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."
This is not a News story, it’s a free campaign advertisement for the Obamessiah. It amazes me how media can get away with this kind of blatant political favoritism.
his grandmother passed away and her last words were for him to win?
His first round of cabinet picks.
If you want your house and business spared from destruction, vandalism or investigation, you are to paint a black X to the left of your door post. Remove all McCain-Palin signs and "unless you have something nice to say about That One, say nothing at all". He WILL know if you violate this last rule and he, in his benevolence, is giving fair warning to all before his avenging angel, ACORN, goes out across the nation slaying those who do not obey.
He will not need to slay the first born, because his angel, Ayers has already taken their minds over to his side.
After this merciful speech, the angels of the Air -- NBC, CBS, ABC, CNN and MSNBC will take his most blessed decree throughout the land, blowing trumpets in loud praise of their Master. The minor angel Matthews will fall at his feet and all the minions will sing loud 'Hosannas' to his name.
1) He announces he healed his grandmother and she is walking now
2) Since he can "walk and chew gum at the same time" he will announce he will be the POTUS and the VP and eliminate Biden
“Ladies and gentlemen I have found my birth certificate in Toot’s garage”
Pre-empting Rush? The timing is suspicious.
(with all kudos to pookie18!!)
An “important address” means that he will get to use the teleprompter and give a supposedly soaring, eloquent speech that will send two tingles up Chrissy Matthews’ leg.
This is simply a way to get back to what Obama is good at-—giving a real speech.
Brat Fraud?
Please.
Hang in there, Perdogg!
I agree it is a free campaign ad.
The policy meeting last week in FL was supposed to make Obama look serious and presidential. It was boring as heck, the people there wanted a rally, not a lecture and signs are it didn’t help him.
Now he’s trying the same stunt in OH - trying to look serious and knowledgeable about important issues.
Why is he doing these stupid policy wonk sessions when he can get HUGE, excited crowds at rallies? But at the rallies, he’s only speaking to the Kook-ades anyhow.
My guess is that he’s losing in both FL and OH and his internals show that the reason is that people, even his own base, think he’s an empty suit. He’s looking for a venue where he can look in charge and up to speed on serious issues to bring his base and indies on board.
I think this is a sign that he doesn’t have his base on board.
16 44 S. Main Street!
(Little Rascal's answer to "What was Lincoln's Gettysburg Address?)
So what else would Obambi be talking about in Canton?
Since it’s in Ohio, especially Canton, I expect it will be on manufacturing. In his “manufacturing agenda” speech in Michigan in May he proposed a variety of tax credits and spending programs. He also mentioned unfair trade practices but was vague about what he would do other than “fight for american workers”.
Obama could be adding to the programs he announced in Michigan, but if he wants something with more punch to close the sale in Ohio, I think he will be proposing some major protectionist policies. He did the anti-Nafta thing against Clinton in the Ohio primary, and I think he is going to do a repeat, or maybe go big and go against the WTO as well.
Stock market monday, watch out below!
Free poi for all !
The most hyped campaign in history of mankind. Everything they do and say is hyped, overrated, and full of lies. Those are the typical tactics of losers who try to inflate their power much more than it really is in order to give the impression that they are winning. Obama is going to be defeated.
Kickoff of “Yes, We Canton!” push.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.