Wintry mix spreads across Minnesota

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(AP)  Democratic presidential candidate Barack
Obama padded his campaign fundraising numbers Friday with
small-and-big buck events, telling one overflow crowd he'd champion
an energy revolution on the homefront and improve America's foreign
reputation as president.
     

 Organizers estimated 3,000 people paid between $15 and $25 for
rally at a warehouse-turned-office building and they were counting
on a couple hundred at a private reception for larger donors.

      It marked Obama's first visit to Minnesota as a presidential
candidate. Two of his rivals, New York Sen. Hillary Clinton and New
Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, swung through weeks earlier.

      At the larger event, supporters stood elbow-to-elbow all around
the stage and hundreds more leaned over four balconies that ringed
the building's atrium to hear the first-term Illinois senator.

      "Sometimes when I look around and see these wonderful faces
from every walk of life, I say to myself `It's tempting to think
it's all about me and I'm just so fabulous," Obama said. "But
when I'm honest with myself I have to admit that's not the reason
people are coming out. The reason people are coming out is because
all around the country people are ready for change."

      "There are people with a sense of urgency, with a sense of
passion that want to see a different America," he added.
      

      His roughly 30-minute speech echoed themes he's hitting as he
flies around the country. He promised to phase out U.S. troops in
Iraq being "as careful getting out as we were careless getting
in." On energy, he advocated a 45 mile per gallon fuel economy
standard for cars.

      "It is well within existing technological capabilities," he
said. "We can replace the equivalent of all the oil we import from
the Persian Gulf."

      It was a disproportionately youthful crowd, many of whom have
never voted in a presidential election.

      Community college student John Oen, 19, and two friends held
down a spot a few feet from the stage - their prize for being near
the front of a line that snaked four blocks long.

      "He looks the part. He looks like a president," Oen said. "He
definitely acts the part."

      Like many in the audience, Carl Noren learned of the event over
the Internet and bought a $15 student ticket. General admission was
$25, and those who came were added to Obama's rapidly expanding
donor list that now exceeds 250,000 for the year.

      "He's the most charismatic, he makes the most sense," said
Noren, a 19-year-old University of South Dakota student. "He's all
around the best candidate the Democrats could get for the next
election."

      Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak marveled at the turnout.

      "This is the most genuine grass roots campaign I've ever
seen," Rybak said.

      Minnesota Republicans took a less charitable view.

      "All the media hype in the world can't obscure the fact that
Barack Obama lacks the experience, leadership and accomplishments
necessary to be commander in chief," said state GOP chairman Ron
Carey.

      From the rally, Obama headed to a private, higher-dollar
fundraiser at the riverfront house of a couple known for raising
loads of money for Democrats.


Gallery

Politics and Government News

Brian Bakst, Associated Press

Author

Organizers estimated 3,000 people paid between $15 and $25 for
rally at a warehouse-turned-office building and they were counting
on a couple hundred at a private reception for larger donors.


Obama packs 'em in, leaves Minnesota with more campaign dollars

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