Is the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul the place to be tuesday?

[george_maniakes]

How many people can fit in there, and can obama fill it to the brim with a motivated crowd? What a signal this would be to the republican party.

[Aloha Spirit]

1. I'll be checking in at thepage.time.com for updates

http://thepage.time.com/2008/05/30/obama-ponders-tuesday-st-paul-gambit/

[scarletwoman]

2. Oh hell, yes! I think Obama got something like 76% of the Minnesota delegates.

I'm quite confident that it will be packed to the rafters.

Peace,
sw

[babylonsister]

3. Yes, according to Politico:

http://www.jedreport.com/2008/05/politico-obama.html

Politico: Obama plans to kick-off general election Tuesday


Ben Smith says that it will be in St. Paul, Minnesota -- in the Xcel Energy Center, the same facility that will house the GOP convention in September:

Tuesday is the night of the final Democratic primaries, and the choice of venue is a mischievous, aggressive way for Obama to unofficially kick off the general election campaign against Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.). The location gives huge meaning to the moment, with Obama likely to frame a tough case against his new opponent in the very hall where McCain will accept his party’s nomination.

[KittyWampus]

5. it's so "in your face", just priceless.

[slinkerwink]

10. hahaha, I know. It made me laugh when I heard about it. Talk about the ultimate

definition of McCain, right in his own home base.

[crickets]

25. I *love* it!

That is too in-your-face ballsy and hilarious. You have to hand it Obama and his campaign staff for coming up with that.

[tishaLA]

4. when I saw that article on The Page, I thought to myself....

"It's time to book a room in Chicago in early November. Early reservation in a central location...ready for the victory speech."

A girl's gotta plan ahead.

[MinneapolisMatt]

6. Holy crap!

This is news to me, and I'm so going and bringing 10 of my friends. SWEET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[george_maniakes]

7. It would be nice if clinton agreed to concede that night, and support obama there...

that would send quite the signal to mccain: playtime is over.

[slinkerwink]

11. that would give her such a great boost, I think

[jefferson_dem]

15. If she did that, I would take back anything bad i've ever said about her...

and plaster a Hillary! sticker on my bumper.

Sadly, I don't believe for a minute it will happen.

[Mister Ed]

8. I'd guesstimate the max capacity to be 18,000

I did a quick web check and didn't find the answer. But I've been to concerts there, and it looks about the size of other 18,000-seaters I've been in.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

18. 18,064, to be exact.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xcel_Energy_Center

Good guess!

[MinneapolisMatt]

9. K&R

Oh I am so excited, I thought I missed my chance to try and see him earlier this year!

[jefferson_dem]

12. This beautiful bus will be there...in spirit at least.

Gawd, I miss Paul. I think he would be proud.

[Condem]

13. george

Saw the Vote for Change show there in 04. Springsteen, REM, Fogarty and...and yeah, Neil Young. One of the best nights of my life. How fitting.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

14. Wonder what time of day this will happen...

I'm THERE if I can get out of work!

:woohoo:

[myrna minx]

16. I would think the Obama camp would send out emails to Minnesotans

when this is confirmed. I want tickets too! I hope it's in the evening, so i can go.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

17. Just checked my email -- nothing yet.

This is cool. It bugs the hell out of me that the Repubs are having their disgusting convention here (I'm tempted to leave town for the duration), so it's especially nice that Obama is kicking off the campaign here, too.

[myrna minx]

19. I know. WHY did they have to choose HERE of all places.

I think it's fantastic that Obama will kick off his campaign here too, so it's giving those of us who live here something to be proud of, rather than having having the knowledge that the republicans are going to be slinking around the streets of our fair cities.

[Occam Bandage]

22. Probably because it's where Johnny Mac is going to accept his nomination. Still strange.

[myrna minx]

23. I was bemoaning the fact that the republicans choose our fair cities to

slime. I think it's pure genius that Obama is kicking off his campaign here because the RNC convention will be held at the same space. :toast:

[grannylib]

28. I'm taking the Tuesday after Labor Day off to go protest with

Sarahbellum. It disgusts me too that so many additional rePukes will be defiling our great state, but someone has to be part of the "welcoming committee."
:evilgrin:

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

20. Local TV station says it's free and open to the public - Tuesday evening!

http://kstp.com/article/stories/S461482.shtml?cat=1

:woohoo:

[myrna minx]

21. Thanks. I wonder when the line will start to form?

Yikes. The Target Center was full before I even left my house to go!

[billyoc]

24. I hope they have those "bobblefoot"s for sale!

:woohoo:

[LaStrega]

26. Xcel holds about 18,600 not including ...

standing room and chairs on the floor.

I. Am. So. There.

:bounce: :woohoo: :bounce:

k&r

[Hawkeye-X]

27. Aw hell, I'll be in Obama's town for 4 days on a business trip..

I'll be keeping an eye on the headlines and taking 'em home.

Hawkeye-X

[Thrill]

29. This is official now!!

[tekisui]

30. Will he speak after the polls close in SD and MT or before?

[george_maniakes]

31. Tuesday, June 3rd doors open at 07:00pm. n/t

[tekisui]

32. Polls close at 8pm Central in SD, and 8pm MST in MT.

So, SD closes at 8pm MN time, and MT at 9pm MN time.

9 and 10 EST.

If doors open at 7pm, he could be speaking as late as 9pm.

He will be Presumptive Nominee at 9pm, I expect.