I was at the Obama rally in South Bend and will have pictures, as well as a full post tomorrow. For now, the South Bend Tribune has an article that will do:
SOUTH BEND — Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama spoke to a crowd of 3,500 late Wednesday night at Washington High School.
He began by talking about why he is running for president, including ending the war in Iraq and improving health care, taxes and education.
He said the reason he is running for president now, even though some others have said he is too young, is that the country cannot wait any longer for change.
“We cannot wait,” he said, “And that is why I am running for president of the United States.
“But I’m also running because of you, I’m running because I made a bet on the American people.”
He went on to say that change happens from the bottom up, and he is betting that the American people are ready to make that change.
“If we can all just come together,” he said, “I believe there is no problem we cannot solve.”
The rally was the first stop on Obama’s three-day bus tour of Indiana, which holds its primary May 6.
From here, he next goes to Gary, Lafayette and Muncie.
Obama was introduced by South Bend Mayor Stephen Luecke, who gave a surprise endorsement of Obama over Democratic rival Hillary Clinton and Republican John McCain.
“Because he connects our minds and our hearts,” Luecke said of supporting Obama. “He makes so many different connections.
“I believe in Obama because he knows us, from the South Side of Chicago to South Bend.
“He’s right on the issues, he’s right in terms of his heart, he’s right on the values.”
During earlier introductory remarks, former U.S. Rep. Tim Roemer, D-South Bend, said he is proud to have supported Obama from early on in the campaign.
Obama has also picked up endorsements from Michigan City Mayor Chuck Oberlie and Goshen Mayor Alan Kauffman, Roemer said.
Posted in General
Tags: barack, chicago, endorse, indiana, mayor luecke, obama, primary, rally, south bend, tim roemer, washington