http://www.huffingtonpost.com/akmuckraker/mccain-palin-rally-in-anc_b_131976.htmlAKMuckraker
Posted October 5, 2008 | 05:20 AM (EST)
McCain-Palin Rally in Anchorage is a Whole Lotta Empty Chairs, Gosh Darnit!
Once again, there were duelling rallies here in Anchorage. The McCain-Palin rally was held in the just-completed Dena'ina Convention Center in downtown Anchorage. The Obama rally was held outside, just a couple blocks away, at the Delaney Park Strip.
One would think that a Republican rally celebrating the hometown girl, in her very very red state would have drawn a huge crowd, and that the Obama rally would be nothing more than a few brave intrepid souls with a couple signs shivering by the side of the road. One would be wrong.
The Obama rally was all set up and running when I arrived - tents, face painting, t-shirt sales, voter registration, postcard writing to swing states, a huge stage and sound system. By 1:00, there were more than a thousand people milling around with signs, kids, dogs and huge smiles. This was definitely a feel-good place. Hundreds lined the roadside waving signs to appreciative honking motorists, and hundreds more milled around the tent area. Anchorage mayoral candidate and former legislator Eric Croft got up and spoke, so did Kat Pustay who's heading up the Obama campaign in the state. Then came Ethan Berkowitz, Democratic candidate for the U.S. House seat currently held by Don Young. Ethan welcomed his "fellow revolutionaries". The crowd went wild.
I looked at my watch. I had decided to take a stroll down the block and check out what was happening with the other rally. It was after 1:30 and I knew if I didn't get to the McCain Palin rally soon, I'd never go. So I ripped myself away from all the positive energy, and hurried over to the Dana'ina Center.
Three people stood outside waving signs. I figured I had to smile, so I did. "Come on in, we're having a rally!" one of them effused. I took a big cleansing breath, and in I went.
snip//
Back out into the fresh air, and down the street where Obama signs were still waving. There I was again, back at the rally of "hate, anger and fear" listening to a great local band, watching kids with painted faces dancing in the grass, smiling people registering voters, busy postcard-writers, cheering sign-wavers, and a community brought together by a shared desire to move the country in a new direction.
Clearly I was at the right rally.
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