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Confident Obama plans $1m election night party
Paul Thompson in Washington24 Oct 2008
IT is just over a week until America chooses its next president but Barack Obama is already planning his election night celebrations.
A $1 million outdoor extravaganza is being put together, to be held in Chicago's Grant Park, to mark what supporters hope will be the Democratic candidate's historic victory. As many as 250,000 people are predicted to turn out.
Work has begun on building a giant stage for Mr Obama to stand and accept the adulation of the crowd.
The Illinois senator, who is on a break from the campaign trail to visit his sick grandmother in Hawaii, has given the go-ahead for the celebrations.
The exact theme for the election night has not been revealed but is unlikely to feature Greek columns. He was savaged in the press after a stage resembling a Greek temple was constructed for his nomination acceptance speech at the Democratic convention in Denver.
His Republican rival, John McCain, mocked the convention stage as the "Temple of Obama".
Mr Obama is comfortably ahead of Mr McCain as the election enters the final stage, having opened a sizeable gap in many of the swing states that are crucial to both candidates in the election.
While he is away, his wife Michelle will deputise for him at rallies in Wisconsin and Iowa. Before flying to Hawaii, he told supporters in Indianapolis that they must keep up the pressure for the last days.
"We're going to have to work, we're going to have to struggle, we're going to have to fight for every single one of those 12 days," Mr Obama said. "It's not going to be easy, but I'm hopeful about the outcome ... but we cannot let up."
Mr McCain refused to accept he faces a battle to win. Yesterday he campaigned in Florida, which traditionally votes Republican, and is seen as crucial to his slender chances.
He accused his rival of saying "anything to get elected". "Thirteen days to go, and he changed his tax plan because the American people had learned the truth about it and they didn't like it," Mr McCain told a crowd at a wood yard.
"We shouldn't be taxing our small businesses more, as Senator Obama wants to do," he said. "We need to be helping them expand their businesses and create jobs."
Reader views (2)
It's obvious I am not overseas. (I wish I was - but not this week.)
I've been waiting for a man who can inspire like Barack for forty years. The last presidential candidate who inspired me this much was Robert F. Kennedy. Forty years is a long time to wait. In fact no presidential candidate has inspired me this much. Let's face it. Barack Obama is the best hope of the world. Not only America but the world.
In Manhattan tonight it's Halloween. All the kids of all colours are in the streets trick or treating. It is an inspiration. Go Barack. Thanks for your time London. A New Yorker
- Lawrennce Coleman, New York. NY United States of America, 01/11/2008 01:39
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He's smart. He's sincere. He's the real thing.
He's the next U.S. President!
Please, vote for Obama. We cannot afford to vote for what got us into the mess we're in now.
Obama will win November 4!
GO OBAMA!!!
Carole
http://www.Americans-Away-From-Home.com/node/507
- Carole, London, UK, 30/10/2008 06:49
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