It's been a while since I diaried here, but I felt compelled to offer the following after watching "the ad" from a Philly bar/restaurant.
Now, this wasn't a "shot and a beer" Philly bar; this was a high-scale, downtown $36 steak-and-Italian place near the convention center. 95% white, upper middle class.
My seat was in the back corner of the bar area, perched on a high stool, with a great vantage point not only of the TV, but of the crowd.
The place was full of revelers awaiting the World Series game. The TV was on but silent.
Then "the ad" came on.
A few observations:
- After a few minutes, someone asked the bartender to turn up the sound, which he did.
- And then the place got quiet. This is a bar-full of crazy Philly phans, chomping at the bit for the ball game to start. And the place got quiet to listen to "the ad". People were actually listening and watching.
- When it was done, people applauded. Yes. Applauded a political ad.
- The game coverage came on; and during the first commercial break, a McCain attack ad came on. The reaction was mainly shaking of heads.
I don't know what to make of all that, but to me it spoke volumes about Senator Obama, about the campaign he's run, and about the real connection he appears to be making with real voters of very stripe.
And so, back at my hotel room, watching the game, I offer that as an indication that something different IS happening. It's not over -- not by a long shot. But the excitement is growing.
Get out the vote.