Here are some photos of Obama in Reno yesterday, taken by my daughter

[Emit]

I was so pleased that my daughter and her friends were able to get up close enough to see Obama. "My hand just brushed up against Obama's!" she excitedly reported to me by cell phone, lost somewhere in the crowd.

My father-in-law called me today to tell me he got 200 photos of Obama! He was situated a few feet behind my daughter - can't wait to see his pics. I have to say, this man -- a Vietnam War Veteran and life-long Republican -- is out knocking and walking for Obama every week. Last weekend, he walked from 10am in the morning until 5pm!

My mother-in-law sat directly behind Obama, and much to her surprise, she's in most of the straight-on shots of him (she's camera shy). My sis got in, and my SO was in the press crew area.

I was thankful "my people" got in to see Obama. It was a great crowd.

I didn't get to see Obama up close, but I am okay with that. My day started before sunrise, where I was dispatched to my little post (a portion of the line that stretched for miles) to oversee and help about 20 volunteers. We were doing voter registration, volunteer sign up and a little crowd control. When Obama started to speak, and the crowd was well inside the gates, I roamed around a bit and assessed the crowd. It was a beautiful sight to see.

The number of Democrats in Nevada, statewide, now outnumber Republicans by almost 80,000. And, within Washoe County, recently reported as the swing county of the swing state, Democrats are just 2,000 registered voters behind Republicans. Sometime earlier last month, we were just 3,000 behind. We may not exceed the Republicans in number of registered voters here in Washoe County, as the deadline to register to vote is quickly upon us, but, I think Nevada has a strong possibility of turning blue this year!

"I need you Nevada," Obama said at the end of a fiery, 30-minute campaign speech that focused on the economy. "And if you go to work with me and organize with me, we will not just win Nevada, we will win this general election. And you and I together will change the country and change the world," he said to loud cheers.

Here are a few more photos from the event, found at one of our local newspaper's website:


Hands go skyward when Barack Obama asked for those whose family incomes was under $250,000 Tuesday morning on the Quad at the University of Nevada, Reno.


Packed in like sardines, thousands of people showed up to hear Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama speak Tuesday morning at UNR.


More from the quote above:

"I need you Nevada," Obama said at the end of a fiery, 30-minute campaign speech that focused on the economy.

"And if you go to work with me and organize with me, we will not just win Nevada, we will win this general election. And you and I together will change the country and change the world," he said to loud cheers.

Nevada is considered one of about eight tossup states that could help swing the election in November. Republican President George Bush carried Nevada the past two elections after Democrat Bill Clinton won it twice before.

Thomas P. Lean, UNR's assistant director of facilities operations, estimated there were as many as 12,000 on the university Quad to hear Obama's speech. Lean based his estimate on seating at spring commencement exercises.

That would triple the estimated 4,000 who turned out in September 2004 for Democratic vice presidential candidate John Edwards.

"I was at the Edwards event and it was nothing compared to this," Lean said. "They were jammed in there like sardines."

http://www.kolotv.com/home/headlines/29948984.html


edited for clarity and typos

[VenusRising]

1. It's so exciting to see him in person!

I wasn't so lucky to get up close, but I got some great pictures and memories from that day.

Glad that your daughter was so fortunate. :)

And good for your FIL. It's people like him that are taking this country back one door at a time. :applause:

[Emit]

4. Very exciting, yes

My FIL has a unique approach with voters here in NV, especially undecided Repubs and Non-Partisans -- he can talk a lot about his transition from voting for Bush to now supporting Obama. We talked at great length the other night about it, because my approach, as a life-long Dem and having never supported Bush, brings something wholly biased to the table with certain voters. Anyway, I'm just glad he's out there with us on this one. I think he will turn a few voters in our direction.

[democracy1st]

2. Incredible pictures thanks for sharing

Its great to see so many people all over the country come together.

[Emit]

15. We had tourists from downtown walking down to see what was happening

They were so pleased to be able to attend an Obama event that they didn't even plan for! One lady and her husband from CA sat the night before and helped us make signs. They just happened to be taking a walk on campus - this woman was incredible and had her own heart-rendering story about having had multiple brain surgeries and being kicked off her health insurance. She was a walking testimony of all that is wrong with health care in the US.

Anyway, yes, it was good to see so many there, and to hear various stories of what brought people there.

[democracy1st]

21. great to hear how excited your daughter was also

I'm sure she'll never forget that moment

[Hekate]

3. Fabulous! I just found out my son in Las Vegas will vote for Obama!

His girlfriend is active in Dem politics there, so she was probably the main influence in converting his Green self. :D

When he called me up for my b'day over the weekend I said, "Look, I'm only going to say this once because I don't want to bug you, but you live in a swing state and it is *crucial*..." "It's okay, Mom, I'm voting for Obama." :bounce:

He bought his starter home for $225K just two years ago, and now he says he could price it at $100K and it would just sit there. Ouch. Fortunately he didn't get in over his head in the first place, and in the second place he has had roommates all along who essentially pay the mortgage with their rent. Nonetheless, his whole tract is full of empty houses and apartments. It's not good.

Hekate

[ginnyinWI]

11. Just found out my Repub brother is leaning strongly Obama too.

I'm from a strongly conservative family, so this is a real break though for me! I converted 16 years ago.

My reaction when my mom told me? "He ought to be!" He's a blue collar worker, 54 years old.

[H2O Man]

5. Great!

Thank you for sharing these photos with us.

Nominated.

[Emit]

17. Thanks, H2O Man. It was so inspiring to hear this man speak

and to see the crowd so excited, positive and genuinely enthused about him. When my FIL sends me some of his shots, I might post more later. :hi:

Edited to add, I was also very happy to hear him go into detail about his tax plan - we've been hammered here with one scary ad after another from McCain, falsely accusing Obama of wanting to raise taxes on small business owners, folks who earn 42K or more and senior citizens. He was very direct about that.

[Dammit Ann]

6. Beautiful.

thank you and your daughter.





edited for intake of beer.

[Waiting For Everyman]

7. Great pics, thank you!

That was a serious-looking group, while they were waiting - in the last picture.

[No Elephants]

8. Great. Thanks. BTW, how tall is the bald guy and the guy in the Nevade hoodie?

[Emit]

9. Very, apparently

:D

[Lerkfish]

10. GLAD to see a secret service contingent doing their jobs in those photos.

[Emit]

13. Me, too. We were worried about the venue

Even though they had the metal detector gates, there is difficulty in controlling the crowd because of the campus setup, and many people entered from the wrong area. When a rogue line to get in started forming in an area that bypassed the main entrance, our team was asked to respond and funnel folks back to the main line. I think many of us were concerned about security. But, the people I knew who were in the crowd and closer up said the secret service were plentiful and doing their jobs well.

[Patiod]

12. I'm so jealous - I'm going to miss his visit to my county on Friday

I'm on vacation in Maine, and he's coming to my county in Pennsylvania on Friday. Then The Boss is playing a free concert in Philadelphia on Saturday, which I'll miss as well.

Glad you and your family had such a good experience at the rally, and got good pictures.

[vaberella]

14. Who's the hot White guy in shades? SS? Yum, I'd like him for lunch.

On a more excited (as in happy for Obama) note GREAT PICS!! Wow, look at that pull in, I love it.

[Emit]

16. lol, my daughter called herself doubly lucky for that shot

Obama and the hot SS guy - how lucky can a 17 year old get?

[vaberella]

18. Maybe if you have them delivering double fudge chocolate cake. Oooh...I wish I were her. n/t

[Cha]

19. It's interesting to see your daughter's

perspective in photos, Emit..great shots. I love reading about your FIL's story..anyone who can be on the other side and see the light has a lot to bring to this historical election year.

Can't wait to see his pics! Wonderful OP, you set it up for us just right.

Maybe Bill Clinton should go back to Nevada:)

[renate]

20. the pictures are great, but...

I LOVE the part about your Republican father-in-law drumming up votes for Obama. That is so wonderful. :loveya: :patriot:

[Emit]

22. Thanks - he's working so hard for Obama because he really believes in Obama

It is such a wonderful feeling to have this connection with my FIL. He was not a supporter of Bush by 2004, and he supported Kerry, but he was not ready to go to the streets knocking on behalf of Kerry. He did talk with his friends and other family members, but this time, he took it upon himself to go and volunteer for Obama. He has his talking points down, too. Having a conversation with him is a treat, imho, as he has effectively and simply boiled it all down to the specifics that impact his neighbors. He is very persuasive and will win some votes for Obama, no doubt.

[Virginia Dare]

23. But the media told me Obama's not talking about the economy..

thanks to you and your daughter for some excellent pics, change is coming...:yourock:

[seabeyond]

24. tell your daughter she did SUCH a good job, and thank you. n/t