If you saw Kerry/Edwards in Orlando check in here

[SlavesandBulldozers]

I know its a little late, but I didn't see this thread yet. I wanted to check in and give DU an update about the rally that occurred in quite possibly the single most important district in the entire race.

Here was the lineup as i remember it:
Some guy from InSync or the Backstreet Boys
Grant Hill (Orlando Magic)
Corrine Brown (if you don't know who she is youre a retard)
Buddy Dyer (smooth Orlando Mayor)
Kerry/Edwards

Corrine Brown walked around on the stage with a pair of gloves, saying "take the gloves off!"

Buddy Dyer was solid and optimistic. I want to pass the name Buddy Dyer around DU as well, because this guy is an incredibly solid Democratic Mayor. Keep your eye on this guy, he's doing great things for Orlando.

Kerry was hoarse, but one particular quote i remember (and one indicative of the fact that he is indeed "taking the gloves off" was a quote he read of Bush's. Kerry went, "I'm quoting verbatim here, this is a quote of Bush's: 'The CIA. . . . . uhhhhh. . . . . . '". Hopefully somebody else that was there can filli in the blanks on this quote (who Bush was speaking to etc.) But it seems that Kerry is really starting to corner Bush on his overall ineptitute. Re:Edwards, what can you say about the guy? His vitality is contagious.

The turnout was great. No Freeper interruptions. Pretty good union turnout. Orlando is going to be ready to get out the vote for Kerry.

[dryan]

1. Great coverage...

of Orlando rally - wonderful photo on the front page of "Central Florida Future"!

[TSIAS]

2. I was there

It was a very impressive crowd. I heard somewhere around 10,000 were in attendance.

[Crazy8s]

3. the press

has been saying 75 hundred. I thought that sounded off.

[TSIAS]

4. My guess

There were 8000 in the lower bowl, along with 2000 standing on the floor.

[iamjoy]

5. I Helped Work It

Walking around outside making sure everyone was registered to vote.

I didn't want to stand on the floor since I hate crowds, but with my volunteer badge I sneaked into the press section. I said "Hi - wlecome to Orlando, Florida" to some guy from the London Times then really embarrassed us both because he asked how I thought the campaign was going and I said, "I can't comment, I mean, I'm a volunteer, not a campaign spokesperson so I really can't talk about it" He apologized and said he didn't mean that so he was probably just being friendly, but you never can tell.

When Kerry and Edwards came out it was phenomenal, the arena went dark, the lights flashed and the announcer dragged the words out dramatically like they do at sporting events. The whole atmosphere was more like a rock concert or something (BTW - that was Chris Kirkpatrick from N'Sync.) Our candidates were on stage, and Kerry is cool and everything, but Edwards really seems to drink in the adulation like it's a Wendy's Frostee.

So glad they made it here between hurricanes.