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Obama packs the house
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| Staff photo by Krista Brown Chelsea Clinton, daughter of Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, visits with Beloit College students Monday after a question and answer session. |
By Ashley Rhodebeck
Daily News staff writer
Beloit College hosts presidential rally
Eighteen-year old Emily Neigel, her sister - a Beloit College student - and 10 to 15 other young adults began waiting outside Flood Arena about 3:30 p.m. for Illinois Sen. Barack Obama's Monday night rally despite the frigid weather. They passed the time playing cards and singing and ordered pizza to the building for dinner.
People were let inside about 7:30 p.m. Obama didn't take the stage until nearly two hours later.
“It went by really fast,” Neigel said of the wait. “It was an opportunity I wasn't going to miss.”
The first-time voter wasn't alone. Beloit College's Flood Arena was packed to capacity, filling the south bleachers and every available standing-room space on the floor. By the time Obama finally arrived and took his place on the square black podium he appeared to be riding a wave of supporters - just as he hopes to do today during the Wisconsin primary.
“I was betting on you when I decided to run,” the U.S. senator from Illinois told the crowd.
For about 40 minutes, Obama captivated the attendees, making them erupt into cheers and whistles with one comment and quieting them by firmly starting a new sentence.
Obama talked of little more than promises of what he will do if elected U.S. president, such as ending the war in Iraq, investing in American jobs, providing health care to all, strengthening education and cutting college costs. Judging by how the hordes often drowned out his sentences, every item seemed to be a crowd-pleaser.
These were promises Beloit resident Mike Weber had already heard in sound bites. Instead of just accepting them he said he wondered about the details, especially because most of Obama's agenda items seem pricey.
Even so, Weber couldn't ignore Obama's charisma and said, “I got goose bumps listening to him.”
Weber particularly liked Obama's message of hope. Critics, Obama said, likened his hope to wide optimism, ignorance or an unwillingness to work for results.
“I know how hard it's going to be to change this country,” Obama said. “I know how good intentions are not enough.”
Thus, he spoke about the importance of citizens uniting toward making the country better.
“We've got to come together,” Obama said. “We've got to solve the problems. We can't leave them for somebody else.”
That message particularly struck Beloit College alumna Janice Altmayer, who drove to the rally from Arlington Heights, Ill. Although Altmayer is a longtime Obama supporter - she recounted her faith in him when he ran for state senator - she had never seen him in person and had to when she learned her two worlds were to collide.
“Barack and Beloit,” she said, noting he didn't disappoint. “To see and hear him at the same time was very impressive.”
Not all attendees, such as Zach Anderson, 16, were of age to vote. As part of the Beloit Memorial High pep band, the sophomore had a choice to perform at the rally and did so because it would be a new experience. Throughout the night he would think how he could be in the same room with the future president.
“That was the most interesting part of the whole night,” Anderson said.
Eighteen-year old Emily Neigel, her sister - a Beloit College student - and 10 to 15 other young adults began waiting outside Flood Arena about 3:30 p.m. for Illinois Sen. Barack Obama's Monday night rally despite the frigid weather. They passed the time playing cards and singing and ordered pizza to the building for dinner.
People were let inside about 7:30 p.m. Obama didn't take the stage until nearly two hours later.
“It went by really fast,” Neigel said of the wait. “It was an opportunity I wasn't going to miss.”
The first-time voter wasn't alone. Beloit College's Flood Arena was packed to capacity, filling the south bleachers and every available standing-room space on the floor. By the time Obama finally arrived and took his place on the square black podium he appeared to be riding a wave of supporters - just as he hopes to do today during the Wisconsin primary.
“I was betting on you when I decided to run,” the U.S. senator from Illinois told the crowd.
For about 40 minutes, Obama captivated the attendees, making them erupt into cheers and whistles with one comment and quieting them by firmly starting a new sentence.
Obama talked of little more than promises of what he will do if elected U.S. president, such as ending the war in Iraq, investing in American jobs, providing health care to all, strengthening education and cutting college costs. Judging by how the hordes often drowned out his sentences, every item seemed to be a crowd-pleaser.
These were promises Beloit resident Mike Weber had already heard in sound bites. Instead of just accepting them he said he wondered about the details, especially because most of Obama's agenda items seem pricey.
Even so, Weber couldn't ignore Obama's charisma and said, “I got goose bumps listening to him.”
Weber particularly liked Obama's message of hope. Critics, Obama said, likened his hope to wide optimism, ignorance or an unwillingness to work for results.
“I know how hard it's going to be to change this country,” Obama said. “I know how good intentions are not enough.”
Thus, he spoke about the importance of citizens uniting toward making the country better.
“We've got to come together,” Obama said. “We've got to solve the problems. We can't leave them for somebody else.”
That message particularly struck Beloit College alumna Janice Altmayer, who drove to the rally from Arlington Heights, Ill. Although Altmayer is a longtime Obama supporter - she recounted her faith in him when he ran for state senator - she had never seen him in person and had to when she learned her two worlds were to collide.
“Barack and Beloit,” she said, noting he didn't disappoint. “To see and hear him at the same time was very impressive.”
Not all attendees, such as Zach Anderson, 16, were of age to vote. As part of the Beloit Memorial High pep band, the sophomore had a choice to perform at the rally and did so because it would be a new experience. Throughout the night he would think how he could be in the same room with the future president.
“That was the most interesting part of the whole night,” Anderson said.
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