Updated | MANASSAS, Va. – Less than a day before the polls open, I’m here with senior staff photographer Nick Gingold for Sen. Barack Obama’s last campaign rally before Election Day. The rally won’t start for another four hours, but already a long line is snaking around the Prince William County Fairgrounds.
GW seniors Dan Malin, Will Marsh and Travis Helwig arrived here at 11:30 a.m., having spent the weekend canvassing in Arlington and Fairfax counties. After accidentally getting trapped inside the fairgrounds and helping the Obama volunteers set up barricades, they settled into a spot at the front of the line.
“I love it, it’s been such a great experience,” said Malin, who is attending his first Obama event. He added that with the campaign winding down, he doesn’t plan on sleeping tonight.
Near the Colonials were Aileen Baker and her granddaughter Tashae Perkins. Baker, a history and government teacher at the Fairfax County Juvenile Detention Center whose involvement in politics dates to John F. Kennedy’s presidential campaign, said she hasn’t seen so many people involved in a campaign in 40 years.
“It’s so much like the 60’s,” she said.
6:00 p.m. I’m standing here on the press risers looking out at the sea of thousands of Obama supporters rapidly filling up the fairgrounds.
The temperature is dropping quickly, but the crowd doesn’t seem to mind. No doubt being packed like sardines helps dealing with the cold.
The GW students we spoke to earlier have grabbed spots right in front of the podium. There are maybe a half-dozen people in the entire crowd who have a better view than they do. Looks like showing up nine hours early has its rewards.
We just received word that Obama’s grandmother died earlier today. It will be interesting to see if this affects his remarks.