Obama Rally In St. Louis Draws 100,000 (VIDEO, SLIDESHOW)

Barack Obama drew a crowd of 100,000 at a rally near the Gateway Arch in St. Louis on Saturday, the AP reports. McCain spent the day campaigning in North Carolina.

The focus on the stump Saturday for both Obama and McCain continued to be taxes, and the candidates traded sharp criticisms of each other's plans.

More from the AP:

McCain, trailing in the polls, fired the first volley, likening his rival to the socialist leaders of Europe and saying he wanted to "convert the IRS into a giant welfare agency, redistributing massive amounts of wealth at the direction of politicians in Washington."

McCain added, "Raising taxes on some in order to give checks to others is not a tax cut; it's just another government giveaway."

Obama responded a few hours later in appearance before an enormous crowd, saying his Republican rival "wants to cut taxes for the same people who have already been making out like bandits, in some cases literally."

"John McCain is so out of touch with the struggles you are facing that he must be the first politician in history to call a tax cut for working people 'welfare,'" Obama said.

The Wall Street Journal has more details:

Barack Obama attracted 100,000 people at a Saturday rally here, his biggest crowd ever at a U.S. event.

Story continues below

The crowd assembled under the Gateway Arch on a sunny Saturday afternoon to hear Obama speak about taxes and slam the Republicans on economic issues.

Lt. Samuel Dotson of the St. Louis Police Department confirmed the number of attendees piled into the grassy lawn by the Mississippi River.

To be sure, big crowds don't always signal a big turnout on Election Day. But Obama's ability to draw his largest audience yet in a typically red state that just weeks ago looked out of reach, could signal a changing electoral map.

For months Missouri polls put Obama as much as ten percentage points behind Republican John McCain. It was widely believed that McCain's pick of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate would have won over the state's conservatives and boosted his chances there. So far, that hasn't happened.

A Rasmussen poll released on Friday shows Obama leading in Missouri 52% to 46% for McCain.

Comments

[mistlesuede]

Senator Claire McCaskille this morning on CNN said the crowd was actually 175,000! Holy cow!

[cswalker21]

Great speech but did anyone else catch the unfortunate timing of spontaneous chanting?

Obama:" We can't afford 4 more years like the last 8."

Crowd: "YES WE CAN!! YES WE CAN!!"

[jurornumber13]

This should make it crystal clear to the the Palin/Mccain campeign who obama really "palls around" with.

http://media-files.gather.com/images/d356/d242/d745/d224/d96/f3/full.jpg

[jusion]

How about this:
http://www.southernappeal.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/obama_ayers_review.jpg

Senator Obama barely knew the guy, I tell ya.

[Knowitall]

Yeah, how about it? He read his book--about education--and endorsed it. Do you read? Do you know personally every author you read?? Again, Do you read?

[mesut]

The next step is for everyone to GET OUT & VOTE!! The ground work has been laid and now it's up to the people to go to the polls like they go to the rallies.

[compulady]

Amazing Photos! But was is also amazing to find out that the local TV press in St. Louis didn't cover it. They didn't cover history right in their front yard.

[leftcoastliberal]

The allegedly neutral press in this country has been not-so-subtly tilted against Obama from the start.

[jusion]

Are you off your meds? Many journalists are not merely observers but participants in the Obama phenomenon. Obama benefits also from probably the strongest bias of traditional, old media reporters: Against partisan combat and for a brand of politics that would transcend differences in favor of cooperation and centrism on elite issues like entitlement reform. It is time for Obama’s cheerleaders in the media to ask some questions of themselves.

[LemonMeringue]

Why doesn't HuffPo mention the rally in Kansas City, MO at 6:30 yesterday evening? There were an estimated 100,000 people there also. It was amazing. Gates opened at 4:00, but at noon the line was already over a mile long and 3-5 people deep. We didn't get anywhere near the stage but it was euphoria-making to hear the speech and see the crowd: a true cross-section of America, positive, polite, friendly, loving, upbeat. No smears from Obama, just the issues. No negativity in the crowd. He called on Americans to work for change; he didn't just promise change; he emphasized that WE have to work hard to make it happen. I so respect this good man. What he inspires in people alone makes it imperative that he be president after these dark, humanity-destroying Bush years. America may not deserve Obama but we need him desperately. We are lucky he is willing to put his life on the line for us.

It scared me because it didn't feel all that safe for him. 2 helicopters and an advertising blimp circled overhead. Officers stood on top of buildings. But it still didn't feel safe. He is very brave. I have had more trouble getting into a baseball game or on a plane than we had getting into this rally. Please, Forces of the Universe, KEEP THIS GOOD MAN SAFE

[jusion]

"Please, Forces of the Universe, KEEP THIS GOOD MAN SAFE" and away from the presidency.

[sugasweets]

I was at the St. Louis rally.....Obama inspires us to want to be better. Hope and love will beat fear and hatred everytime. Keep on McCain and Palin! We didnt even have to give you the rope! You bought it, tied the noose and put it around your own necks. Figuratively speaking of course....

[bonzilladog]

I was in St. Louis, and was so heartened by the enormous diverse hopeful crowd. I did find a photo out on Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/barackobamadotcom/2952963427/ of the Kansas City crowd. It looks almost as big. Go Missouri! Get everyone you know out to vote!

[jusion]

Obama's hold on power was fortified by his skill as a speachmaker. At carefully staged Democratic rallies with "Change" signs everywhere, he inflamed the emotions of his followers.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jeTSvlt4rbI

[carriellbee]

I bet you called JFK a n@zi too. Wrong.

[jusion]

JFK wasn't a socialist. He was a great liberal interventionalist. Nazis, on the other hand, were socialist.

[SoftwareDiplomat]

Have you ever heard an Obama speech? Your perspective is skewed. The relations ship you propose has only been demonstrated on the political RIGHT, not the moderates. This is like equating Bob Newhart with Hitlr.

[UncleSamb]

Yes, he inflamed the emotions of his followers - emotions like hope - rather than the hateful emotions that have been inflamed by McCain/Palin. Why is it that all of you McCain supporters think that it is a bad thing for a leader to be intelligent, well-spoken, and inspiring.

[OMGWord]

How is it possible to STAGE 100,000+ people?? Maybe he secretly built a big underground highway system to bring all these paid people from one event to the next. What a faker!

[jackiecee]

Oh yeah-he sent some Alaskans to help him get everything set up-some of SP close friends and allies who want nothing to do with her-how is that for ya or better yet how fake is that? P***nk

[IlPense]

That was an amazing and inspiring photograph with Obama in the foreground, a black man dwarfed by the huge crowd and the first ever to run for the Presidency. And in the far and distant background - the Old Courthouse where the Dred Scott case was tried. Let's hope that we now have both the Alpha and Omega moments for racism in American history, both occuring in the same place.

[AnneOlivia]

Not only is that the courthouse where the Dred Scott case was tried, but slaves used to sold outside that courthouse. That picture is such a great symbol of the step that this country is hopefully about to take.

[1will]

That is a very big cult. I hope the Church Of Obama does not light candles during their worship service. Global Warming is already bad enough.

[nativesun]

amazing that you rightwing automatons will walk right over a cliff with your blinders firmly affixed.

funny. but truly sad at the same time. It EATS AWAY AT YOU that there are MILLIONS of people - let's get specific...MILLIONS of WHITE PEOPLE...in the HEARTLAND..people you thought your side had in its back pocket - who can see PAST RACE..past PARTY...and past IDEOLOGY and see someone for who he is...the best candidate to lead this nation. When they support that person..people like you derisively call it a 'cult'. When thousands attend McCain rallies is that also a "cult"? your doublespeak exposes itself once again.

Obama is a hyper-competent, extremely intelligent individual (Constitutional Law Professor @ U. Chicago, President Harvard Law Review) who know policy, certainly knows the Constitution (taught it for TEN years) and can "preserve, protect and defend" that constitution..which is the MAIN DUTY of the President of The United States.

We agree with his vision. We respect the mind of the man.

and on Nov. 4th, we're going to ELECT him PRESIDENT of THE..UNITED..STATES..OF...AMERICA!

and that FACT is eating away at people like YOU.

hahahahahahahaaaaaaaa

[zenlikejen]

Aww, poor thing...do you need a tissue?

[wm1066]

Well, he is comforted by his tissue of lies.

[jackiecee]

There is not cult larger than the AIP-did you hear your girl's welcome speech to the AIP? Sounds like you need a large box of kleenex. Do you think it's warm now--just wait

[jusion]

It does remind me of something.
Maybe this........ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jeTSvlt4rbI

[ChristyH]

you have problems - real problems.... and since I was a history major in college (European History), I believe my take on history is just a little more accurate than yours.... Really Jusion - get some professional help.... no one should have that much bile in the gut!

[LuvDaH8ters]

hate on hater

[zenlikejen]

Funny...

You remind me of this...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FIY5lqi0eXQ

or perhaps this....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ey9ycxaKTeY

or even better!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIgv992NZs0

Catch a clue...really.

[Knowitall]

Jusion, multiple postings of the Hitler clip will not make it an any more appropriate reference.

This is America. Our 3 branches of government won't tolerate dictators or tyrants in the person of only ONE man. Our constitution guarantees that such a man will not succeed here. Our citizens will not support the ascendancy of a tyrant. Hitler wouldn't have lasted 2 days in America.

We all love this country and we all love freedom. In our history we have flirted with gulags, concentration camps, torture and other atrocities, but we don't tolerate it for long.

Think about Hitler's crimes. Do you really think Obama and his supporters want that for America?
If you do my friend, you need serious help--now.

[R1Rider]

There's no way this crowd was only 100,000. I've watched games at the Rose Bowl, capacity 100k. This looks to be at least 10 times the size. Amazing!

[brooklyncitizen]

McCain reminds me of the Grinch That Stole Christmas.....with all the hate mongering and accusations that can incite violence, with all the lies about the Ayers connection that they count on to turn voters against Obama, it is futile in the face of Truth for at the end of the day people show up regardless in the TENS OF THOUSANDS for Obama and publicly support him .

[max]

OBAMA !

[jusion]

Very insightful and well thought out comment. Keep 'em coming, Einstein.

[zenlikejen]

I'm sorry, did I miss all of your own "thoughtful and insightful" comments? All I've seem so far is a buch of BS ....

[ckt]

These photots fill me with such pride in America. Go Mighty Mo !!!!

[stargazer13]

.

I have kept a few words on paper stuck to my refrigerator for eight years it simply says ( Involving Youth In Political Process ) I knew in my heart it was the young people of our country who if they tried could tip the scales back to balance My heart all so has gradtitude
for Mr. Obama for having the Courage to even attempt to fix the mess our country is in as of this moment

But they say where there is no vision the people perish !!!! Obama has a vision and I can see it in my minds eye I understand what he says when he speaks in other words I see the future one of struggle
and hardships on the way and in the end we give our children and grandchildren back the country they were meant to inherit . America
started out not so long ago 200+ years ( is the oldest form of government )
but this Country started with a vision for all people (freedom)

Our Constitution & Bill of Rights were written in such a way .That it gave the people of this great Country the deciding vote on everything but it only works if we the people are involved
our form of government is useless with out her people .

America can have a vision it,s ripe for the adventure to come

I give a vote of confidence to The great state of Missouri