The Obama Campaign in Central PA

Last night we went to the Obama volunteer organizing meeting here in State College, PA. And everything you have heard is true. I wish I had pictures, but words will have to do.

First off the energy was very high and the meeting was packed. There was a woman there who had cast her first vote for JFK. And a young man who had just turned 18. And a number of veterans of Howard Dean's meetups. Our campaign field organizer was a nice young man named Matt. He's a Republican from Massachusetts, and I believe we are his fourth state for Obama.

The campaign is very excited about Centre County. The voter registration numbers have been unbelievable.

They are very well organized, and will have us up and knocking on doors, I think by next week. We signed up for teams based on our home precinct. The crowd was much bigger than they expected and very diverse. So much for Hillary's demographic. I did not see any of the local Democratic Party establishment. Our local superdelegate, Ruth Rudy, who does nothing for the party anymore except write an occasional check, has endorsed Hillary. They were all probably waiting in line to hear Bill Clinton speak.

It was a little scary driving by Penn State on the way to the meeting. Bill Clinton was speaking there last night to a crowd of about 6,000. The line to get in to see him was about a quarter mile long. A lot of students standing in a light rain for at least two hours. I was pleased to read in the paper this morning that they weren't all supporters.

Centre County is Penn State surrounded by rural, a lot of dairy farms, but also a lot of small, fading towns. The unemployment rate here is low, but it masks a deeper problem. We've lost most of our manufacturing and high tech base and those jobs have been replaced with service and retail jobs. A lot of people are living paycheck to paycheck. The traditional wisdom among the ossified Democratic Party establishment is to forget about campus. The students never vote. The place was crawling with students last night.

If Obama can wake that sleeping giant, he can win Centre County. You can help if you live in Pennsylvania or near enough to get here Sunday!

This weekend all energy is turned to getting out the crowds for Obama at Penn State.

Anyway as I said, the first goal is to get a huge crowd out for Obama on Sunday. He is speaking on the Old Main Lawn at 1:30. It's outdoors and there is plenty of room. So if you live anywhere in PA please make the drive to State College for this. Tens of thousands make the trip here from around the state every fall to watch football. In 2003, we drove down to Philly to hear Gov. Dean speak. It was a long drive, but so worth it. State College is about 3-4 hours from everywhere — D.C., Philly, Pittsburgh, NYC, Virginia, Maryland. Harrisburg and Scranton are a little closer. So make a day of it on Sunday and flood our town with Obama love. The gates open at 11:30 (what gates? It's the center of campus outside). It's free. You can try to contact the local HQ for preferred seating tickets. PA.BARACKOBAMA.COM. Sen. Bob Casey will be joining Sen. Obama. If you have family in PA, please tell them this is their chance to hear Obama live, instead of in sound bites on TV.

Anyway, I'll take pictures and video and post about the rally.

Please help wake the sleeping giant that is Penn State. They've registered. But that fact that so many went to hear Bill Clinton last night is troubling. If you can make it, it would sure help. And it'll be fun. Dress warm.