Obama/McCain speeches/rallies in Albuquerque, New Mexico

[FrekeChild]

First of all, no I''m not going to Obama''s. I don''t know if MonkeyPie or Skippy are going either.

It was supposed to start at 7. Probably with New Mexican democrats for the first couple of hours. I just walked in the door from a party, and we had to drive up a street thats a few blocks down from the University--where the speech thing is taking place. They are estimating 25,000 people will go. There are normally 30,000 total students at the university, and our city''s population hovers right around 500,000. 5% of the population is pretty dang good.

Anyway, so we''re driving home...And suddenly in the dark, we can make out this dense line of people--at least a mile away from where the speech is taking place. I have never seen so many people gathered for anything here in ABQ. I will see if I can find a visual aid of how long this line was.


McCain was also here in Albuquerque today, at the fairgrounds. I haven''t heard anything about it yet, but I''m going to go look it up right now...

 

[decodelighted]

Date: 10/25/2008 10:01:40 PM
Author:FrekeChild
I have never seen so many people gathered for anything here in ABQ.

Lots of people? Billy Joel & Bruce Springsteen must have been performing for free ...

 

[Skippy123]

CNN has been covering both candidates so tune in; I saw the lines on CNN earlier today. A relative of mine is there because the event requires him to be and he said it is nuts right now. Nope I am home. I am curious where everyone is parking; I can't imagine?!!?! eta: also, CNN said Bill Clinton is suppose to be with him (wonder if that is true). CNN said as soon as Obama speaks they will air his speech. They aired McCains speech earlier too.

 

[FrekeChild]

Skippy--They''re parking all over UNM. The party I was at happened to be a department party, and there were professors and grad students crawling all over. They said that there wasn''t anywhere to park on campus starting at 10am, and two of the grad students went into the gym, and security went through their belongings and had wands run over their person. I''m guessing that South lot was opened for it, and I know T, G, Q, C, B and M lots are being used. I''m really wondering if they''re shutting down Central right now? I mean, they shut it down for movies all of the time, you''d think they''d shut it down for this too, right?

And did you hear anything about the McCain thing?

Deco, New Mexicans don''t seem to go ape-caca for Bruce or Billy, and even if we did, we don''t have a venue big enough within city limits. We get a really dismal concert line up 95% of the time. Part of the country doesn''t even know we''re a part of the USA!


(I''m still working on my Obama''s line visual aid....)

 

[Skippy123]

Date: 10/25/2008 10:06:47 PM
Author: decodelighted

Date: 10/25/2008 10:01:40 PM
Author:FrekeChild
I have never seen so many people gathered for anything here in ABQ.

Lots of people? Billy Joel & Bruce Springsteen must have been performing for free ...

LOL!

eta: FC, CNN didn't say how many people were at the fairgrounds. McCain's speech happened in the morning.

etaa: CNN will air Obama's speech at 9pm Mountain and 11pm Eastern.

 

[FrekeChild]

Skippy, I'll look it up to see if there is anything on the internet about McCain's thing.

Here's a mapquest map...altered by me. That line is long...

ETA: Deco, I, apparently, have not kept up on my reading lately...

 

[decodelighted]

It was a random reference ... Your comment about huge crowds reminded me of an old thread & a sad attempt at diminishing the overwhelming positivity with casual falsehoods.

 

[FrekeChild]

Linky

McCain appeals to ''Bill the Plumber'' at Albuquerque rally


Republican presidential candidate John McCain''s promises to cut taxes for small businesses and create jobs spoke to Bill the Plumber.

Bill Howland that is.

Howland wore a T-shirt that read "Plumbers for McCain." He was among about 1,500 people who attended a Saturday morning rally at the New Mexico fairgrounds in Albuquerque.

McCain appeared with his wife, Cindy, before a crowd that waved blue McCain-Palin signs and chanted, "USA, USA!"

McCain''s visit was the first of a busy day of politicking in the battleground state of New Mexico. He planned to travel to the southern New Mexico town of Mesilla on Saturday afternoon before heading to Iowa.

His rival, Democrat Barack Obama, planned to attend a rally at the University of New Mexico on Saturday evening. And, former first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton was campaigning for Obama in southern New Mexico on Saturday.

McCain told the crowd he has a fight ahead of him before Nov. 4.

"My folks, we''ve got them just where we want them," he said. "We love being the underdog."

McCain criticized Obama''s tax policies, which the Republican said would take money from one group of people and give them to another.

He promised to help people create jobs and expand their businesses.

Howland, owner of Affordable Service of Rio Rancho, said he supports McCain because he''s most concerned about Obama''s tax policies that he believes would devastate small businesses and lead to massive job losses.

He said he identifies with Joe the Plumber, an Ohioan named Joe Wurzelbacher who has become a theme in speeches by McCain and his running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.

"I think Joe the Plumber speaks to the heart of the nation. It''s not just Joe the Plumber. It could be Bob the Bricklayer or any other hardworking individual who aspires to own their own business and achieve some level of success or the American dream," Howland said. "It''s sad that Obama wants to snatch that away."

McCain also appealed to Western voters, saying he understands land, water and Native American issues.

He also promised to support Los Alamos and Sandia national laboratories, recognizing that they make "enormous contributions" to the nation.

McCain said he supports an energy policy that includes domestic oil and gas drilling, nuclear power and alternative energy.

He charged that Obama has said he would only consider nuclear power and domestic drilling to bring about energy independence.

The crowd responded with chants of "drill, baby, drill."

McCain said he supports wind and solar energy, as well.

"What better places than Arizona and New Mexico for solar," he said.

Saturday''s appearances by McCain and Obama are each candidate''s sixth public visit to the state this campaign season.

With early voting already under way, both campaigns are also taking a last stab at attracting undecided voters and they are trying to energize supporters to get them to the polls.

The campaigns are focusing on New Mexico because its voters tend to swing between favoring Democratic and GOP candidates.

In 2000, Democrat Al Gore won New Mexico by a mere 366 votes. Four years later, President Bush took the state by nearly 6,000 votes, one of the closest margins in the country.

McCain''s Albuquerque stop is an attempt to blunt Obama in the voter-rich metropolitan area where the Democrat was backed by 51 percent of voters, according to a poll commissioned by the Albuquerque Journal.

 

[FrekeChild]

Link

An Undecided Couple Sours on McCain

From NBC/NJ''s Adam Aigner-Treworgy
ALBUQUERQUE, NM - Audra and Sam Kochansky decided to come to John McCain''s rally at the New Mexico state fairgrounds today "to hear what they''re going to do for us." But they weren''t happy with what they heard.

"More of the same," said Audra Kochansky of McCain''s remarks.

"This is saber-rattling," said her husband, Sam.

Although these may sound like Democratic talking points, the married pair of nurse anesthetists are lifelong Republicans, but they consider themselves undecided in this election.

Mr. Kochansky, who describes himself as a "diehard Republican who''s registered independent," says that Republicans disheartened after eight years of the Bush Administration have been left with an unsavory choice. "I''m trying to make a decision," he said. "That''s not the way the Republican Party should have conducted itself."

To help determine which box they''ll check on Election Day, the Kochansky''s decided to attend both candidates'' rallies in the Albuquerque area today.

If McCain was hoping to win them over, he has some work to do.

"Bush has been very disappointing and I thought maybe there was some hope in McCain but quite frankly it''s the same saber rattling, just a different century, and it''s disappointing," said Mr. Kochansky. "I want to hear about what he can do for us middle class people. I want specific ideas. I want some specificity to a political plan. Right now it''s more negative. It''s what Obama''s going to do to us but not what he''s telling us. He votes for this package for the congressional bailout but then he blames the Democrats."

The pair also said they were surprised that the turnout for today''s event, attended by less than a thousand people, was so small.

An Albuquerque Journal poll conducted in early October showed McCain trailing Obama by five points in the state.

"Just from talking with our neighbors and such it''s we''re tired of the last eight years and even though McCain says he''s not Bush, take a look around you," he said. "It''s still the Republican Party, and unfortunately my Republican Party is still the last eight years and that''s very disappointing to me."

If Obama gives them more of the same tonight, both Kochansky''s said they might have to vote for Libertarian candidate Bob Barr.

But would they consider voting for Obama?

"We''ve had eight years of saber rattling," Mr. Kochansky said. "It''s time to move on, and so if Obama comes down the pike and says ''I have hope for America and this is what it''s all about,'' yeah, I''ll vote for Obama."

Mrs. Kochansky agreed.

From NBC/NJ''s Adam Aigner-Treworgy
ALBUQUERQUE, NM - Audra and Sam Kochansky decided to come to John McCain''s rally at the New Mexico state fairgrounds today "to hear what they''re going to do for us." But they weren''t happy with what they heard.

"More of the same," said Audra Kochansky of McCain''s remarks.

"This is saber-rattling," said her husband, Sam.

Although these may sound like Democratic talking points, the married pair of nurse anesthetists are lifelong Republicans, but they consider themselves undecided in this election.

Mr. Kochansky, who describes himself as a "diehard Republican who''s registered independent," says that Republicans disheartened after eight years of the Bush Administration have been left with an unsavory choice. "I''m trying to make a decision," he said. "That''s not the way the Republican Party should have conducted itself."

To help determine which box they''ll check on Election Day, the Kochansky''s decided to attend both candidates'' rallies in the Albuquerque area today.

If McCain was hoping to win them over, he has some work to do.

"Bush has been very disappointing and I thought maybe there was some hope in McCain but quite frankly it''s the same saber rattling, just a different century, and it''s disappointing," said Mr. Kochansky. "I want to hear about what he can do for us middle class people. I want specific ideas. I want some specificity to a political plan. Right now it''s more negative. It''s what Obama''s going to do to us but not what he''s telling us. He votes for this package for the congressional bailout but then he blames the Democrats."

The pair also said they were surprised that the turnout for today''s event, attended by less than a thousand people, was so small.

An Albuquerque Journal poll conducted in early October showed McCain trailing Obama by five points in the state.

"Just from talking with our neighbors and such it''s we''re tired of the last eight years and even though McCain says he''s not Bush, take a look around you," he said. "It''s still the Republican Party, and unfortunately my Republican Party is still the last eight years and that''s very disappointing to me."

If Obama gives them more of the same tonight, both Kochansky''s said they might have to vote for Libertarian candidate Bob Barr.

But would they consider voting for Obama?

"We''ve had eight years of saber rattling," Mr. Kochansky said. "It''s time to move on, and so if Obama comes down the pike and says ''I have hope for America and this is what it''s all about,'' yeah, I''ll vote for Obama."

Mrs. Kochansky agreed.

 

[FrekeChild]

From Fox News I''ll bold my favorite part

McCain struggles to gain traction in New Mexico

ALBUQUERQUE, NM — John McCain made a last ditch effort to keep New Mexico in the GOP column Saturday by arguing that he is in touch with issues of the Southwest.

“My friends I’m a fellow westerner, I understand these issues, I understand land and water and Native American issues and border issues and I understand the challenges that a great, great Western states face with our growth and our needs and our challenges,” McCain said at his morning rally in Albuquerque, his first of two events in the Land of Enchantment. “My friends, Senator Obama has never been south of our border, you know that? And he doesn’t know these issues. I know them, I know what the Southwest is, I know strength and the culture and our Hispanic culture and the strength of our great states.”

McCain also kept up his economic message from recent days and warnings about the dangers of undivided Democratic rule.

President Bush defeated Kerry in New Mexico in 2004 by a few thousand votes but McCain now trails Obama in the polls here by about 8 percent according to an average of recent polls. The GOPer is also trailing in early voting, which began one week ago. Among the 150K+ ballots cast thus far, 56% were submitted by Democrats and 33% by Republicans.

“We need to win New Mexico on November the fourth and with your help we’re going to win here and we’re going to bring real change to Washington,” McCain said to supporters in his border state. Among McCain’s problems in New Mexico is his underperformance among Hispanics–a large voting bloc in the state—where he is polling more than 10 points below Bush 04 numbers.

But with ten days to go until election day, there was a palpable lack of energy in the crowd of several hundred supporters at the New Mexico fairgrounds. Campaign officials were aiming for 2-3,000 attendees today.

Meanwhile, Obama is expected to draw tens of thousands supporters at a rally to be held in Albuquerque later tonight. Though it should also be noted that the Obama campaign invests greater resources than McCain in building large crowds and Obama event attendance did not always correlate with eventual victories during the primary.

McCain will hold a second rally today in Mesilla in southeastern New Mexico.

 

[iheartscience]

*SNORT*!!! Freke, the bolded part is CLASSIC. OMG! I should save that if I ever need to figure out a working definition of "spin." HILARIOUS!

 

[FrekeChild]

Linky

Today on the presidential campaign trail

By The Associated Press – 3 hours ago

IN THE HEADLINES

Obama, campaigning in New Mexico, reaches out to Hispanic voters ... McCain looks for votes in West as he portrays Obama as a tax-and-spend liberal ... Can''t stop talking: Nader claims Guinness record for speech making

___

Obama seeks Hispanic votes in New Mexico

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama appealed to Hispanic voters in the swing state of New Mexico with promises of lower taxes and more jobs that would lead to a better economic future for the middle class.

Obama''s rally attracted about 45,000 supporters, who waited Saturday in a line that wound two miles through the University of New Mexico campus and took nearly three hours to enter a barricaded sports field where the rally was held.

Obama said future generations will judge Americans by how they respond to these challenging times.

"They''ll ask us is this a time when America lost its sense of purpose, when we lost our nerve, when we allowed the same divisions and fears to point us into a deeper recession or, will they say, is this one of those moments when America overcomes?" Obama said.

Several voters said they felt his speech was historic and many took photographs of their families with the candidate in the background.

"It''s just like we''re part of a movement," said 21-year-old Andrea Glaser of Albuquerque.

Speaking next to a sign that read "We need change," Obama tied his Republican rival, John McCain, to Bush administration economic policies that make the rich wealthier and harm the poor and middle class.

In contrast, Obama promised tax cuts for 95 percent of workers.

"It''s time to build this economy by investing in the middle class again, and that''s what I''ll do as president," he said.

___

In West, McCain looks for a home-court advantage

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Republican John McCain continued his assault on Democratic rival Barack Obama as he campaigned energetically in the West, claiming a home-court edge in crucial battleground states in the region.

"I''m a fellow Westerner, I understand the issues, I understand the challenges the great Western states face," said McCain, an Arizona senator. "We know what our great Southwest is, we welcome it and I''m proud to be a senator from the West."

McCain continued to portray Obama — a senator from Illinois — as a tax-and-spend liberal certain to push for more government and higher spending, but he added a twist as he stumped through New Mexico and Texas.

"Sen. Obama has never been south of the border," said McCain, arguing that he has a feel for issues like water that resonate throughout the region.

McCain also pointed to the likelihood that Democrats would continue controlling Congress after the election, meaning winning the White House would give the party total control of the government. He warned that a "Democratic congressional agenda" would become the nation''s should Obama win.

With polls showing him behind Obama nationally, McCain pledged a scrappy close to the campaign.

McCain swept through New Mexico, with a dip into Texas, looking to reverse polls showing him trailing in states in the Southwest.

 

[FrekeChild]

So 45,000 people went to Obama's rally (he didn't start speaking until 9pm MT).

There were around 1,500 at McCain's rally (in the afternoon).

I'm wondering if this has anything to do with parking (Obama's was free, and you had to pay at McCain's), the fact that NM is leaning to the blue, the times the rally was held, the media touting that Obama has basically already won and people wanted to go see our next president speak, or if it's representative of Obama's charisma and the difference in speaking styles between the two men.

The map I posted earlier is probably somewhat inaccurate, because the area where I started the green line was where we could see people lined up to from where we were in the car. I'm guessing that it probably snaked around even more than that, and was longer.

I'm in shock of the numbers Obama drew. That's almost 10% of Albuquerque's population. Even though some of the people attending were from out of state, that's amazing numbers for a state that has relatively low voter turnout. We just don't have that kind of crowding going on in NM.

(The neighborhood I was in last night, for the party we went to, had Obama signs at almost every house. It was pretty crazy. I didn't see one McCain sign either...)

I'm excited for New Mexico. I always feel like we're sort of forgotten about.

 

[FrekeChild]

I found out today that the security at Obama''s rally had to turn a lot of people away because the field was already too full.

Dang dude.

 

[iheartscience]

So rad! I can''t believe how many more people Obama got!