Loyola Greyhound

Issue date: 2/19/08 Section: News

Media Credit: Mike Tirone Senator Barack Obama speaking at 1st Mariner Arena in Baltimore, MD. According to CNN Obama leads Senator Clinton by 49 delegates 1,262 to 1,213 as of Feb. 12th.

The presidential campaign train came steamrolling into Charm City last week for the Maryland, Virginia, and Washington D.C. primary on Tuesday. The two Democratic candidates, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, went into the polls "neck-to-neck," "jockeying for position" or any other sort of way to describe that both are narrowly close in grabbing the Democratic nomination.

Senator Obama held a rally downtown at Baltimore's 1st Mariner Arena on Monday, Feb. 11. The windy streets of Baltimore City were filled with thousands of Obama supporters baring the chilly elements, relentless salesmen pushing their silk-screen T-shirts, news reporters covering the event, and helicopters flying above. The entire arena was barricaded by the thousands of rally participants waiting for the so carefree security guards to allow people to hear the words of "change."

As a college student during my second election in which my voice could be heard I looked at the event very intently.

Walking into the arena and through the security check was by far the easiest process of the day. Guards watched as the hoards of people came walking through the narrow turnstile like they were forced to sit and watch re-runs of "My So Called Life"-- little emotion, attention, or enthusiasm. (Luckily, I was told that the security for people standing on the floor at stage level actually had medal protectors and specific bag checks.)

Upon entering into the main portion of the arena, the fight for "good seats" was something to remember. People had their seven layers spread across an entire row to reserve seats close enough to see the senator. Come to find out later, the upper balcony was a fine area to be a spectator.

People were still coming in around 3:30 p.m., filling the arena to capacity with a projected attendance of 13,000. Another hour went by allowing for the crowd to settle into their seats. The Maryland pride showed its transcendence during the national anthem as the entire crowd sprung to the occasion to chant the "O" for the Orioles rather than the proceeding "…can you see." Granted the anthem was sung nearly two hours before Obama spoke his first words, the audience was obviously full of energy. Opening "acts" consisted of the senator's campaign chair Nicole Price, 14-year-old violinist Josh Coin (who dampened the audience's mood with his very melancholy chords), and Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon who attempted to energize the Maryland public.

Continued...

Page 1 of 3 next >

Article Tools