Saw John Kerry and Bill Clinton in Phila. yesterday.

[madmax]

It was Grrrrrrrrrrrreat!!

Hubby and I got up at 4:30 a.m. Dressed and out the door. Stopped at Dunkin Donuts for coffee and bagels, to go. Arrived at the Kerry Hqtrs. in Phila. at 7 a.m. got signs, clip boards, and tickets to the rally to distribute.

Then we hit the streets and commuter locations. We canvassed for people to sign up to work on November 2. The response was awesome. I only encountered 4 bush supporters. The cabs in Phila. are covered with Kerry stickers everywhere but the windows! We worked the streets until 11:00 and then headed to Love Park.

Everyone was pumped up for a Kerry win. All colors, shapes, sizes, gender, young, old. Rockers, rappers, hippies and high brow. The lady next to me was wearing a Republicans for Kerry button. I asked her if she really was a Republican - she said, yes until bushie jr. stole the election and made a mess of the last 3.8 years.

Although no one really knew each other it was like a huge neighborhood block party with 120k neighbors. Talking, laughing - sharing our hopes and fears. Laughing and dis'ing bush. Mostly we expressed our hopes and belief that Kerry will win the election. It was very moving.

At 3:00 p.m. 2 very tired and happy Kerry supporters left Phila.
I'm exhausted - back to bed for a nap. :boring:

[Eurobabe]

1. oh you LUCKY BUM!

I did not get to see Kerry in primaries, and have never seen BD. Ohio?

[Claire Beth]

2. great!

Wish I could have been there. Congratulations on going.

[Catherine Vincent]

3. Any pics?

[madmax]

4. No pics

I was too far away. The crowd was huge. All the folks around me could hardly see them but we heard them loud and clear.

You have a good pic from one of the papers, right?

[AIJ Alom]

5. Nice. You are truly blessed.

[CottonBear]

8. How did the crowd react to Kerry's speech?

Last night the cable news anchor said that no one paid any attention to Kerry's speech after he started speaking about domestic issues. I thought this was a bunch of bull especially since no one would report or show the huge crowd. They never showed a shot of the vast throng of people or interviewed any of them.

[madmax]

13. They listened intently to Kerry and kept breaking in

with chants of Kerrrrry, Kerrrrrrry. Don't believe the bull. They were so pumped. Clinton spoke very briefly - Kerry took over and the crowd went nuts for him. I know - I was one who screamed herself hoarse.

I've seen great wide angle shots of the event. HUGE crowd.

Tell you something else, the Phila. cops and Secret Service were fantastic. So NICE!! Everyone was in such a good mood. Folks we talked to on the street on their way to work who said they couldn't make it expressed disappointment and shared their hope that Kerry win. They offered encouragement and good wishes. What a blast!

[CottonBear]

14. Wow! Thanks for the report.

You are so fortunate to have been there. I live a a southern red state. Kerry has not come here. Edwards came once, but it was mid-week about 2 hours away from where I live. However, I hope to meet them once they are in office!

[LSK]

15. the news anchor was full of shit!!!

But what else is new. I saw it on CSpan and the crowd was hanging on every word.

[Name removed]

6. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Buck Rabbit]

7. Ha Ha Ha, You so funny.

In that cellophane suit.

[movonne]

9. Yeah, thats a good one....the only problem is we will not have any

more elections...I think I will stick with Kerry...I think you should too...Let me know how you feel about that...

[CottonBear]

11. Isn't it interesting that your first post is anti-Kerry? n/t

[Catherine Vincent]

12. You're voting Bush because you're an idiot.

[LSK]

16. why would you assume there would be a vote if bush has 4 more years??

[annerevere]

10. What a great report!

Thank you. When I start feeling abit down about Kerry's chances, I will read your post to keep my spirits up.

Should be required reading for everyone.

[Mandate My Ass]

17. It was fantastic and here's a good article on the feel of it

as well as the numbers:

http://www.philly.com/mld/dailynews/10015780.htm

Jill Porter | Clinton proves to be tonic for Kerry at rally

By Jill Porter

STATE SEN. Vince Fumo said it first:

"The last person who spoke to a crowd like this was the pope when he said Mass over there," Fumo giddily noted from the podium overlooking thousands of supporters who turned out for yesterday's John Kerry rally.

Indeed, the pontiff's 1979 visit and the 1980 World Series parade were, in my memory, the only other times so many people in this city poured into the city streets for a common cause.

The pope, the Phillies - and yesterday, the Democratic Pied Piper.

But if Bill Clinton was good at energizing the thousands of troops at the rally, John Kerry was - incredibly - better.

This article has another great crowd shot that was not included in the first crowd shot that's been circulating here. This pic was taken pointing north from 15th or 16th St. along city hall while the other was taken pointing east from BFPkway toward city hall. This is a perpendicular view.

http://www.philly.com/mld/dailynews/10016663.htm