Obama Addresses Crowd in Downpour; McCain Cancels

Tuesday was a tough day to be outside in Greater Philadelphia. The rain poured and the wind howled. The weather turned so nasty that the fifth (and possibly final) game of the World Series scheduled for the night was postponed.

John McCain canceled a Tuesday morning rally at Memorial Stadium in the Philly suburb Quakertown.

Back in the city meanwhile, in driving wind and rain on the campus of Widener University in Chester, Senator Obama was greeted by thousands of supporters who cheered Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell when he introduced the Democratic presidential nominee and kept right on cheering as Obama took the stage and addressed the crowd. The crowd was multi-racial, wildly enthusiastic and drenched. Attendee Charlene McGrady was impressed with the enthusiasm but not surprised by the crowd's tenacity. "Philadelphia Phillies fans waited hours in the rain for the third game of the World Series. McCain either doesn't know much about the people in this area or doesn't have much faith in his supporters."

In a photo taken of the event by Robert Ford, Obama appears determined and hatless in the open air, buffeted by the storm.

Click on the photo to see HuffPo's slide show of the event.

Among the crowd at the Obama rally were many children. Described as an "historic day in Chester," the local school district closed the schools and Superintendent Gregory Thornton encouraged parents to take their children to the rally. He said they should "take advantage of this educational opportunity."

"The passion and persistence of Obama and the crowd that turned out to hear and see him despite the weather speaks volumes," said McGrady. "It's a telling contrast to the fair-weather attitude of the McCain campaign, which threw in the towel at the first drop of rain." She went on to add that John McCain and Sarah Palin went ahead with an indoor rally today in Hershey, Pennsylvania, which caused McGrady to comment wryly: "$150,000 for clothes and they apparently didn't buy her a raincoat."

McGrady felt the Pennsylvania cancellation was indicative of the entire McCain campaign, adding: "What a washout his campaign has been, in more ways than one."

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Comments

[goodnessgracious1234]

Once again, the Obama campaign is focused on what is important.

McCain's campaign is only capable of pathetic attempts to scare Americans.

It's not going to work. Go Obama!

[plateau1999]

These pictures speak volumes about the man who will most likely be our next President. To think that McCain/Pallin' cancelled their rally due to inclement weather shows that Obama has what it takes to stand up to a challenge and really prove to the American people that he is tough as nails and the best choice for the job.

[Yinzer4Obama]

Love these pictures of Barack! It shows dedication--not just to his cause but to the Amercian people as well. It shows the dedication of the VOTERS too which I hope will keep up the momentum through Nov 4!
As far as McCain pulling out that day, maybe he really is too elderly to chance getting sick in the pouring rain. I say that in all seriousness. Look at the toll the presidency puts on you...it's probably equal to "dog years" in a way! If he can't cut it in the rain (or simply didn't want to), how's heing going to cut in the Oval Office 24-7? How dedicated is McCain to winning Pennsylvania?!

OBAMA ''08! Let's DO IT!

[Joslynb]

There has been an eerie confidence about McCain here of late which perhaps carried over to him not being worried about braving the elements to host his rally on Tuesday in Pennsylvania - it may be the same confidence and arrogance George Bush showed right before winning?? the last 2 elections - perhaps McCain like George Bush already knows what the outcome of this 2008 election will be - not to be cynical, but voter fraud is still alive and well in this country just ask some recent voters in West Virginia - let's all pray that Senator Obama gets a fair election.

[Johnjlws]

I heard that Palin was going to go ahead with the event, but when she started to get wet she started smoking and screeching "I'm melting. I'm melting" and some of the McCain people sort of shrugged their shoulders and said "but he's a P.O.W.," but some of her supporters got her back inside in a hurry. You betcha! If someone had written a book about how poor this campaign is, it wouldn't get read because people would think it too far-fetched.

[goodnessgracious1234]

Spot on!

[Moosekilla]

I think alot of people are missing the point on foreclosures. See , people want to blame Acorn, the republicans , washington etc.... Here is what really happened. People like Carlton Sheets, Rich dad poor dad guy...saw loop holes in the deregulation of mortgage financing. They encouraged several investors to go out and purchase property under market value and either refinance or sale . Here is what happens. Investors started playing a game with each other. A game that allowed the buyer to cash out at closing, Cash which was given under the table after the deal was closed. This was easy to do because people with 500 credit score could assume loans. These investor thus took the money and let the houses foreclose. True there may be some families that are struggling , but the majority of these foreclosures were caused by greed. Now we are all paying for it. Lets look at the root of the problem.

[Johnjlws]

As a banker I probably have a more accurate perception. Phil Graham drove the movement to deregulate and this "deregulation" became the clarion call of primarily the right (of which I was until Bush/McCain [what a disaster] and of course Obama). Without regulation, greed and speculation took over. Mortgages have been sold multiple times and split amongst a variety of lenders. The scariest part of this whole "meltdown/bailout" thing for me is that we do not know the value of the paper we hold because it has been sold and speculated on so many times that tracking back to its roots is not a reasonable possibility. So we may have simply dumped a few hundred billion dollars into a system that has no value at its foundaton.

[Bombenhagel]

Wouldn't you be P.O.'d if you went to the McCain rally, only to find it was canceled, only to get back home and see Obama on TV or hear that his rally was a smashing success despite the rain? I mean, WTF, John?

[Jamaican-Democrat]

LOL...let'­s not be so cruel to McCain. We couldn't expect him to be in the rain, he wouldn't make it out alive. Now I really wouldn't want that ol' robot to die...not like that.

[swbks]

No tears or emotional weeping on my part. Obama is a very good campaigner, very good fundraiser and makes very few political mistakes other than associations with some unsavory characters. My thought is that many of you Obama supporters want change so badly that you won't allow yourself to actually look at the bottom line. Wall Street screwed themselves with their greed, but that's not only Republican greed. Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan and Citigroup PACs and other individuals made some healthy contributions to Obama's campaign. Freddie and Fannie had quite a liking for his politics as well. No doubt that the Mortgage crisis was initiated in a bi-partisan way by Bill Clinton, but guys like Barney Frank had their hand in the cookie jar a long time ago. Our economic crisis is not just a Bush issue. It has much deeper ties to many thieves and crooks, one was an Obama economic advisor. The bottom up economic plan from Obama will not work, regardless of how smooth and handsome he is. Jimmy Carter had the best of intentions, just like Obama but it simply won't work. Poor people CAN'T create jobs, and until THEY have the opportunity to become rich, they will NOT create jobs. The government cannot make you rich. Only hard work, sometimes a little luck and a competitive system can do that. Be very careful of what you wish for.

[Insha]

Look, nobody is saying that Obama's tax cuts for the middle class are going to fix anything. What we ARE saying is that trickledown economics has had its fair shake. It hasn't worked. So lets try something new. If the middle class tax cuts along with a green economy job market don't work, its on to the next plan until something does work.

Just don't tell me we should try the same policies again. They've had their chance and have been proven inert.

Had McCain come with a plan that significantly differed from both Obama AND Bush, I would have considered voting for him on equal ground with Obama.

Alas.

[swbks]

I know you probably don't want to hear this name but the old Trickle Down started back with Reaganomics and has worked pretty darn well over the past 25+ years. If Clinton and some others (bi-partisan) hadn't repealed the Glass - Steagall Act this mortgage crisis wouldn't exist today. It was helped along by Barney Frank and Charlie Rangle. Throw Freddie and Fannie into the mess and this is a big deal. However it is NOT about trickle down economics. It's about Wall Street greed, Freddie and Fannie greed, AIG greed. A house of cards is going to come down. It's just a matter of time.
I agree that McCain has not helped himself and I certainly understand where you are coming from in that regard. However, I guess I'm more willing to take a chance on more trickel down (without the Wall St. whores) than Obama's bottom up approach. Obama is calling that "more of the same" which is rather tough to argue with, but I'm struggling with the government creating jobs and enriching our lives. Believe me, if Obama wins, I hope I'm dead wrong.

[alcatraz2the9nthpower]

i found this article so inspiring, I had to create an account @ the post just so I could comment on this and Mr.Bob Cescas article, this countrys people have been so manipulated and used for so long it has become like when u are walking out of a toilet in a bar or the park and the fresh air hits your lungs, this is the best discription i can think of for just how putrid the republican ticket has become, in a day a time in history, in mankinds growth that a fairness doctrine and taking care of our own people that are down on there luck , to make living wages availeable to all that will work, to actually make the the rich pay there fair share of taxes, to NOT give that CEO his several million $$ bonus and instead give 50 or so primary breadwinners livings wages instead, these notions and ideals have become like swear words and the thoughts of a pervert or deviant the thoughts of a dirty mind, an era of greed, God willing these things will change for the better and people of the ilk that I speak will prevail nomore and we as a people and country can redeem ourselves in the sight of the world and god

[13lotus]

this man's passion and determination is amazing and inspiring.

[Kware]

Amazing. From Obama helping out in the Iowa floods earlier this year to his unsinkable nature and mentality. He may have an ego, but Obama is not egocentric. He is confident to the point where he probably would have canceled if he'd be any other man, but he persists and doesn't let the American people down.

Bottom line: Elitist my ass. Both parties have important ideals, but only one party has the strength and determination to reach those ideals, and that is the next congress and its executive Barack Obama

BARACK CHALK JAYHAWK

[mydogshakespeare]

Obama is taking a shower. McCain is taking a bath.

Obama is cleaning up. McCain is getting soaked.

[mspye]

Wow, it's getting to the point where I can't read anything about Obama without getting emotional and tearing up.

His dedication and tenacity are absolutely amazing and I want that kind of President leading this country.

And that kind of turn out in that kind of weather speaks volumes about the support he's garnering in a swing state no less. I can understand the crowd's tenacity as well - I'd stand in the rain to see him speak myself.

[Bugboy]

I hear ya, I've not been that impressed with Biden in the past but having kids of my own I was floored by his show of emotion in the debate where he choked up "..wonder if their gonna make it" talking about his kids in the accident. The images and sounds from this campaign are sooo emotionally resonant in a positive way, they are hitting us all where we need to be hit.

[franklin opt]

The face of victory

The rain poured and the wind howled

9,000 people came

Victory IS determination

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