Crowd of 1 million could attend Obama inauguration

WASHINGTON — President-elect Barack Obama's inauguration is expected to draw 1 million-plus to the capital, and already some lawmakers have stopped taking ticket requests and hotels have booked up.

Some people are bartering on Craigslist for places to stay for the Jan. 20 ceremony when the Illinois senator takes the oath of office. They are offering cash or even help with dishes for residents willing to open up their homes.

The National Park Service, which is planning for an inaugural crowd of at least 1 million, will clear more viewing space along the Pennsylvania Avenue parade route. Jumbo TV screens will line the National Mall so people can watch the inauguration and parade, park service spokesman David Barna said Thursday.

The District of Columbia's delegate, Eleanor Holmes Norton, is urging planners to use arenas and stadiums to help with overflow crowds wanting to view the ceremonies on big-screen TVs. She is also urging churches to hold viewing parties.

"You can't judge by past inaugurations. It's going to break all the records," Norton said. "They're going to come with or without tickets. ... It's each man and woman for himself."

The city's police chief, Cathy Lanier, said organizers brought in an additional 3,000 officers from forces around the country to help with the last inauguration. This time, the request probably will be for about 4,000 officers.

Because of a lawsuit, people should have more standing room along the crowded parade route. War protesters sued after President George W. Bush's last inauguration, forcing the government to open up more free public viewing space between the Capitol and White House.

U.S. District Judge Paul Friedman ruled in March that the park service violated its own rules by giving preferential treatment in ticketing for bleacher seats along the parade route for supporters of the government over its critics. Friedman wrote the inauguration "is not a private event."

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New rules to be issued Monday will lower the number of ticketed bleacher seats along the parade route from 20,000 seats to 8,700, leaving much more of the route open to people without tickets, Barna said.

Seat tickets had sold for between $15 and $150 in 2005 to help pay for the inaugural parade. Details for the 2009 parade tickets have not been set because Obama's Presidential Inaugural Committee, which organizes the parade, is being formed.

There will also be designated "free speech" areas for protesters along the parade route, Barna said.

The inauguration has been designated a National Special Security Event, giving the U.S. Secret Service the lead in coordinating all law enforcement agencies to secure the event. There are 58 federal, state and local law enforcement agencies working together.

The largest crowd ever recorded on the National Mall was for President Lyndon B. Johnson's 1965 inauguration. At the time, the park service estimated 1.2 million people descended on the area. In 1981, President Ronald Reagan's inauguration drew about 500,000 people, and President Bill Clinton's 1993 inauguration drew about 800,000 people, according to park service estimates.

Of course, the crowds can always thin out. Ronald Reagan's second swearing-in ceremony had to be moved indoors, and the parade was canceled when the temperature dropped below 10 degrees (with a wind chill at 10 degrees to 20 degrees below zero.) John F. Kennedy's inauguration in 1961 came with a blanket of snow; still, 1 million people turned out.

Congressional offices are reporting tens of thousands of requests for the 240,000 free tickets for the inauguration ceremony. As of Thursday, the office of Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., had received 26,000 requests. Webb sent a letter Thursday to Sen. Dianne Feinstein, who heads the Joint Congressional Inaugural Committee, requesting that Virginia's proximity to Washington be considered in its allotment.

EBay Inc., the parent company of listing and sales sites eBay, StubHub and Kijiji, said it will not allow tickets to the inauguration to be sold on its Web sites. The company made the decision after meeting with committee representatives, eBay spokeswoman Nichola Sharpe told The Associated Press.

The inauguration will come at the end of a four-day holiday for federal workers, following the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday on Jan. 19. Many area schools and some universities have canceled classes or are considering it.

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Associated Press writers Kamala Lane in Washington, Joe Mandak in Pittsburgh and Steve Szkotak in Richmond, Va., and news researcher Judith Ausuebel contributed to this report.

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On the Net:

Joint Congressional Inaugural Committee: http://inaugural.senate.gov/

Comments

[AZterritory]

Hy Huffpo--I'm all for you making $$ to support the site, but must say the sodahead ads always posted by any Obama article are getting just a tad old.

[whit4brains]

I don't think I am going to be able to afford to go but I hope the weather is nice for the people who do. I just moved from DC back to Florida earlier this year and it can get COLD in January. Hope it doesn't snow. Remember to layer up!

[kellygrrrl]

Free Speech Zones: Joe the Plumber and Rush smokin' sausages on their taligate BBQ

[raop]

While President elect Obama deserves all his time in the spotlight on jan 20th, considering the historical nature of his election, it would be timely for him to announce some austerity measures for the ceremony. The nation could perhaps do with a dressed down version of the inaugration keeping in mind the severe times we are going through, It would also send a message that from Jan 20th, we all have to haul this nation collectively out of this economic hellhole and if the new President elect were to lead by example, the nation will take heart that at least someone in Washington means what he preaches especially keeping in mind the shocking details of bank bonuses in the bailout package.
We as a nation could definitely do without some ritzy ballroom dances and banquets. I am not saying that the money saved on that day will immediuately put food on some family's table in Ohio or Michigan but the message would be loud and clear that from the top down we mean business. Lets tighten our belts though why should always the taxpayer tighten his belt frustrates me no end.

[08timefortruth]

No way.......this is a historical event and there is no way Mr. Obama should get or take less acknowledgement or celebration then his predecessors........

[FemiMommy]

I agree with you both. There's no need for it to be an over-the-top extravagance, but boy, does this country ever need a party! And it's a good way to get the energy up for the big fights ahead.

[vaughan]

Something tells me that most of the country will stop whatever it's doing in order to watch the inauguration on television.

[SpinDown08]

Yes Vaughan, but your thinking too small...

Think global standstill...........Lolz!

[lawahine]

I will be one of the million! Along with my hubby and two friends!!!!!!

[musicisourhigh]

If I could be there, I would go in a second. I hope to hook up with a local party. One way or another I will celebrate this moment and event to the fullest.

[Navy UDT]

I think it is impressive to imagine that many Americans, proud and excited. I believe it is the movement of millions of us who have longed for a president that represents the best of our country. "O" is and will be even more popular as time goes on.

[Ohg]

Each of us owes Barack Obama our gratitude. ............

http://thefiresidepost.com/2008/10/29/senator-obama-to-sir-with-love-2/