Last night, I received an invitation to see the president speak in Palm Beach County. I was so excited. I showed my 13 year old son who said "I want to go." When I told my eight year old daughter, she also wanted to go! I was invited to see the President of the United States speak in person. It was a great moment for this former Civics teacher.
I had to pick up the tickets at a local Obama campaign office at 6:00. No problem, I would get off work early, drop my kids off at gymnastics, then head to the office that was just a few miles away. My plan was perfect---until I could not get in!
In Palm Beach County, in one of the most important swing states, where it is supposed to be "leaning Romney" I could not get in.
I left gymnastics in the pouring rain and thought that this would be an advantage--the pouring rain and flooded streets will keep people away. This would be better me. I was making good time the entire way until traffic came to a stop when I was about 1/2 a mile from my destination. I thought that it must be the awful rain and flooded streets that caused an accident--until I noticed something very similar about the cars in traffic. They all had Obama stickers. I did get close enough to see the building. Outside the building, in the driving rain, stood people with umbrellas on a line that wrapped around the building! The parking lot was full and cars were on the busy street waiting to get into the parking lot. The last time I saw lines like this was for early voting in Palm Beach County in 2008.
Unfortunately, I did the math and knew that even if I could find a parking spot and waited in the rain, I would not get tickets to the event. Even though I was deeply disappointed (I really wanted to go) I had to smile.
Although I can't guarantee my stupid state, the state that voted for criminal Rick Scott, will vote for Obama, this line was a positive sign. If these people were waiting in the pouring rain for hours, they will go out and vote. This line gives me hope that Florida will be an Obama state which means that President Obama will be reelected.