Obama rocks Charlottesville

Students wrote notes to Obama such as "I have a crush on you" on a blackboard wall outside the Charlottesville Pavilion. Photo by Julie von Sternberg.

By Julie von Sternberg

Presidential candidate Barack Obama is a rock star. On Monday night more than 4,250 mostly college-age supporters paid $15 to $29 a ticket to hear him speak for an hour at the Charlottesville Pavilion, the city’s premier outdoor forum for live music.

“Are you fired up? Are you ready to go?” screamed Obama over loud cheers of “yes” coming from the audience. “All right, let’s go change the world.”

Students caught up in “Obama fever” arrived as early as 4 p.m. for the program that started at 7 p.m. They waited for hours in the chilly outdoor theater hoping for a kind word or handshake from Obama, the youngest major party presidential candidate this year at age 46. Some students used the time to write Obama notes, such as “I have a crush on you,” on a blackboard wall outside the arena.

Obama attracted 3,000 more than Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton when she spoke at Charlottesville’s Paramount Theatre on Sept. 23.

Amanda Kleintop, a student at the University of Richmond who traveled to the rally with a group of friends, says that Obama’s youthful, charismatic personality is attractive to students.

“He has something fresh and new to say,” says Kleintop. “His campaign is about change, and that is something that students can believe in.”

For the past nine months Obama, a graduate of Harvard University and Harvard Law School, has traveled around the country speaking at various forums, including college campuses such as the University of Virginia in his “Countdown to Change” campaign. The money from ticket sales goes directly to Obama’s campaign fund.

Obama raised $300,000 more than Clinton did in Charlottesville, charging students $15 and guests $29 while Clinton charged $25 for students and $50 for guests.

At the Monday forum, Gov. Tim Kaine, who is working on Obama’s behalf, introduced Obama to the Charlottesville crowd.

“He is someone who will truly bring this nation together,” said Kaine. “Barack has a unique ability to do that, and that's why he's going to be such a great president.”

Obama, like Kaine, is a Harvard-educated civil rights lawyer. Obama campaigned for Kaine in 2005 and now Kaine plans to return the favor by helping Obama in Iowa before the Iowa caucus on Jan. 3.

During his speech, Obama complimented Kaine on his service to the state.

“I want to congratulate the Commonwealth for its infinite wisdom in electing Tim Kaine as governor,” said Obama. “I am proud to have him as a friend and advisor.”

Throughout the speech, Obama connected with his audience with an air of spontaneity. “It is Toby’s birthday,” someone yelled. “Happy Birthday, Toby,” Obama responded, and the crowd broke into roars of laughter and applause.

Obama pointed out the diversity of the audience.

“Among us are the old and young, black and white, gay and straight, Democrats and independents,” said Obama, who if elected would be the first black president. His omission of “Republicans” spurred more laughter and cheers. He ended the joke by saying, “We even have some Republicans.”

The jokes came amid stretches of Bush bashing and remarks about the need to pull out of Iraq.

“Why are you here?” Obama asked. “Because you are sick and tired of George W. Bush. I want to come before the United Nations as the next President of the United States and say ‘America’s back.’”

He also promised that everyone would have as good a health insurance program as Congress by the end of his first term.

“I can’t do it by myself,” said Obama. “I am not a perfect man and I will not be a perfect president. But we can meet challenges together. I will listen to you.”

Obama also defended himself against the common criticism that he has too little public service experience. He has been a community organizer, an attorney, a lecturer at the University of Chicago Law School, an Illinois state senator and a U.S. senator.

“Others have experience and long resumes, but that does not say anything about their character and judgment,” said Obama.

Jocelyn Proletti, a second-year graduate student at the university, agrees that many students favor Obama because he is the candidate young people hear most about. His two books, “Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance” and “The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream,” have been popular and well-timed.

USA Today said his promotional tour for the second book, about a year ago, created a “rock-star atmosphere.” He was a guest on Oprah Winfrey’s show in October 2006. Proletti says she attended the rally to evaluate all the publicity.

“He has a very down-to-earth approach so you don’t feel like he is talking down to you,” Proletti said after the rally.

According to the Fox News/ Opinion Dynamics Poll conducted on Oct. 23- 24, 37 percent of people surveyed would choose Clinton if a 2008 Democratic presidential primary were held today, while only 23 percent would choose Obama. In March and April, the Pew Research Center’s survey of 18- to 29-year-olds revealed that 36 percent of the young adults surveyed favored Obama while only 31 percent favored Clinton.

It’s not surprising that on the social networking site, Facebook.com, Obama has 158,003 supporters while Clinton has 49,866. In 2006, Obama supporters started “Students for Barack Obama,” a club of high school, college and graduate students. It has 600 college chapters, including one at Virginia, which organize many of Obama’s large rallies.

It is still up for debate whether student support will be able to carry Obama in Virginia’s Democratic Presidential Primary Feb. 12. Kleintop does not think so, but at least students can get the word out, she says.

Cheryl Kasper, an older attendee from Palmyra, plans on helping students.

“I basically support everything he said,” said Kasper. “I think he has a very good chance of winning.”