We did some amazing GOTV work in Ohio today. Ohio's coming in for Barack, mark my words.
I'm traveling with the great California Nurses Association, whose mission is to tirelessly spread the word about the urgency of single-payer healthcare.
I'll start at the end because I know y'all will want to see Michelle Obama's speech before a packed gym at the Buchtel High School in Akron.
Oh. My. God! I can't believe I was there. But I was!
It was hot, it was packed, it was electric, it was indescribable, it was about the most joyful place I've been in a long, long time.
Here is a piece of Michelle's the next First Lady's speech. I was in the gym and cheering so much, that now I have a sore throat.
The students appeared to be largely African American and the sense that great history is about to be made was palpable.
This is one reason why Ohio is going to give it up for Barack. Barack's secret weapon. Michelle. And what a secret weapon she is!
Here are more photos from the rally today in Akron.
The packed rally.
She's even more gorgeous in person.
Here's Michelle with Dinora, one of our nurses!
And here's Michelle with a baby. Jut look at the adoring crowd.
And some of you wonder how is the secret service protection? As you can tell from this photo, very good and extremely attentive, thank God.
Happy and excited voters.
This is someone many of you might know from Daily Kos, California Nurses Shum.
More excited voters. Fired up and ready to go. After being at the rally and listening to Michelle, boy doI know what this means.
The reason this woman has such a smile on her face is because, we just spontaneously hugged each other.
The school marching band, holding our flyers about guaranteed healthcare. Let me tell you these kids are so fired up and ready to go, I don't know how they'll sleep between now and November 4th. Though Michelle made repeated pleas to vote early.
Let me tell you something else, over the last 24 hours, I've talked to plenty of Ohioans, and this is by no means some sort of scientific sample, but here's my impression.
The Obama voters consider this vote their historic destiny. Many said they are taking the day off to vote because they know the lines will be long. In a terrible economic environment, taking this day off from work, will at minimum go against a sick or vacation day. It's a big sacrifice, but this is the level of commitment.
I met two first time voters on bicycles and implored them to vote early. You know what one told me? He said, "history is going to be made on November 4th, I want to be able to tell my grandchildren I voted for Barack Obama on November 4th, 2008."
Now that I hope you've been wowed by the Michelle Obama rally, here in pictures, is just a tiny glimpse of what's happening in this battleground state.
We started out from the Marriott in Cleveland after a hearty breakfast.
Our first stop was in the congressional district which will soon be a Democratic pick up. This is
Bill O'Neill a Bronze Star Vietnam Veteran who is running in the 14th CD in Ohio. Bill is also a pediatric emergency room nurse! He is within striking distance of taking down his loathsome Republican opponent, Steven C. LaTourette. He could use some love, if you have a few dollars lying around during these terrible economic times. That's me on the end in a green jacket.
Main Street, Willoughby, Ohio. Bill O'Neill's district.
The 14th CD in Ohio is small town America. It's hurting bigtime after eight years of Bush, and it's inconceivable that the voters could return the Republican thug. This gazebo is in the center of town.
After we left Bill O'Neill we headed for the offices of The News Herald for what is politely called a news invasion. We were met by John Arthur Hutchison, the Sunday Editor and Staff writer. The nurses simply asked the paper to write an objective article contrasting the McCain and Obama health plans. Let's hope Mr. Hutchison does his job.
Here he is listening to several nurses descibe the healthcare catastrophe in the United States.
Then it was on to lunch. Yummy. Yummy. You're always very well fed when you travel with the nurses!
The nurses feed you well because we're fired up and ready to go from dawn to dusk. No kidding.
After lunch we headed to Cleveland's famous Westside Market for more GOTV, voter outreach and voter education. Truth be told, I was as transfixed with the food as I was with the voters.
More voters listen to a nurse describe the stark choice.
This was a memorable encounter. We gave the guy on the right our literature and he started telling the guy on the left something like, "I told you that that guy McCain is a no good scumbag".
I'm sure I left something out. Tomorrow we head out to Rochester where we'll be visiting with a Daily Kos hero, Eric Massa.
It's been a long and exciting day. I hope this gives you a little taste.
of what's happening in the all-important state of Ohio.