Obama Rallies Thousands at an Ohio High School Stadium

Thousands of people jam packed a Columbus area suburb football stadium on Saturday afternoon. Dublin Coffman High School hosted the event. The Obama campaign sent an email to subscribers on Wednesday, August 27, advising Obama supporters of the rally.

The event was announced as no ticket required, but requested an RSVP via the campaign's official website. As of Friday night it was estimated that ten thousand people had sent a notice that they would be in attendance. The number of people responding after news of the visit was reported on local news stations increased to an expected twenty thousand.

The rally was slated to have doors opening at 4:30 p.m, and the program was to begin at 6:45 p.m. Many people arrived at the stadium as early as 9 a.m Saturday morning to wait in line for hours. A majority of people showed up at 2:30 p.m and the number in attendance greatly increased from there. A prayer opened the engagement, and was interrupted by the overflow crowd that was placed in left of field bleachers chanting "we can't hear". Thousands also packed the football field itself. It was announced during the rally that they were unprepared for such a large crowd, and people were thanked for their patience.

Obama was the most eagerly awaited speaker of the Saturday event. Opening speakers included Ohio Democrats including Sharrod Brown, Mary Jo Kilroy, and Ohio's Govenor Ted Strickland. Also in attendance was former United States Senator and Ohio legend John Glenn who spoke briefly and gave his endorsement for Barack Obama.

Vice Presidential candidate Joe Biden introduced Obama speaking on a "Bush/McCain Era", how little government has helped out those in need, finishing that "People should be judged on their deeds, not by their word." when comparing John McCain's record of experience to Barack Obama. Biden rallied a new message giving several major decisions of John McCain citing their poor outcome, and contrasting John McCain and Barack Obama shouting "John McCain was wrong and Barack Obama was right!"

Barack Obama joked about the prior week's Democratic National Convention outcome laughing, "We had a pretty good week this week." Asking the crowd how they liked his wife Michelle, thanking Bill and Hillary Clinton, and stating that in his Presidential journey he's proud to have Joe Biden running by his side. Barack Obama started a chant from the crowd for his running mate Biden.

The message of economic hardship, "You know the statistics because you have lived them here in Ohio" was a driving force in the speech by Obama. A highlight of the speech included a message about John McCain "We owe him our gratitude" for his military service "but we don't owe him our vote!" Echoing the message from the Democratic National Convention that John McCain has a lack of understanding for the good of people quoting "he doesn't get it" was a main point in all of the speeches of the day including Obama's.

Before traveling to Dublin, the Obamas and Bidens stopped for breakfast at Yankee Kitchen Family Restaurant in Boardman, Ohio, where the small restaurant was clogged with people and media as a result of the candidate visiting. Video has been posted on YouTube showing the families arriving, taking photos, ordering food, and interacting will fellow restaurant patrons.