Rain doesn’t dampen spirit at Fredericksburg Obama rally

By Kipp Hanley, Media General News Service
Published: September 28, 2008

Fredericksburg resident Helen Ross never thought she would be able to walk a block and a half to see something like Saturday’s Barack Obama-Joe Biden campaign rally at the University of Mary Washington.

But with Virginia a battleground state in this year’s presidential election, the Obama campaign has become very familiar with the traditionally conservative Old Dominion. Obama’s visit to Fredericksburg was his second appearance in the Northern Virginia area since being chosen as the Democratic presidential candidate in June and marks the fifth swing through Virginia this summer.

He’s also opened 44 campaign offices in Virginia, including one in Culpeper.

A native Delawarian and likely Obama supporter, Ross said she feels “a little more pride” in her voting power now that Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware is part of the ticket.

Emily and Alan Gesser live in Herndon and came out Saturday because they are tired of the politics as usual. Emily admits that she voted for George W. Bush twice but now wants what she calls the “two c’s: change and competency.”

Out of the two candidates, Alan said Obama seems like someone that would practice what he preaches while Emily said she is concerned about the economy and the war in Iraq.

“It’s [Washington politics] disgusting, it’s not civil and it’s not all about problem solving,” said Alan, who attended Obama’s primary rally at T.C. Williams High School in Alexandria in February with Emily.

For 58-year old African American Velma Walker, it was her first time seeing Obama in person. Along with her 30-year-old daughter Alyshia and 78-year-old mother Mary Walker, Velma said it was exciting to see such a diverse crowd.

“I have always been a Democrat and always believed in diversity,” Velma said.

Several in the crowd said all the trips to Virginia were necessary for the Obama campaign, which is trying to change 40 years of presidential voting history. Lyndon Johnson was the last winning Democratic candidate that Virginia voted for in the national election.

Three hours before the event started, dozens of rowdy McCain supporters gathered on Va. 1 just down the road to cheer on their candidate.

Centreville resident Kelly Putnam said Obama can pull off the victory but it will be tough.

“It’s exciting that they are considering Virginia a purple state,” said the 27-year-old Putnam.

Preaching positivity and change are Obama’s calling cards, a message he re-ititerated Saturday to a crowd of 26,000. Fresh off a trip to Greensboro, N.C. earlier Saturday and his nationally televised debate with Republican candidate John McCain Friday in Mississippi, Obama arrived on stage with Biden in the intimate courtyard to raucous cheering.

It was a crowd filled with the old and young, black and white. And it was a dedicated bunch, braving a 30-minute downpour roughly an hour and 15 minutes before Obama took stage and during most of his 30-minute speech.

“It’s a thrill to be here back in Virginia because I think we just might turn Virginia Blue this time,” Obama said.

Kipp Hanley is a staff writer for the Potomac news and Manassas Journal-Messenger. He can be reached at (703) 369-5738.