LIVE from Springfield, Illinois — Obama Announcement Rally
Greetings from Springfield! After leaving Chicago at 7am and marathoning the 200 mile drive to the state capital (sans diapers), we arrived in town just in time for the main event.
And what an event it was. Standing in front of the same Old State Capitol building where Abraham Lincoln once told the country that “a house divided against itself cannot stand,” the blinding clarity of the winter day surpassed only by the clarity and eloquence of the words that echoed over a sea of bundled and fervent supporters longing for leadership and unity, Sen. Obama announced that he would seek the presidency of the United States of America.
OBAMARAMA was there. Despite the chill, the energy was electric and coursed through the audience. Everywhere you turned, you found flushed and smiling faces, each bearing the same knowing expression, a sort of common understanding, as if to say, “This is the start of something big, of something transformational. And we are a part of it.”
For Springfield, it was practically a national holiday:
The historical significance of the location was clear everywhere you looked…
…and certainly wasn’t lost on some of the town’s more colorful characters:
These Springfield High School students, representing a group called Juniors Saving America, were obviously “Ready to Barack”:
All in all, an amazing experience. The entire morning had the feel of being a moment of great historical weight, one that the country will one day look back on as a pivotal event in its noble and winding history.
Let’s hope so.
February 10th, 2007 at 2:52 pm EST
It’s strange. I’m cautioning myself to not be too happy or excited about this but what else am I going to look forward to? Keep hope alive right?
February 12th, 2007 at 5:05 pm EST
Thanks for bringing this to us, complete with pictures! The scope of your coverage of the Obama Campaign is amazing!
February 14th, 2007 at 2:57 pm EST
Where can I puchase this poster?
February 14th, 2007 at 3:01 pm EST
Hi Sharon — not sure which poster you mean, but if you want me to email you any of the pictures above I’d be glad to do so. Just drop me a line via the “Contact” button at the top of the page. Thanks.