I got to see Barack Obama Wednesday at the rally that was held in Leesburg, Virginia. It was everything I had hoped it would be. And more.
I got there on the early side and spent a good part of the time enjoying the people that came to see him. I was taken by the wonderful variety of people who came to see him. There were old folks and young, kids in strollers, teenagers, black, white, whatever. It was a tapestry of Americans with a common hope.
And you know what was the most stunning thing?
Everyone was happy. None of that hate that seems to personify the McCain campaign rallies. What I saw was people who came to the rally excited and spent their time in line making friends, discussing the future, and getting pumped up to make the future ours. The power of the entire event was in how everyone seemed to leave personally touched by the event - a result of the energy of the crowd, the amazing volunteers, and the strength of the candidate himself.
(One note: I'm making NO Apologies for posting a VERY large number of pictures here. I loved being there. It was the charge up I needed to carry me though election day. It is still a relatively small fraction of the photos I shot - there are more on my flickr page!)
Read More