Sen. Barack Obama, the Democratic Party’s presidential nominee, plans to take time out from his debate preparations to hold a 2 p.m. rally at Asheville High School’s football stadium today (Sunday), and the Mountain Xpress will be there.
Follow along with a live blog from the event here. The 25 most recent updates will appear below. For more, go to our Twitter page at www.twitter.com/mountainxpress.
Saturday night, Obama dropped in on Democrats from across the state who were gathered at the Grove Park Inn for the annual Vance-Aycock Dinner. Obama fired up the fundraising event with a brief speech, captured by blogger Gordon Smith of www.scrutinyhooligans.com.
Here’s the Mountain Xpress live blog of Obama’s Sunday rally at Asheville High School:
Things I’m noticing now that I’m downloading photos: Obama jogged down the steep steps to arrive at the podium.
Other elected officials on hand included: Buncombe Sheriff Van Duncan, Asheville Mayor Terry Bellamy; Buncombe Commissioner David Gantt
In trying to get past the racehorse aspect of coverage, it was good to hear Obama talks specifics of his health care plan.
Obama said McCain is getting desperate; McCain’s running out of time and out of ideas, Obama said.
In other notes about the Obama speech, Obama warned that the McCain camp would begin a smear campaign to distract voters.
traffic on Biltmore Ave in downtown is at a near standstill
On table of folks on the way out was selling organic Obama T-shirts for $20. Another woman was selling buttons, 2 for $5.
On McDowell, and around the hospital and AB Tech, there’s lots of traffic and people on the street.
On the way out, traffic was congested on McDowell Avenue, so beware.
While a bit dry in the middle of the speech, Obama roused the crowd at the end. watch for our upcoming video at www.mountainx.com
Obama said it’s critical to the U.S. economy to fix the U.S. health care system.
Obama gave detail on how he would increases on taxes on people making more than $250,000 to help pay for his health plan
he did have fun with one part of the speech, in which he told Asheville not to be hood-winked by the MCcain camp, not to be “bamboozled”
Obama centered his speech almost solely on health care. a Mission nurse introduced him. (see earlier tweet).
not everybody got in to see Obama. the line waiting to get in still snaked around the stadium as he started to speak.
i’m back at the Mountain Xpress news desk, where i can type. so to fill in some blanks…
just back from the Obama rally. hot and tire and sweaty. downloading photos and video.
Obama is done
More dets on health care
Obama says he will fix health care
Obama talks health care
Obama jokes that he passed a golf course he wants to come back and play
Obama here
Waiting
People still pouring in.
Motorcade here
Crowd anxious for obama
Pledge of allegiance
Buddy corbin opens with a prayer
20 minutes before speech time, crowd still pouring in.
Gantt just filed in along with Hagan staff & Dem notables
Crowd still coming as the stadium slowly fills
Vols handing out change-we-need signs
One hour to go
Aville high band is now playing
Sing – people get ready. theres a train a comin. about 23 hours ago from txt
crowd stil pour4ng in
Apples not allowed in – but bananas ok
security is extremely tight at the Obama rally.
people are being let into the stadium. people are getting excited. clapping. yelling.
WLOS plans to broadcast Obama’s speech live on Charter cable channel 9 today.
Sheriff Van Duncan says more people are arriving than police and officials had expected.
news tip: Elizabeth Allen, a cardiac nurse and the daughter of Ellen Frost, will introduce Sen. Obama.
Pick up Mountain Xpress every Wednesday. Check out our “sneak peek” video every Monday at www.mountainx.com.
ok, maybe not thousands by the minute. by a very large crowd is amassing at Asheville High School this morning.
thousands arriving by the minute to the Obama rally at Asheville High. everyone’s hoping gates open at noon. air thick with anticipation.
08:20 AM October 05, 2008
@LucindaWatrous congratulations!
08:18 AM October 05, 2008
while we’re all waiting: be on the lookout for the Mountain Xpress Best of WNC special edition coming in the next couple of weeks.
08:16 AM October 05, 2008
anyone you talk to says they feel they’re witnessing history at today’s Asheville Obama rally.
08:15 AM October 05, 2008
in the line as people wait for Obama: cheering, chanting, people selling T-shirts and bumper stickers. excitement all around.
08:14 AM October 05, 2008
at today’s Obama rally, frantic parking. people parking in Biltmore. people walking on the roadside to get to the stadium.
08:14 AM October 05, 2008
@AshevilleMama could be a long day for parents with small children. no bathroom access while waiting in line. hot sun.
08:11 AM October 05, 2008
It’s going to be a hot day for the Obama rally. Bring water and sunscreen.
08:00 AM October 05, 2008
Journalists are lining up for press credentials, which will be passed out at 11 a.m.
07:54 AM October 05, 2008
People are arriving Asheville High School. Police are directing people to park at AB Tech. Parking is going to fill up fast.
07:49 AM October 05, 2008
It’s almost 11 a.m. on Sunday, and the Mountain Xpress coverage of the Barack Obama rally today at Asheville High School begins.
07:48 AM October 05, 2008
Go here to see all the updates.
— Jason Sandford, multimedia editor
Jason! Great job keeping the folks updated. I couldn’t make it to the rally today, so I’m especially glad you and others are sharing the fun.
(p.s. scrutinyhooligans.us not .com)
Just watched live on the internet. Not only does Obama tell us what he is going to do he tell us how he is going to do it. I am sick and tired of McCain telling us what he thinks we want to hear. It is time for us to stand up and take back our country.
We in North Carolina are longing for a glimmer of hope. We need a leader with a broader vision for a better America for our children and our grand children. We need a President that will lead us back to our American Dream with innovation, technology and education. I don’t see that in McCain. All I see in McCain is we must win the war at any cost and at any expense of the lives of our troops.
We need to get McCain out of our state like Michigan dumped him.
Go here to see photos of the Obama rally:
http://www.mountainx.com/gallery.
Great pictures Jason….still recovering from the motorcycle accident and surgery so I did not go due to the length of time I would have had to stand (long periods hurt) but I watched on MY40…..it was ok but there camera man needs lessons from you!
Obama is all pluff and no substance. Talks a good game, but gives no specifics how he will do any of these lofty socialist goals of his.
Marcia I believe I already as well as others made your arguments moot and demonstrated your lack of intelligence on the other thread. Perhaps you should go look at that thread and then go become enlightened by doing some independent non partisn research on your own without Mumpowers assistance.
What’s “pluff”?
I think she meant puff….she likes to make off handed comments and then vanish and not follow up
That’s quite an odd statement Marcia, especially since virtually every nonpartisan analysis is in agreement that Obama’s plan is significantly more specific than McCain’s plan, which has gaping unaccounted for holes in it. Try telling the truth sometime, instead of just regurgitating right-wing disinformation.