By Maegan Smith
Special to the AFRO
Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, Barack Obama, kicked off his post nomination campaign with a rally on June 5 at the Nissan Pavilion in Bristow, Va. The state has not voted Democratic in a presidential election since 1964.
Opening the campaign in the traditionally GOP-bent state of Virginia, which Democrats have neglected in presidential campaigns, hinted at Obama’s plan to try to change red states into blue.
He took the stage with two of Virginia’s Democratic representatives, Gov. Tim Kaine and the state’s junior Sen. Jim Webb. After Obama had shaken hands with the many supporters who held signs on stage, the three men stood in front of the podium with linked arms raised in victory, celebrating Obama’s nomination win that had come only two days before.
Obama reflected on the crowd of more than 10,000 people, many of whom were African-American, as he opened his speech and said that they represented, “work that was done more than 40 years ago to perfect this union.”
He then went on to speak about the need for change in Iraq War policy and said that it should never have been waged.
Next he turned his focus to the economy.
“We have gone through a period of sustained economic growth that has resulted in, for the first time, American families having less money,” Obama said.
He spoke of the American school system and said it is, “underfunded and teachers are underpaid.”
The senator cited these as his reasons for entering the race when many said he was too young and “the fierce urgency of now,” an old Dr. King quote, as his main inspiration for running.
Then Obama went after his competition.
“We just spoke last night and joked about the fact that if you had asked the news pundits a year ago who would be the two candidates, it would not have been me or John McCain,” Obama said of their unlikely candidacies.
Then he got tough, scolding McCain for his record of supporting Bush while talking of making great progress.
“We are going to be unified to make sure John McCain doesn’t make great progress to the White House,” Obama said.
He spoke of Sen. Hillary Clinton in a more than flattering light, the beginning of an attempt to heal campaign wounds. He said that he was, “a better candidate because of the work she did,” and that, “My two daughters look at themselves differently because she ran.”
Kaine (D), who Obama called, “an indispensible voice for change in Washington,” and Webb heaped copious praise onto Clinton as well.
“She will continue to give this nation extraordinary public service,” Webb said.
However, the two men praised no one more than Obama.
“He’s excellent, and we need it. He’s a unifier, and we need it. He’ll bring change, and we need it,” Kaine said of Obama to the more than receptive members of the crowd who had braved 90-degree temperatures at the outdoor venue to hear the candidate speak.
J. Harrison Coleman, the principal of Fred N. Lynn Middle School in Woodbridge, Va., was one such observer. She said she had been an Obama supporter from “way back.” She and her 88-year-old mother had been waiting at the Pavilion to hear Obama speak since 3 p.m.
“It was awesome,” she said of his speech.
Jorae Williams, 27, and Sherri Bracey, 29, both of Prince George’s County, Md., shared her sentiments.
“It was powerful and uplifting to hear him speak. I mean I’ve seen him on TV, but to be there in person was amazing,” Williams said.
Williams and Bracey voted for Obama in Maryland’s primary and were glad to see that he had won it as well as the nomination.
Said Obama of his victory, “My bet paid off because the American people are ready for change, which is why I stand before you as the Democratic candidate for president of the United States.”