Oprah rally moved to a 80,000 seat college football stadium

[Hope And Change]

Oprah rally moved to football stadium

COLUMBIA, South Carolina (CNN) – Relax, University of South Carolina football fans. Your season may be over, but Williams-Brice Stadium won't be empty for long.

Sen. Barack Obama's presidential campaign announced Wednesday afternoon that because of overwhelming demand, their rally on Sunday with Oprah Winfrey will be moved to the 80,000 seat college football stadium in Columbia (although, the campaign said they don't expect to fill the stadium — that's coach Steve Spurrier's job).

The campaign had been scheduled to hold the rally at the Colonial Center in downtown Columbia, which seats 18,000 people, but on Tuesday Obama's state director Stacey Brayboy announced that "overwhelming excitement" had caused a run on free tickets.

"This event far exceeded our expectations," said Obama spokesman Kevin Griffis, who said they had to negotiate with the University of South Carolina to get the stadium for Sunday's rally.

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2007/12/05/oprah-rally-moved-to-football-stadium/

[undercoverduer]

1. Nice. . .

. . .if they draw 25,000 I will be pleased. Anymore than that I will be just outright impressed! GOBAMA!

[Dawgs]

14. Well, an 18,000 arena wasn't large enough a day or so ago.

I think 25,000 is very doable.

[MadBadger]

2. Holy shit

[Dawgs]

3. Where do you get tickets? I think I might want to go.

[Adelante]

7. Sign up

http://my.barackobama.com/page/s/scoprah?source=Blog

[waiting for hope]

16. You also have to sign a pledge that

you will vote for Obama - I'm not sure how to take that.

[K Gardner]

17. You're kidding, right??

I mean, I like Oprah and all that but I'd really hate to think my next Democratic nominee was decided by a TV Talk Show hostess.

[waiting for hope]

20. I heard it on the news this

morning and this is on the website:

Due to overwhelming demand, we are moving to a larger venue so everyone who wants to join us can attend. Tickets are NOT required, but please let us know you're coming by filling out the form below
NEW LOCATION:
Williams-Brice Stadium
University of South Carolina

Pledge your support:
I live in South Carolina and, by clicking this box, I pledge to vote for Barack Obama in the South Carolina Primary on January 26.

Undecided:
I am currently undecided about who I am voting for in the South Carolina Primary on January 26.

My bad - but that's not how it was said this morning. Perhaps they changed it after moving to a bigger venue.

[CTLawGuy]

30. thats a simple form of voter ID

it's done all the time by campaigns. They want to make sure you turn out for the primary if you're an obama supporter.

[Adelante]

23. You can say you are undecided, if you wanted to

Nobody will force you to pledge to Obama. Your remark about Oprah deciding your vote is odd.

[K Gardner]

27. Oh no, Oprah wouldn't decide *my* vote, but I don't think its a far stretch to feel that there

are enough TV/MSM dominated Americans who will vote for whomever seems popular. I don't think that is a stretch at all.

[Adelante]

28. Whew, you had me scared for a minute

;)


I dunno, I can never imagine anyone having that kind of influence over me. I mean, if Wes Clark couldn't do it, Oprah sure couldn't do it - lol

[babylonsister]

18. Link? I think you're full of it; how would they know? nt

[waiting for hope]

21. Please read my response -

I heard that on the news this morning - I'm not trying to start anything but that's what they said.

[babylonsister]

22. Thanks for elaborating. If I wanted or could go, I'd sign it. I think

they are just trying to thin the crowds out, but either way, that seems sort of dumb to me.

[alteredstate]

34. Not true --- here's the actual text :

On the RSVP form, there are three boxes to check --

Volunteer:
I will volunteer time to help the campaign

Pledge your support:
I live in South Carolina and, by clicking this box, I pledge to vote for Barack Obama in the South Carolina Primary on January 26.

Undecided:
I am currently undecided about who I am voting for in the South Carolina Primary on January 26.


All campaigns I.D. supporters. There's nothing wrong with doing it.

http://my.barackobama.com/page/s/scoprah?source=homepage

[Hieronymus]

44. I heard that on thee news, too.

[alteredstate]

60. The news was wrong.

[alteredstate]

31. RSVP at www.barackobama.com n/t

[elizm]

39. You don't need tickets now that it has been moved to the stadium

It is now...."Have it and they will come" kind of thing.

[BOSSHOG]

4. Will each attendee get a new car?

[hwmnbn]

40. Your comment made me laugh...

I have nothing more to add but thanks. :rofl:

[THUNDER HANDS]

5. wow

even if you support another candidate, you have to admit this is impressive.

[Benhurst]

6. Maybe she should consider running for office.

:shrug:

[Dawgs]

10. Why, everyone I know is going to see Obama - me included.

And if they're not, her support will likely help him.

[Benhurst]

13. I would like to think he is the major draw; but the cult of celebrity has

a firm grip on this country.

I fear Britney Spears could still draw a crowd.

[babylonsister]

8. Holy moly! Sweet! nt

[Adelante]

9. Now I'm nervous

What if it looks empty? :scared:

[Dawgs]

11. Don't worry. It's still going to be twice as large as any other candidate could get.

[IndyOp]

15. They will pack everyone in one area -- like behind the net -- and it will look

packed. They want everyone in one area so that they can set up the stage and have everyone in attendance looking directly at the stage or at least seeing the speakers from an angle. They wouldn't want anyone looking at Obama or Oprah's backs.

If I am nervous, it is only because I am supporting John Edwards and he doesn't have an Oprah to help him draw such huge crowds. I think his campaign needs to get one, quickly.

[Adelante]

26. That's a good point

"it will look packed"

I feel better, thanks :hi:

[MadBadger]

29. Net?

[IndyOp]

59. Goalpost? End zone? Pitcher's mound? Dugout? ;D

:hi:

[alteredstate]

38. Join us!

We'll be there as volunteers ---aiding handicapped guests.

[Adelante]

42. I so wish I could, sweetie

I have only vicarious pleasure in this primary.

[tom_paine]

12. Seig Oprah!

:rofl:

[cali]

19. man, you just blew Godwin's law to smithereens

Couldn't get much dumber than that.

[tom_paine]

45. Why do the idiots I have on ignore insist on replying to me?

I can't read it. I won't see it. What is your compulsion with me?

I have no idea what was said or who the idiot in question is, but I would guess they are both infantile and insulting, if I know the cyberstalker-asshole mentality.

I can't make a stupid joke without some asshole jumping all over me for it?

Get a life, cyber-stalker. I can't see which one you are, but GET A FUCKING LIFE!

[Catherine Vincent]

50. ??

huh?

[tom_paine]

58. I'll be happy to explain. Whoever it is that is sandwiched between my previous posts

is one of the few (there are no more than 4 current DUers who are on my ignore list and only those who don't debate in the least, and usually just do what I call "sneer and smear" instead of discuss issues (FULL DISCLOSURE: I am not perfect, I am sure there have been times when I have been mean, but I don't make a daily habit of it, not even close).

I refuse to look at what someone has said when I have them on ignore, I have long ago determined that for those few people I have there is no point. 99% chance the person is just being a jerk, and in this case, the jerkiness is towards a simple dumb joke.

Does that (rhymes with class-goal), whoever it is, REALLY think I think Oprah is Hitler-like, or do they just get off on being that way they can't stop. Anyhow, on the rare occasions when one of these few responds to me (and I usually let people know when I put them on ignore so we can steer clear of each other, and for most I think that's just mutually fine, but not for one or maybe two (rhymes with glass-moles) I often leave this little note which, since they are mostlikely trying to bait me, they will likely also come back and check.

So, that's your explanation.

I'm actually glad you asked, cat_girl :hi:

[Sultana]

24. Wow

too bad I can't be there.

[ronnykmarshall]

25. Damn! O is really popular.

Oprah that is.

:hide:

[alteredstate]

32. Yes she is!

And it's great that she's supports Barack Obama, isn't it?

[ronnykmarshall]

33. Yes the mighty Oprah will lead us all.

Parody's not one of your strong points is it?

[alteredstate]

36. I'm just glad you bumped this thread...

Lots of Obama supporters were told there were no more tickets to the event, and they'll be thrilled to hear it will be held in a larger venue.

[Hope And Change]

35. Change of Venue for Oprah-Obama Event

December 5, 2007, 4:30 pm
Change of Venue for Oprah-Obama Event

By Katharine Q. Seelye



Williams-Brice Stadium (Photo: gamecocksonline.cstv.com)


How big is Oprah in South Carolina?

Barack Obama’s campaign has just moved its Oprah event on Sunday from an arena in Columbia seating 18,000 to a football stadium with a capacity of more than 80,000.

Tickets, which are free, http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/12/03/oprah-overload-alert/">went quickly on Monday, when they were first available, and the campaign had to shut down its distribution system. Now, the campaign says, tickets aren’t even necessary, although it hopes people will RSVP through its http://my.barackobama.com/page/s/scoprah">Web site.

The new venue is http://gamecocksonline.cstv.com/facilities/scar-facilities-wb-stadium.html">Williams-Brice Stadium at the University of South Carolina. Doors open at 12:30 p.m., Eastern and the event starts at 2:30 p.m.

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/12/05/change-of-venue-for-sc-oprah-obama-event/">Source

[alteredstate]

37. Obama for America staff members arrived at the Columbia office on Monday

to find supporters camped out at the front door, hoping to snare tickets to the event.

[Nimrod2005]

41. Praise the _________!!!!!!

[MethuenProgressive]

43. Is Donnie McClurkin the opening act?

That might explain all the excitement...

[FredScuttle]

46. Methinks Pastor Donnie the "Ex-Gay" Clown has been shown the door

now that he served his purpose....now that Obama is rising in the polls, can't be reminding folks that he welcomed a clown bigot to headline his last major campaign event in SC. :eyes:

[alteredstate]

55. Nice try. n/t

[Snarkturian Clone]

47. I picture Oprah standing in front of all those people

and yelling "OPRAH HAS SPOKEN!!!" with lightning shooting out of her fingers.

[Bluebear]

48. Which anti-gay entertainers will be on this program? nt

[Colobo]

49. Viva Obama!

[Catherine Vincent]

51. Those people are only going because they think they'll get gifts.

j/k

[progressoid]

52. Maybe Oprah should run for President.

[ellacott]

57. A man did start a campaign to draft Oprah earlier this year n/t

[Beacool]

53. How did the national process survive all these years

without the great Oprah???? So, now that the TV Queen has spoken thousands of people will run to the voting booth to vote for her protege? If people are really this gullible it explains how we ended up with Bush.

[donheld]

54. How can people say Oprah will not have an effect

If this is happening she WILL have an effect.

[mckeown1128]

56. Hey good news...

I just found out military is letting my wife off work sunday so she and I will be going. :bounce: