Posted on 10/26/2008 8:19:17 AM PDT by ResistorSister
CANTON Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama, who is scheduled to be in Canton on Monday, will deliver "an important address" at the Memorial Civic Center rather than his typical stump speech, his campaign said tonight.
A campaign spokesman said he could not disclose any further details.
The campaign is apparently organizing an event at the civic center at 1101 Market Ave. N that's different from the standard political rally. The spokesman said that no entertainment has been booked. In addition, Geoff Tompkins, manager and director of event services for the civic center, said Obama's advance team told him that they wanted a venue that would be appropriate for a "policy speech."
A press release said that Obama would "discuss his plans to turn around the economy, bring new jobs to Ohio and deliver the change we need in Washington."
The campaign says it will not release specifics on Obama's arrival and departure from Canton, nor would it say where he'll stay Sunday night. He is scheduled Sunday to campaign in Colorado. After his speech in Canton, he's set to go to Pittsburgh, a spokesman said.
LIVE IN CANTON
The event here will start at 12:30 p.m. The Obama campaign said the doors at the McKinley lobby entrance on the south side of the civic center will open no later than 10:30 a.m. Free tickets were distributed this afternoon and evening at Obama's campaign offices in Canton at 111 Second St. NW, Alliance at 15 S. Arch Ave. and Massillon at 35 Erie St. N along with the Stark County Democratic Party office at 4220 12th St. NW in Canton Township. Tickets were to be handed out between 2 and 8 p.m. Sunday.
The campaign declined to say how many tickets still were available or how many were passed out Saturday. Tompkins said the civic center's capacity can vary from 3,500 to 5,000 people, depending on the configuration. He added that the Obama campaign will pay $12,000 to rent the facility.
Healy said the campaign also had considered holding the event at Fawcett Stadium, but the campaign apparently went with the smaller civic center because of forecasts of chilly, rainy weather Monday.
RUSHING TO GET TICKETS
At about 7 p.m. tonight, a steady stream of people was stopping by Obama's Canton office to pick up the blue event tickets. At times, a line went out the door. A campaign volunteer said the line wrapped around the building at one point in the afternoon.
C.J. Cooper, 19, of Dover, a Walsh University sophomore, originally went to the office looking for tickets to a pro-Obama rally in Cleveland on Wednesday featuring rapper Jay-Z and Cavs star LeBron James. He ended up settling for tickets to see Obama on Monday.
"It's a little disappointing, but still encouraging at the same time," he said, tongue in cheek. He said he'll be skipping statistics class to attend Obama's speech. But he doesn't think his professor will care.
"I think he's for Obama."
Ophelia Owens, 60, of Canton, was shopping at the Value City Department Store in Canton Township, near Meyers Lake, when her son called her with news of Obama's visit. She immediately rushed to the Canton office.
"I want to be there to support him," she said. "I think we're almost in a depression. I think he's going to bring back the economy. I think he's going to bring troops home from the war."
Mayor William J. Healy II said Obama told him earlier this year at the U.S. Conference of Mayors in Miami that he planned to visit Canton. Local Democrats have been pressing the campaign for weeks to arrange for Obama to visit Stark County. Healy said it could be Obama's last major stop in Ohio before the election.
"They knew Canton was one of the biggest cities they hadn't hit yet. I knew they wanted to save it for the end."
Unless he is admitting he is not eligible to be president, I could care less what this empty suit has to offer.
RUSHING TO GET TICKETS
The spokesman said advance team told him that they wanted a venue that would be appropriate for a “policy speech.”
That no entertainment has been booked
Civic center’s capacity can vary from 3,500 to 5,000 people, depending on the configuration.
NEED WE HEAR ANYMORE?
His grandmother confessed to him that he was adopted?
Sorry, I am busy. I have to go to work to support myself, unlike the people who will undoubtedly go to this rally. I am sure a vast majority of them do not work because they are receiving my and your tax dollars that allow them to stay home and not have to work.
JoMa
Most likely he is feeling a little heat from Palin saying he will take your money...and he has to try to come up with some words that even though will not say anything, will sway some votes his way. Plus the same old, the republicans are so bad, blah blah blah, we are the ones that are lying and attacking while he is running a “clean” campaign. It’s the age old game, accuse the other guy of exactly what you are doing. Make yourself look innocent (the victim)while doing what you are accusing the other guy of doing. Plus tell everyone he is not liberal and we have nothing to fear with his presidency and maybe, just maybe, Biden will be stepping aside. Just a guess... All I can say is democrats have been showing us in bits and pieces what they are really like... Do not trust them! Not one bit. Heck I wouldn’t be surprised if he claims he solved some world wide problem.......
“There-Ya-Go” Joe dropping our for medical reasons.
Colin P. to step in.
More likely that he "found" it in his dying grandmothers papers attached to a picture of his dear mother.
This idiot thinks he is the President already. It will be NOTHING. As usual...these kinds of “events” are created to bring any interest back to the candidate.
This will be more “Can you afford 4 years more of George W Bush” garbage we have heard 3,000,000 times.
which card? the one where she cries and wins NH? LOL
Stay tuned for information about an important breakthrough in weight loss!
Look for a switcheroo in the VP candidate.
"...Several other large companies operate in the greater-Canton area, including are Belden Brick Company (brick and masonry producer) and Diebold (ATMs, electronic voting devices, and bank vaults)..."
Yeah, I'll bet he's disappointed.
Next sentence
"It's a little disappointing, but still encouraging at the same time," he said, tongue in cheek. He said he'll be skipping statistics class to attend Obama's speech. But he doesn't think his professor will care. "I think he's for Obama."
Knew it. He was there for the free rap tickets. Like all the other people who show up to see BO. Say in Germany.
Why doesn’t McCain give ‘policy speeches’ for some free press? It’s always Obama on the teevee, not a good thing.
Mind you, this will be a 'typical' white family tradition.
Good point. He could very well be getting ready to tell them about his Perot like infomercial.
Ophelia Owens, 60, of Canton,... “I think he’s going to bring back the economy.”
Sweetie, you ain’t seen nuthin yet!
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