Kerry drew huge crowds in Portland in 2004.

[onehandle]

60,000 plus according to organizers (MSM said 50k, of course). I remember we were pretty impressed by that number.

Obama drew more, but it must be something about that area to draw crowds like that.

This was a GE event, but Obama is the nominee in all but name now.

Same venue in 2004. Looks familiar:

[Aloha Spirit]

1. nice context, thanks!

[GarbagemanLB]

2. Little Beirut

[sfaprog]

3. Actually that's a good reminder...

We can't be complacent, knowing Obama is almost inevitable as POTUS. We have a lot of fight left.

[book_worm]

4. but he didn't draw those crowds in a primary race, rather the GE after he was the nominee.

[Alexander]

6. Bingo!

You win this thread.

:thumbsup:

[ginnyinWI]

9. Thanks to the prolonged primary season, interest is up.

Also, Obama's ground game is unsurpassed. They have him come in weeks before to hold a rally and get people's names and numbers for a volunteer force. Then they come back in when everything is set up and BOOM!--a fantastic rally.

Today he's going into Montana to get the ground game going in full force.

They've got the organization and they've got the money--great combination.

[cali]

5. the key difference is that Kerry drew that number as the nominee

not when he was still opposed in the primary.

[onehandle]

10. I think we have our nominee and that many are in that mindset. Feels like a GE event to me.

Kerry was nominee early. Obama is nominee in everything but name.

[Mme. Defarge]

7. I was there by those people in yellow!

Amazing. But I thought it was 30,000 -- ?????????

[onehandle]

12. Even the MSM admitted it was 50,000 plus.

Internal counts said 60,000 plus.

[Adelante]

20. Fire officials estimated 75,000

30,000 were anticipated.

The campaign, citing figures from Duane Bray, battalion chief of Portland Fire & Rescue, estimated that 75,000 people are watching him speak.

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/05/18/record_obama_crowd_the_size_of.html

[Arugula Latte]

8. We've hated Bush since Day One here. We're pissed off.

The war has been unpopular from the start. That's one big reason there's little love for Hillary here. There are few places that have such an intensely concentrated population of true liberals and progressives. (Parents I know whisper about rumors that so-and-so is a *gasp* Republican.) Also, Portland takes pride in its activism and community involvement.

[ginnyinWI]

13. I love Portland, just love it.

I'm stuck here in Wisconsin, but since our son and his wife have been living there since 2003 we've visited eight times. We've seen all the tourist spots and dined in many of the restaurants. Very cool place, and I love the downtown transit system especially.

We are going to be retiring in ten years or so, and Portland is #1 on my list of places to move to, or at least near. Even though our son is going to be moving around for several years because of his career and might not be there then. They'll be somewhere on the West Coast I'm sure.

[Arugula Latte]

21. Yes, please come join us!

Southwest Airlines often has inexpensive flights up and down the west coast, so you can visit your son pretty easily from here.

:hi:

[ginnyinWI]

25. also Alaska Airlines.

Last fall we flew from Portland to Sacramento (my brother lives in Napa) on one of their twin-prop planes. It was a fairly short and inexpensive trip and flew low enough to see all the mountains along the way.

[onehandle]

15. Good for everyone there. nt

[mystieus]

11. I read Kerry drew around 40,000

[onehandle]

14. Link.

50,000 according to MSM. 60 plus according to organizers.

http://blog.oregonlive.com/breakingnews/2008/05/obamamayvisit.html

[mystieus]

18. Here, link,

http://www.kgw.com/news-local/stories/kgw_051808_politics_obama_oregon.60db48e.html

In August of 2004, then-Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry held a large rally in the same location, drawing about 45,000 people.

[Bluenorthwest]

16. Oregon is my adopted home

And yes there is something about it that makes for events like this. I love my new home state so much, and the people here. Oregon made me a better person, and I am not joking. Also a better Democrat if that really matters!
I'd also like to point out that one of things that makes such a crowd possible is the public transportation that got them there. Walking, train riding and such that is simply not there for the people of say, Los Angeles, my former home.

[Arugula Latte]

24. Hi Blue,

Welcome to the NW! :hi: I've been here for almost 13 years (can't believe it). I lived in Cali. for many years.

Weren't you surprised by how polite a lot of the drivers are around here? I couldn't believe how many people waved me into traffic when we first moved to Portland. I remember driving in the Bay Area ... Good grief. x(

[Bluenorthwest]

26. Thanks for the welcome

And yes, people drive well and with kindness. My first week here in Eugene, I was in mid flip off on the road when I realized that the other driver was not being rude, rather so polite it was beyond my grasp. Thankfully, I was able to change the bird into a wave in time, and I've been smiling and waving ever since!

[newmajority]

17. Did Kerry get that crowd by himself, or was that one of the stops The Boss was with him?

[onehandle]

22. Leonardo DiCaprio and Jon Bon Jovi. woohoo.

Obama had The Decemberists who are much more current and who I would have loved to see.

[dkf]

19. AP quotes fire officials at 80,000 for Obama...

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/2008/05/obama_warns_seniors_on_social_1.php

"Fire officials estimated 65,000 packed into a riverside park for a spectacular afternoon rally at a sun-splashed scene on the banks of the Willamette River in Portland. They said an additional 15,000 were left outside and dozens of boaters could be seen floating in the river."

[onehandle]

23. Nice to see real numbers.

MSM numbers are always dictated by a Rove.

[seabeyond]

27. so what? we shouldnt raly behind, feel good with the support

and positiveness of the picture cause??? we are dems out to kick some repugs ass? or cause we are still fighting amongst ourselves?

let it go.... rejoice and feel good there are crowds for dems. stop the battle