We arrived Concord High School two hours early while a combination of Obama staffers, volunteers and students set up the site. The school was well prepared for the influx of visitors; Obama is the 11th 2008 presidential candidate to hold an event there.
Obama arrived an hour after the doors opened, and the packed gym waited listening to songs piped in through large speakers set around the perimeter of the room. After introductions, Obama himself entered to Clocks, by Coldplay, while the crowd cheered loudly.
Obama spoke for about half an hour, focusing his attention on hope, as well as the need and the sacrifices required for change. "In four days" was his refrain, reminding the audience, about a quarter of whom indicated they were undecided, to vote for him in the primary.
Obama's promises to end the war in Iraq, intervene in Darfur and establish universal health care received the biggest applause. He repeatedly stressed the immediacy of the need for change. "Young people answered the call yesterday, all across Iowa," he said, noting the huge increase in under-30 involvement in the caucuses. The audience had a significant number of students from Concord High, which was in session, but also a significant number of young people traveled specifically to the event. The average age was definitely skewed to under 40.
"Let's get to work," concluded Obama amid loud cheers. Afterwards he worked his way down the crowd, stopping to talk to fans and interested voters along the way. About half of the 1,500 to 2,000 people who attended waited to try to move in close to the senator. Many just wanted to shake his hand and listened to music by Kenny Chesney, Paul Simon, Aretha Franklin, Steve Wonder and John Mayer while they waited for the opportunity.
Joining the audience was a large press corps including reporters and photographers from many national and international organizations, though Obama did not take any questions from the press.
Afterwards we drove south to McCain's event located in Hudson, N.H., at VFW Post 5791. The audience at the McCain event was noticeably older and whiter and predominantly male. This may be attributed to the fact that it was held in a VFW. About 400 people attended, filling every chair and the standing room. Instead of just prepared remarks, like the Obama rally, McCain began by addressing climate change, Iraq and Washington corruption and then opened the floor to questions.
Much of the conversation revolved around the military. Talk about Iraq, the Veteran's Administration and even the jokes referenced McCain's time in the service. Many veterans attended the event, as did some of McCain's friends from his own time in the military. Senator Lindsay Graham (R-S.C.), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, joined the audience as well. The event itself began with a recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance.
McCain addressed both those attending and the press afterwards before driving away on his "Straight Talk Express."
(Matt Westmoreland '10 (l.), Arizona Senator John McCain (c.), Kate Benner '10)
