Events Calendar
In This Section
Most Read Stories
Tiger Woods loses first major sponsor
Tiger Woods debate sparks beating
Police say Ohio man zapped by stun gun dies
Mom of Steelers player, ex-Coventry High star charged with assault in Akron VFW melee
Woman arrested in grits attack on boyfriend
LeBron throws bolts to silence Thunder
Man found dead near Rittman nursing home
Court clerk wants to hire collection agency
Two homicides in Stark; one victim's hand cut off
Blogs:
Pets:
Is it better to walk a human or to walk a dog?
The Heldenfiles:
NBC Program Plans
Patrick McManamon:
More on the philosophy of Kant
Akron Zips:
Akron loses national championship in shootout
Tribe Matters:
Tribe re-signs Reyes, Miller
Cleveland Browns:
Mangini Presser Audio: Browns players, coaches enjoy needed break
Kent State Sports:
Orrville's Miller commits to Kent State
Cleveland Cavaliers:
The Traveling Music Post: The Show Tunes Version
Buckeye Blogging:
Bucks Meet Ducks for Rose Bowl Crown
Varsity Letters:
Cincinnati player visited Kent State
All Da King's Men:
Melting Arctic Ice
Blog of Mass Destruction:
Master De-baters
Akron Law Café:
Health Care Financing Reform: (88) Warner Amendment to Strengthen Cost Containment Provisions of Senate Bill
See Jane Style:
Do IT this week: Layering
Car Chase:
The AM Gizmo—aPerfect Gift for Collector Car Drivers
Let's Talk Real Estate:
Loan Modification – You Qualify!
Ohio Travels with Betty:
Miranda asks about a place sacred to the Indians where magnetic fields converge.
Sound Check:
On the Town – Top entertainment picks for the weekend
HRLite House:
Genetic Discrimination
Akron Gamer:
'Halo Reach' trailer
Obama supporters wait hours in cold to see man they're counting on to win
By Jim Carney
Beacon Journal staff writer
Published on Tuesday, Oct 28, 2008
CANTON: Eight days before the presidential election, Keith Knox got his 4-year-old son up early and stood in line with several thousand others waiting to see Barack Obama.
''He's here to see history,'' Knox said Monday as his son, Isiah, stood by his side outside the Canton Memorial Civic Center as light snow flurries fell on the frigid October morning.
Knox held a minicamcorder and planned to document the appearance of the Democratic presidential candidate for his son to see decades from now.
''America needs to change,'' said the 48-year-old Canton man, who runs a lawn and landscaping business.
''The world needs to change.''
Obama's election would be ''the best thing for America,'' Knox said.
Looking at the crowd waiting to get into the civic center, Knox was optimistic about Obama's chances.
''I think it's going to happen,'' he said.
People stood in the cold for more than four hours before Obama began to speak at 1:15 p.m.
The line stretched several people deep around the center.
With Obama holding a 6 percentage-point lead over Republican John McCain in the state — according to the average of polls followed by the Real Clear Politics Web site — people who braved the weather were taking
nothing for granted for their candidate.
Four Obama volunteers from Wayne County drove to Canton together and were in line just past 8:30, almost two hours before the doors opened.
''He's got to get to the White House,'' said volunteer Lori Menk, 44, of Canaan Township in Wayne County.
''I feel a lot of positive energy in Ohio for Obama. I think he has Ohio wrapped up.''
Catherine Wiandt, 70, of Chester Township, a retired teacher who rode in the same car with Menk, said she would believe an Obama victory has happened only after the election and the results are in.
''We don't take it for granted,'' she said.
Phyllis Woodward, 67, of Canaan Township, retired from the state of Ohio, said she has been working hard for Obama. ''Ten hours every day,'' she said.
First-time political volunteer Jo Winkler, 53, of Wayne Township, who is retired from Worthington Industries and traveled to Canton with her three friends, said she thinks the race in Ohio will be close.
''We're going to do it,'' Winkler said.
She and her friends and others have been volunteering in the rural section of Wayne County, a county that went for George W. Bush in 2004 in a big way.
''It's going to happen,'' she said of Obama's chances.
'Candidate for all people'
As she stood outside the civic center, Darlene Turner-Bryant, 45, of Massillon, held a sign that proclaimed, ''Christians 4 Obama.''
Jesus was for everybody, said Turner-Bryant, who is a long-distance truck driver along with her husband, Clark.
''Obama is a candidate for all people. I believe he is showing that all cultures are supporting him.''
Obama wants to ''reach across the board and help everybody,'' she said.
The racially diverse crowd began entering the arena at 10:30 a.m. as Bruce Springsteen, Bachman-Turner Overdrive and John Mayer's Waiting on the World to Change played on the loudspeaker.
With the possibility of the nation's first African-American president being elected next week, Jean Nash, a 53-year-old Canton social worker, said there hasn't been anything like the Obama phenomenon since the election of John F. Kennedy.
''I think this is history in the making,'' said Nash, an Obama volunteer who has been canvassing her neighborhood.
''I'm doing this for my children,'' said the mother of four. ''I'm keeping my fingers crossed.''
Hoping for turnout
Akron school board member the Rev. Curtis Walker Jr., who was in the crowd waiting to see Obama, said he hopes all those who stood in line Monday will get out to vote on Election Day, when they might have to again wait in long lines.
''Young people have to vote on Nov. 4,'' said Walker, pastor of Wesley Temple AME Zion Church in Akron.
Rod Bailey was one of those waiting in line with 4,900 others to see Obama for the first time.
Bailey, 66, a retired carpenter and college professor from Rochester, N.Y., has been volunteering for Obama in Akron.
''It is very inspiring,'' he said of the campaign.
And he predicted change would come if his candidate is elected.
''It strikes me that there will be a whole new direction in the making with Obama,'' he said.
Jim Carney can be reached at 330-996-3576 or jcarney@thebeaconjournal.com.
CANTON: Eight days before the presidential election, Keith Knox got his 4-year-old son up early and stood in line with several thousand others waiting to see Barack Obama.
Get the full article here.
Comments
Click here to post your comments
Posted 09:17 PM, 10/28/2008
Please see how education dollars will be spent...
http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/10/27/obamas-education-groups-funded-controversial-organiations-s-tax-returns/
What does wealth redistribution got to do with it?? Watch..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iivL4c_3pck
Posted 05:37 PM, 10/29/2008
Don't believe the liberal NY Times or Gallup polls. McCain is going to win. NoBama's lead is vanishing according to IBD TIPP and Rasmussen polls.
How did we get in this financial mess? You deserve to know, especially if you are losing your home or your life savings has been wiped out by the recent stock market decline. For answers watch this You Tube video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5z9lD4C2Io
