The Boss Rallies Obama Supporters in Philly; Campaign Stakes Out at Bus Stops Throughout City

Call it mobile campaigning if you wish -- Barack Obama campaigners are serious about their candidate. Bruce Springsteen came to Philadelphia on Saturday to close out a week-long initiative to register voters here.

"It was a bit of a process to get permits to do it," Zach Friend, Pennsylvania spokesperson for the Obama campaign said. "But even those that are registered to vote were reminded by seeing our tables -- we believe new registrants will provide the margin victory."

Obama campaigners gathered at virtually every corner in Philadelphia, paying extra attention to bus and train stops.

"I'm just doing my little bit. What I think is great about Obama, is that his organization has made it possible to get involved," Tom Potterfield a Pennsylvania volunteer said.

Some Obama supporters volunteered long hours while others participated around their work schedules.

"We have people volunteering from all ages, and some of the people that do the most are older people who understand the stakes," Carol Stein, a volunteer and English teacher at Philadelphia Community College said. "It is hard to walk through Philadelphia and not see people trying to get other people to register to vote," Friend said.

"We may very well need your vote in Pennsylvania," Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell said at Saturday's rally. "This election is going to get meaner, dirtier, and uglier."

When Senator Robert Casey took the stage, he announced that a day prior, Obama and his wife celebrated 16 years of marriage.

"Obama has impressed me with his integrity and character," Casey said. "We have to do our job, and if we do, Senator Obama will be our next president and Senator Biden will be our next vice president."

Volunteers from other states came to Philadelphia for the rally to help with voter registration, especially for the rally on Saturday.

"I think it is great. To see different races and class come together with a positive attitude is heartening -- and of course it is great to see Springsteen," said Ashu Rai, a New York volunteer from Salvation for Obama, who came to Philadelphia to volunteer for the day.

The event, which was supposedly planned in less than a week, featured volunteers at every major point of the parkway with clip boards in hand, and change in mind.

"You know what I like most about Obama? He didn't pick Palin as his running mate. I think McCain and Palin are being thrown to the wolves. They don't have a chance," Richard Hunt, a volunteer from Galloway Township, New Jersey said.

Bruce Springsteen took the stage shortly after 4:30 p.m. and was greeted to an audience chanting, "Yes we can."

"I'm not Obama, but I'll do my best," Springsteen said as he took up his guitar and harmonica and began a medley of his music with "Promise Land" being his opening number.

Throughout Springsteen's performance, he spoke about the election and Obama directly.

"We remain a house of dreams... I want my house back, and I want my American back."

Indeed, Obama supporters from counties in Pennsylvania came out to support the event.

"I thought it was great, a free concert with Springsteen, who is supporting my political beliefs, is the best of both worlds," Jason Ostrowsky of Landsdale, Pa., said.

The Obama campaign has opened 80 field offices in the state of Pennsylvania.

"Montgomery and Bucks counties have flipped from Republican to Democratic," Friend said.

Monday, October 6, 2008 is the last day for voter registration in Pennsylvania.