Barack Obama Draws Huge Crowds at Every Rally

Sen Barack Obama is drawing impressive crowds - larger than any of his rivals - as he campaigns for the Democratic nomination for president in 2008: 17,000 people in Springfield, Ill. - in freezing temperatures!; more than 5,000 in Ames, Iowa; and in New Hampshire the Associated Press reported that he drew "packed audiences" and "enthusiastic crowds."

This pattern so far has repeated wherever he goes. In what can be a major indicator of his appeal in conservative states, Sen. Obama is to appear today at a rally in Austin, Texas. A crowd in excess of 10,000 is expected. The rally is taking place at the Auditorium Shores venue Gate opened open at 12:30 PM and the rally will start at 2:00 PM. Sen. Obama will appear in Cleveland Monday.

The Democratic campaign has already started to turn ugly between the two front-runners in a very large field. The Clinton campaign has demanded that Obama return donations from David Geffen, the co-founder of Dreamworks. Geffen has accused the Clintons of engaging in dirty and dishonest practices. The Obama campaign in turn criticized Clinton for accepting the support of a South Carolina lawmaker who had said Obama could not win because he's black.

Sen. Obama must be feeling some comfort from the large crowds he gathers. On Thursday evening, he told a gathering in Houston that that the nation would not be able to move forward unless it managed to grow above small and divisive politics.

"Our country is at a crossroads right now," he said, citing problems in Iraq and domestically with education, energy and health care. "It's not as if we don't know what the solutions are. What's missing is the inability of our leadership to develop consensus." reports the Seattle Post Intelligencer.

David Geffen is not the only Hollywood heavy weight to come out in support of Barack Obama. Oprah Winfrey has also thrown her support behind Barack Obama. Although Hollywood appears to be split as to which individual they will give their money to, declared Obama supporters include George Clooney, Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Oprah Winfrey, Oliver Stone and superagent Ari Emanuel.. The Dreamworks reception for Barack Obama expects to draw an additional 700 of Hollywood's most influential players.

Several major Hollywood political activists are spreading their funds around. Steven Spielberg will also host an even for Hillary Clinton and Barbara Streisand has spread her funds between Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and Sen. John Edwards.

Indications are that the country is looking for a new face in Washington. This bodes well for the Democrats - if the in-fighting doesn't get out of hand.

References

Cross, B. (2007 Feb 23). Thousands expected for Barack Obama rally. CBS Broadcasting. Retrieved from http://keyetv.com/topstories/local_story_054112733.html

Pickler, N. (2007, Feb 23). Obama says he wants end to 'tit-for-tat.' Seattle Post Intelligencer retri4eved from http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/1131AP_Obama_2008.html?source=mypi

Sherwell, P. (2007 Feb 23). Hollywood's glitterati line up for Obama. Sunday Telegraph. Retrieved from http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/02/18/wobama18.xml

(2007, Feb 23). Sen Barack Obama drawing massive crowds. Newsmax.com Retrieved from http://www.newsmax.com/archives/ic/2007/2/23/144529.shtml