Obama in Cleveland!

Today proved to be quite the adventure – my friend Paul and I attended the rally for Barack Obama! The rally was happening downtown at the same time as a Browns game and the Wringling Bros. Circus! Of course, downtown Cleveland was absolutely insane. We stood in line for at least 40 minutes just to get on the Rapid. Once we got downtown, we discovered that the line to get into the rally wound through town past Tower City down as far as Huron. In spite of the large numbers of people, everyone was quite orderly. There was never a moment I felt unsafe or overwhelmed. Everyone was friendly and excited about witnessing history unfold before our eyes.There was such a sense of community that I can't say I've ever experienced in Cleveland before.

This is us in line on Huron looking up at Tower City...

Here we are about a half-hour later, next to the Civil War Monument in Public Square.

We did not try to get into the rally itself. Instead, we ended up in the mall just across the street from the rally, next to the Mariott Hotel. According to the PD, there were 80,000 people! We stood there for close to three hours before the actual speech took place.

Bruce Springsteen sang to the crowd. I am not a big Springsteen fan, but the tone of music tapped into what we have all been feeling the past few years – that sense of clinging to hope in a time of hopelessness – perfect for the occasion. I can only compare his music to Bob Dilan.


And the man of the hour... Michelle and their two girls were there too.

It was truly humbling to be a part of history... to share a connection with so many people who truly want a better future... to join with 80,000 people in prayer for this country and our candidate. This is the real moral majority!

I must confess I'm pretty tired from the experience tonight. I will try to post more of my thoughts about everything that I witnessed and heard later this week.

You can view more pics and read the PD report here.