Barack Obama Rallies Rock Hill, South Carolina

The following piece was produced by the Huffington Post's OffTheBus project.

I don't want to do this. I've been dreading the trip all week.

Saturday, October 6th. A hastily rescheduled stump speech in upper South Carolina -- the do-over for the one Senator Obama canceled on September 20th so he could stay in Washington, vote again for futile legislation to end the war. I was disappointed then. I was eager for that rally; this guy had been pushing all my buttons for months. I wanted to be there, see it up close, feel it, write about it: "The Visionary Speaks!"

But I don't want to go now. Polls and pundits tell me this is a campaign -- and a candidate -- circling the drain. He might be a great guy, he might be an intellectual with soul, he might draw huge crowds, he might have garnered nearly a hundred thousand new donors in the third quarter and collected enough cash to raise the Titanic but it's a done deal. Prevailing wisdom says HRC's nomination is inevitable.

He's speaking in a very small southern city. In a high school gymnasium. And I'll have to tell the truth: A small, passive crowd, a tired speech. A tired candidate on his way out.

I travel the hour-long trip with a group of women. They are Obama activists. They are all African Americans, mine is the only white face in this small crowd. "It's frustrating," one of them laments. "I keep calling and folks are still saying 'I don't know yet...'". Much of the ride is silent. My stomach sinks.

We arrive at Northwestern High School, a large, multi-building campus. The first sign that there's life left in the Obama movement is the parking lot. Too many cars, too little space. It looks like Super Wal-Mart on Christmas Eve. Folks are parking across the street. I almost smile. Almost.

We walk some distance. There are Obama volunteers everywhere. I wonder if there are more of them than there are of us. We open the door to the gym and I relax. There is a thrumming, a pulse of sound and energy, a large gymnasium filled with people. We have arrived fairly early and already the seats are full, the floor a mass of humanity. It's a racially diverse crowd; black, white, Hispanic, Asian. There are young and old, the well-dressed and the rural poor in clean but worn clothing. There are small children riding the shoulders of their dads.

My friends go off to find seats, if they can. I pull out my steno pad and begin working the crowd. I meet Democrats, Independents and a surprising number of Republicans. About half of the twenty or so attendees I speak to are committed to Barack Obama. Many are "leaning his way." They cite his stance on the war, healthcare and education as primary reasons. I hear "charisma", "judgment", "speaks to diversity", "the need to heal". I hear, more than I expect to hear it, deep concern about the way the rest of the world sees this country after six years of George W. Bush. Republicans tell me they like Obama. "There's something about this guy..." they say. They can be swayed. The sole concern for any of them is one word: Experience.

I meet a twenty-four year old fellow who smiles and tells me he is most definitely Republican. He's a Huckabee supporter, he says, for one reason: "I'm pro-life -- and it means the world to me." On every other issue, he goes on, he's solidly with Barack Obama, especially in the areas of foreign policy and the war. "What if Huckabee fails to win the nod?" I ask him. He smiles again. "Then I'll vote Obama."

The music ramps up, Sam & Dave singing "Hold On, I'm Coming." The crowd noise swells with it. Congressman John Spratt appears on the stage, an enormous American flag on the wall behind him. He looks almost boyish, his cheeks flushed as he begins introducing the Senator from Illinois. It's hard to hear him over the crowd. There are, he tells us, over 2000 people here. I learn later that event organizers had to turn people away. We are an overflow crowd.

Barack Obama springs onto the stage and the roar is deafening. I'm a veteran of NASCAR crowds; I've sat on the second row at Darlington Motor Speedway when the green flag dropped and 43 muscle-cars sped by at 165 mph. I know noise. 2000+ Obama supporters and others give any race I've ever attended serious competition in the clamor department. A hush falls. Obama scans the room, grins at us. A lone voice hollers "How ya doin', Senator?" Barack laughs and waves. "I'm doin' good!" he hollers back and the tone is set.

This is no stump speech, no passive crowd of listeners. This is a 45 minute interactive revival meeting. We are in the "big tent" -- that all-inclusive space where the spirit takes flight and everyone goes with it. There is no podium in sight. There are no notes. Barack Obama, mic in hand, is a man in motion. He walks the walk while he talks the talk, gestures with his free hand for emphasis. Choruses of "Amen!" and "Yeah!" and "You're the man!" punctuate his oratory. He hears the crowd and they know it. I'm on the gym floor with the standing throng; I watch them react. They move to the cadence of Obama's words, rising from flat-footed stance to tip-toes, arms in the air swaying or clapping. The Republicans I've spoken to are equally taken with the mood. Enthusiasm like this is contagious.

He's had a little spat with Hillary Clinton, Obama tells us. It's about his willingness to meet with all world leaders, even the bad guys. It's about EXPERIENCE. "Naive Obama!" he declares, "Naive Obama will lose a propaganda war! Well, I'm not worried about a propaganda battle with some petty tyrant! Strong countries and their presidents talk to their adversaries! ...We're not afraid of any other country...Experience does not equal judgment! Age does not equal character! [I should] wait longer? Why? To be more like the folks in Washington?" The crowd goes wild.

The Senator from Illinois speaks to the issues of equal justice, war and diplomacy, healthcare and education, poverty, the environment and our dependency on fossil fuels, oil money for terrorists. He speaks to the need for parents to step up to the plate and be responsible for their children. The crowd grows louder, more enthusiastic with each challenge for change. Obama slows the pace. "It won't be easy," he warns us. "I'm asking you to make the sacrifice...'cause none of it will come cheap...I'm asking you to make the hard choice...to be responsible...to hold your president and your government accountable..."

The roar of approval, sacrifice or no, is ear-splitting.

"We can change the world!" Obama cries out. The masses respond in kind. The litany begins. "FIRED UP! READY TO GO!!"

I back out of the gym while Barack and the crowd chant the campaign mantra. I want to watch the exodus, measure the impact of nearly an hour of the Message of Hope. Folks come out dancing, still chanting. There are hugs and high-fives. "You hear that?" one man shouts. "He's takin' it to her about experience!" "Amen to that!" someone answers. I assume they are talking about Hillary.

It's over. We're leaving. Music pounds from the speakers again; Jackie Wilson this time. "(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher." I'm exhausted. My feet are swollen from two hours of walking and standing. But I'm singing along with Jackie: "Now once I was downhearted..." and I'm dancing my way two blocks to the car.

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Comments

[meta]

Great piece! Do not count us out. We are tough, organized and steadfast, and we have a great and honorable candidate who believes in honesty and transparency in government!

[ashbeth71]

It's not often, OK, never, that a political blog moves me to tears, but this piece did. Yes, it's early in the morning, I've been up with the kids almost all night and I'm exhausted and that surely has something to do with it. But this man, his message, the hope this campaign offers .... How can you not be on board?

[JenniferReece]

Luckily, for me, I am able to hear your sarcasm where it is written loud and clear. I fear that some of the poor folks commenting are not capable of reading between the lines. From now on, some of y'all will do better to read Linda's works with the humor that is always present and clearly implied. Linda's writing is like hearing a baby giggle. No matter what mood you find yourself in, it's sure to cheer you up.

As always, you have inspired me! I could see Barack talking and hear the crowd chanting. As the piece drew to an end, I found myself dancing and chanting Fired Up! Ready to GO!

Keep up the great work and I'll keep enjoying!

[MidMo]

I just reread-

1. Huckabee but if not Obama? Now that is a weird combo.

Must like preachers ;)

2. And the comment on experience. She has been ELECTED and ACCOUNTABLE lEsS than most of her challengers. Actually I think she is almost the least exprienced ...

[cheforacle]

I meant to say "One thing we wouldn't have with Clinton is a united country."

[cheforacle]

I saw Obama in Atlanta a few weeks ago and my experience was very similar; it was uplifting, expand energizing. Over the weekend I heard JFK's inauguration speech. Obama is the only candidate who can speak to all of America from a core of conviction. If he is elected, the country will change upon his inauguration. I'm sure he has a lot of homework to do on some issues, but his greatest asset may be his temperament which relates to his ability to listen to all sides of an argument, show respect for all who make their arguments and carefully decide what's appropriate. One thing we wouldn't have with Clinton is a divided country.

[boatsie]

I also am one of the lucky ones. I have seen Obama speak, soon after he announced his candidacy when he appeared for a Sen. Boxer fundraiser in SF, in Oakland in March when (what was it?) 12,000 showed up and last month in SF when he addressed 3000 at a Women for Obama rally. I've experienced the impact Obama has on people, felt the hope, excitement, seen the faces wake up like from a really bad dream. I've observed the growth of Obama's message, the substance and depth of perception he has ladeled into his speeches and Ive written about Obama hitting 'middle C.'

Thank you, Linda. For reporting on this. What a great job!

[RanMan07]

Linda, this is some fantastic writing you have done. Your writing allowed me to vicariously be there. Thanks>>

[Old time Dem]

Barack Obama is igniting the spirit of America in a way that hasn't occured for decades.

This is a man with the right experience to be President of the United States at this time in history, a man of sound judgment, strong character, and a man who can see beyond the devisiveness that has plagued this country through the Bush and Clinton administrations.

Our country does not need to repeat the mistakes of the past. We need to learn from history and forge a new path where we stand shoulder to shoulder and work together to reclaim our honor and begin to solve the very serious problems facing us.

We have an astonishing leader in Barack Obama right before us. We would be foolish to let this moment in history slip through our fingers.

[MsCiara]

Thank you Linda for taking us there with you guys ! It is nice , just when your feelin' alittle down, You get a glimpse of the possibility ! You REALLY shared it with us.. The Best is yet to come !!

[Zhonni]

Great read, Thanks!!!

[lafrance]

I loved the article. One thing I have to impress on you and the commenters. Hillary is only as inevitable as we democrats let her be.
The polls may show this or that but, in truth, what should polls look like when at least 60 or more percent have not even paid attention to the election and clinton is on the list of names?
It doesn't help with a media painting Obama as a stumbling rookie and Hillary is already crowned queen.
However, that doesn't mean we have to except the storylines or her claim to be inevitable.
We have many choices and a vote. You decide if she is inevitable.

[ButterflyWeed]

Superb message Linda. Imagine amplifying your own experience to 2 million, or 2 billion people listening when Barack addresses the world as our newly elected POTUS. He "draws the circle that counts us in." Obama08!

How 'bout that MSM declaring Democrats as weak and ineffective over and over...(gu­ess we might as well vote Repuglican right now eh?)

[LisainNYC]

Great post, Linda!
You took us from anxious and hesitant to thrilled and inspired. I was at the NYC rally and know how much energy a crowd can carry. Even though I had read many of his speeches, that was no match for hearing Barack in person. I am truly fired up!

[gwg]

I was at the Rock Hill rally also. Obama is easily the most charismatic speaker that I've seen in person. I recorded the "Fire it up! Ready to go!" portion of his speech and will post a YouTube link if/when I post it.

I'm still keeping my fingers crossed for a Gore/Obama ticket (We should know if Al is getting in the race within the next couple of weeks, since the Nobel Peace Prize is announced Friday morning), but if Gore doesn't run, I plan on volunteering and doing everything I can for Barack.

[barackoblogger]

Gore will not run against a Clinton.