Obama ignites Dallas in wake of winning streak

by Brody Mulligan of Brody Blog

By the dawn's early light, supporters of Senator Barack Obama arrived in droves, sending lines around the entirety of Reunion Arena, sporting signs, slogans, and--a central theme in Mr. Obama's campaign--hope, in the wake of significant victories over Demoratic rival Hillary Clinton.

Organizers for Mr. Obama's campaign said they expected to fill the arena to capacity, and by noon a veritable swarm of patrons had settled in to an introduction from local celebrities such as former Mayor Ron Kirk and Emmitt Smith.

Spontaneously, supporters of Mr. Obama erupted in deafening chants of "YES WE CAN!" and sung along to "Hold On, I'm Coming", replacing the lyrics of the R&B standard with chants of "Hold On! Obama's Coming!"

As he took to the stage amid a lightning storm of flash photography, Mr. Obama commanded the microphone and immediately began riding the momentum which has carried over since his victories Tuesday in Wisconsin, Hawaii, and Washington State.

Thanking local unions and organizers, Mr. Obama continued to outline policies that have been the foundation of his platform: Providing affordable health care, lowering taxes for low-income families and seniors while eliminating tax cuts for the wealthy, promoting the need for affordable higher education, and bringing the War in Iraq to an end--which garnered a standing ovation from the crowd.

In response to the crowd's chanting, Mr. Obama replied: "Yes, We Can."

Mr. Obama did not make a direct reference to his Democratic rival, Mrs. Clinton, but did criticize Republican front-runner John McCain, stating he would repeat the same policies and results of the current Bush Administration.

Recalling the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Mr. Obama hoped to instill a sense of urgency--"the fierce urgency of now"--among attendees, citing the importance of early voting, and caucusing.

In what, at times, sounded like an echo of his speech last night in Houston, Mr. Obama repeated his firm positions on other major political issues such as global warming, outsourcing of jobs overseas, and inadequate pay and resources for teachers and schools.

So much national and local media interest was generated that the press box overflowed well before the event began, sending scores of photographers into the fray of the crowd below and off to the side barricades.

But the menagerie behind the event may have been the most captivating political image. A handful of helicopters swirled overhead as the parking lots flooded with cars by lunchtime, as Mr. Obama's appearance here drew a mixed crowd of young, old, black, white, rich, and poor.

Texas is crucial to Mr. Obama obtaining the Democratic Party nomination, an item once thought to be firmly held by Senator Hillary Clinton, who had won significant states such as California and New York, but has recently been overtaken by Mr. Obama in a state-by-state primary and caucus delegate race, who has now swept ten states in a row.