when Sen. John F. Kennedy appeared here during his race against then-Vice President Richard Nixon. WHERE: Roanoke Civic Center Coliseum, WHEN: 12:30 p.m.; civic center entrances open at 10 a.m. ADMISSION: Free; first-come, first-served Continue reading "Parking and other details for today's Obama event" » |
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