6 p.m. Obama says he’s traveled to 49 of the 50 states. Guess which one he missed:
The one I didn’t travel to is Alaska, which makes me realize I might need to go up there.
5:56 p.m. Obama steps to the podium. And he pronounces “Lancaster” properly.
5:55 p.m. Casey calls McCain a sidekick for “Bush” for McCain’s senate voting record (90 percent aligned with Bush).
5:54 p.m. Boos for John McCain when Casey mentions his name.
5:50 p.m. We’re getting started. Obama’s with Casey, and both have shed the suit coats for shirtsleeves. He’s shaking hands, and somebody just handed him an orange T-shirt. Not sure what that’s about.
5:31 p.m. The crowd’s chanting “Obama,” which you may have heard recently in a McCain ad about celebrities. Obama’s not here year, but it seems he’s close. Keep pressing “refresh” on your browser. And send some Gatorade!
5:21 p.m. The national press corps is in place. Expecting Obama with Casey shortly.
5:07 p.m. Hey! Sorry about the looonnngg delay. The wireless has been eradic, but it sounds like the Obama campaign has things fixed.
Okay, here’s what you’ve missed: Not a lot.
During the conference call, Congressman Pitts took Obama to task for not supporting expanded oil drilling. I posed a question to our representative: What’s his reaction to the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s report that drilling off the coast would have an “insignificant” impact and opening ANWR wouldn’t either, and any price reductions at the pump won’t be felt until 2030.
Here’s Pitts’ reaction:
I think if we passed a meaningful law to drill now, you would see the prices drop precipitously. The markets are watching.
In other words, oil companies would immediately drop the price of crude oil and gasoline would be cheaper. I’d submit though, with Beijing adding thousands of cars to their roadways and India’s economy growing, any savings realized now would be gobbled up by the global market.
And as promised, Mayor Gray slammed McCain and Palin during a brief speech to this overheated crowd. He noted that Palin has yet to have a press conference:
It’s all be scripted to far. They’ll spend the time bashing the media and blaming the Washington establishment. We’ve had a Republcian president for eight years. We’ve had a Republican senate for five of the last eight years. A republican House for six of the late eight years. They’re going to bash the Washington establishment? Folks they are the Washington establishment.
3:58 p.m. About to join a conference call with Lancaster County Commissioner Scott Martin, U.S. Rep. Joe Pitts and state GOP Chairman Bob Gleason. Should be interesting. All three are in Minnesota for the Republican National Convention, and I bet I hear a lot about how Obama wants to raise taxes, which is not entirely accurate. Obama actually wants to lower taxes for everyone making less than $250,000 and make those who make more pay the same rates they did during the Clinton administration.
Did I mention today is a scorcher? Instead of Obama, this crowd could use Molly Pitcher.
3:56 p.m. Here’s the report from the York Daily Record from about an hour ago:
During the meeting at Voith Siemens in West Manchester Township, Obama spoke for about half an hour, touching on many aspects of his campaign policies.
He appeared to be cognizant of past criticism that he’s dealt mainly in generalities, using the word “specific” a number of times in the course of his remarks.
He said he was there primarily to discuss the economy. He touched on taxes, education and job creation.
He also invited questions from the crowd. Bob Silknitter, of Red Lion, a longtime Voith employee, said he finds it frustrating that virtually all of the talk about clean renewable energy, focuses on solar and wind power, rather than hydro electric power.
3:46 p.m. John Micek of the Allentown Morning-Call just showed up from York and said U.S. Sen. Bob Casey Jr. is traveling with Obama. I’d say Casey could get the job done.
3:41 p.m. If I had to make a prediction, I’d say whoever introduces Obama is going to slam the Republicans and probably their veep nominee Sarah Palin for the vicious attacks in Minnesota last night on Obama’s record and biography. Then Obama takes the podium and fills the ears with talk about the stumbling economy, hardly if ever mentioning Palin because the nominee wants to stay above the fray.
Not sure yet who’s introducing Obama. Doesn’t appear that Gov. Ed Rendell was with the senator in York, but I’ve been told he was instrumental in getting Obama to Lancaster city. I’d think Rendell would be the one who has the gravitas to swipe at Palin and give a rousing introduction for Obama to this crowd. If not Rendell, I’d guess Mayor Rick Gray will have the honor.
3:25 p.m. OMG, it’s blazing hot. The Nest moved a short distance from 8 West King Street and landed in Buchanan Park for Barack Obama’s third visit to Lancaster city in 2008. The sun is scorching down on the media tables, and I’m hoping it moves quickly behind the oak trees otherwise I’m going to leave a rather large puddle of sweat in the park.
Obama’s in York right now filming a segment with FOX News and Bill O’Reilly. Crowds are filling into the venue, which strangely is in this little nook on the side of the hill facing Franklin & Marshall College, which means there’s not a lot of room for the audience. If Obama was talking from the other side, the one facing Race Avenue, they could easily get 10,000 to 15,000 people, but here it’s probably going to be no more than half that number. It keeps with Obama’s strategy this week - small venues, all-American settings, intimate contact with voters - as the Republicans hold their convention in Minnesota.
There’s a podium in the shade of the oak trees and a fenced off area where people designated as “super” campaign volunteers can sit close to Obama at picnic tables or on blankets. The rest of the crowd will be fenced off onto Obama’s left and not right in front of him. What is directly in front of the podium, besides the “super” volunteers, are the media cameras, which means the photos and video will be of Obama speaking to something that looks like a picnic. Few things in politics are not orchestrated.
Keep checking back in for updates.
