By Zenitha Prince
Washington Bureau Chief
PHILADELPHIA -- Willis Howard had had enough. For months he was forced to live the “Obama experience” vicariously through other crowds in far away cities. Though a supporter of Sen. Barack Obama, Howard had not had a chance to see or hear the man who had re-scripted American politics and who could very well become the first African-American president of the United States.
“We see him on TV, we read about him and radio hosts like Michael Baisden and Tom Joyner have been keeping us connected,” Howard said.
But it wasn’t enough.
“I wanted to be part of it so I took off from work and decided to come up,” he said.
Howard is one of many Floridians who have been forced into a from-the-sidelines experience of the energy surrounding the 2008 Democratic primary.
Party officials have stripped Florida of its convention delegates because the state Democratic committee moved up the date of their primary in violation of a party directive.
Consequently, Obama did not campaign heavily in the Sunshine State. He received 33 percent of the votes, while his remaining opponent Sen. Hillary Clinton received 50 percent, and former candidate John Edwards received 14 percent.
A longtime political operative in his home state, Howard said he felt compelled to come to Philadelphia to offer his talents and resources. He was a volunteer at a recent rally held at the Independence National Historical Park in downtown Philly.
The 34-year-old said he was impressed and energized by what he has seen.
“It’s not make-believe,” Howard said, looking over at the teeming crowd. “I’m excited, man. I love it. Makes me feel like I was back in college, when I was volunteering and learning the ropes of the political process.”
Howard believes the Obama campaign is right on target.
“Before I only had a few people I could talk politics with and one of them lived out of state. Now, I can call my mom and dad and they’re watching the TV and keeping up with the news and saying, ‘Did you see what they said about Obama today?’”
“I think they’ve done a terrific job of showing us how campaigns can be run in the 21st century,” he said. “For a long time we have been trying to figure out how do you get young people involved? How do you get Blacks involved? How do you get Whites and Blacks together on the issues? He hit the tone with every American.”
As with millions all over America, Obama’s message of hope has resonated with Floridians, said Howard, president of Urban Initiatives.
“Before I only had a few people I could talk politics with and one of them lived out of state. Now, I can call my mom and dad and they’re watching the TV and keeping up with the news and saying, ‘Did you see what they said about Obama today?’ or, ’Did you hear that speech Obama made?’ Even my ninth-grader is keeping up with the debate,” Howard said.
Now that Howard has gotten a direct taste of “Obamamania,” people back home are living vicariously through him.
“I’ve been calling my kids because they want a play-by-play of what’s happening,” he explained. “People are texting me asking me to bring back an Obama button, a sign, a shirt, anything. I’m glad I was a part of it.”