Obama Ba-rocks Ohio

Kent Daily Stater:

Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama told thousands of Northeast Ohioans last night that they may find themselves voting in their own campaign during the next presidential election.

"I can't do this all alone, and I don't want to make promises I can't keep," he told supporters who had gathered in Cuyahoga Community College's east campus gymnasium. "If you think this election is all about me - you're wrong. This election is about your hopes and dreams, and I am absolutely confident that change will happen."

Representing the American people was one of many points the hopeful made during his rally. Obama touched on a variety of issues, including the war in Iraq.

"Whether you were for the war or against it before, we can all agree that it's time to give Iraq back to its people," he said. "There's no military solution."

Obama said he agreed with British Prime Minister Tony Blair's decision to pull British troops out of Iraq and said he would like to see all American troops out of the country by March 2008.

In addition, Obama said, if elected, he promises to make health care available to all U.S. citizens.

"In a country that spends $1.9 trillion on health care, having 46 million Americans uninsured makes no sense," he said.

Barack also said he would like to see the cost of higher education decrease so more people could attend college.

When discussing America's economy, he said it's time for a dramatic change.

"The economy is changing and some people at the top are doing better than before," he said. "Corporate profits have never been higher, yet we have people all around this region taking buses and trains to get to work - they haven't seen a wage increase in years."

Students were enthusiastic with Obama's speech and plans for America's future.

"I feel he's the Bobby Kennedy of this generation," said Rick Coffey, a Kent State sophomore musical theater major, adding he supports Obama because of his stance on the Iraq war.

RaeAnn Roca, senior public relations and political science major at Northern Ohio University, said she came to the rally because she has loved Obama since she saw him at the Democratic National Convention.

"He has been against the war in Iraq since the beginning," she said. "He always said he wouldn't vote for the war. He's not a flip-flopper and that's very noble."

After giving his speech, Obama left his supporters with a message of hope.

"If I can believe in a better America, so can you," he said. "I guarantee you, Cleveland, a better America."

Cincinnati Enquirer:

1,000 pay to see Obama. Even the event’s organizer, state Sen. Eric Kearney, said he was astounded by the success of Monday’s Barack Obama fundraiser event at the Westin hotel downtown, which might have raised as much as $500,000 for the Illinois Democrat’s presidential campaign.

About 1,000 Obama supporters – including a handful of Republicans – crammed the main ballroom at the Westin. There weren’t enough seats at the tables to go around.

Dozens had to stand through the breakfast, lining the ballroom walls.

It was an unusually large fundraising event for Cincinnati, which spoke to the star power Obama carries. Former President Clinton drew only 600 to a downtown hotel last October when he appeared at a fundraiser for John Cranley’s congressional campaign.

No reporters or cameras were allowed inside. An impromptu press conference promised by a campaign aide after the breakfast failed to materialize.

Obama’s security detail, concerned about moving the Illinois senator through a crowd of hundreds of supporters to where the media was camped out, whisked him out of the Westin through a side door.

The cheapest ticket for the morning event was $100, but those who paid $1,000 or more got to spend about half an hour in a private room with Obama before the main breakfast.

Those who donated $2,300 – the maximum contribution allowed for the presidential primary cycle – had their picture taken with the candidate, who is hands-down the rock star of the early campaign for the 2008 presidential nomination.

Asked afterward how much was raised, Kearney – whose wife, Jan-Michele Lemon Kearney, was a Harvard Law School classmate of Obama – said that while the checks were still being counted, the event raised at least $350,000 and perhaps as much as $500,000.

“It was unbelievable,” said Kearney. “The people just kept coming.”

What was most impressive, Kearney said, was “how diverse a crowd it was – whites, blacks, Latinos, Asian folks, rich and poor. It shows the broad appeal Barack has.”

A considerable number of people bought “walk-up” tickets to the 8 a.m. breakfast.

As of Sunday night, about 750 tickets had been sold. In the end, at least 1,000 people paid the price to see and hear Obama, a first-term senator whose presidential campaign has created much of the early buzz on the 2008 presidential campaign trail.

Inside the reception for large donors was one of Cincinnati’s most high profile supporters of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, whose campaign has been trading barbs with the Obama campaign over the past week.

Class-action lawyer Stan Chesley, who has raised millions for President Clinton and for Sen. Clinton’s campaigns, said he was there because he has “enormous respect” for Obama.

“Of course, I am supporting Hillary, but, mainly I want to see the best Democrats run for president,” Chesley said. “Sen. Obama is very impressive.”

The crowd inside the main breakfast event ranged from enthusiastic supporters of the Illinois senator to Democrats who have yet to make up their minds about the field of party presidential contenders.

Myrtis Grace, of Bond Hill, a retired teacher, said Obama has “re-ignited my interest in politics.”

“I worked for (John F.) Kennedy and for Bill Clinton, but I haven’t been involved lately,” Grace said. “But Sen. Obama is inspiring. He’s so passionate.”

Cincinnati Councilwoman Laketa Cole, a Democrat, said she has yet to make up her mind about which presidential candidate to support, but came away impressed by Obama.

“I want to hear Hillary; I want to hear all of them,’ Cole said. “But he made a great speech, talking about bringing the country together, healing the divisions. I like that.”

Harold Brooks, a long-time Republican Party activist from Westwood, said he came to the breakfast because he plans to help organize a “Black Republicans for Obama” organization in Ohio.

“My party may not like it, but I support Sen. Obama,” Brooks said. “He’s the best candidate I’ve seen.”

Obama’s appearance in Cincinnati drew a response from the Hamilton County Republican Party, in the form of a written statement from Maggie Nafziger, the party’s executive director.

“Sen. Obama’s lack of leadership and liberal voting record is concerning,’’ Nafziger said in a press release. “I am not sure he is prepared to function as head of the world’s most powerful nation at such a crucial time in our nation’s history.”

Obama is the first of the announced Democratic candidates to campaign in Cincinnati.

After the Cincinnati event, Obama was scheduled to go to Columbus for a private fundraising event and then on to Cleveland for a late-day public rally, making the rounds of the major cities in a state that is likely to have a great deal to say about who becomes the 44th president of the United States.

Cincinnati Post:

CINCINNATI — Following the national hoopla surrounding the presidential candidacy of U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, Brenda Gibson came downtown early Monday to see why "people are hollering about him."

After buying a ticket for a breakfast fundraiser at the Westin Hotel and hearing the Illinois Democrat speak, now she knows.

"He feels like an old classmate, very solid, very steady, very sure," said Gibson, a mechanical engineer of Silverton. "Most of the time when a politician talks to you, (you) feel like they're giving you a line. (He's) very straightforward."

Gibson's reaction was echoed by many in the diverse, standing room only crowd of up to 1,000 people who packed the hotel's third-floor ballroom. The event was organized by state Sen. Eric Kearney and his wife, Jan-Michele Lemon Kearney. The North Avondale couple are friends of Obama and she attended Harvard Law School with him.

Tickets to the breakfast cost $100. For $1,000, contributors got into a private reception, and for $2,300, they could have their picture taken with the candidate. The event raised an estimated $350,000.

Middletown political movers and shakers recognized Obama's political savvy for coming to Ohio to raise money for his presidential bid.

"It's a critical state," said Anita Scott Jones, the newly elected president of the Middletown unit of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

"Ohio will remain a battleground state," agreed Steve Hightower, a local businessman involved in state and national Democratic politics. "Whoever wins Ohio will win the presidency. I think it's wise to hit the ground in Ohio now."

Jim Ewers, associate dean for student affairs at Miami University Middletown, said he thinks right now Obama has as good a chance as anyone in securing his party's nomination.

"I think that Barack Obama has in many circles widespread appeal. There is something very unifying about his message."

However, Hightower is not overly optimistic about an Obama White House.

"I think the question still remains, 'Is America ready for a black president?' I would say not. History moves at a very slow pace," he said. "I think there are many people, whites in America, that cannot come to grips with voting for a black leader, whereas blacks are used to voting for white leaders."