Edwards Rally at University of Maine/Orono today.

[Old and In the Way]

John Edwards gave a great speech at UMO today. He was introduced by Stephen King and Gov. John Baldacci. King was fired up...he told us that this is the most important election we've ever had. I estimate 3-4000 people there. Edwards led off with Cheney's terrorist comments and went through the entire litiny of the Bush/Cheney War on America. He is a great public speaker, I was totally impressed with his conviction and delivery. Everyone left pretty charged up.

There were the obligatory 50-100 pro-Bush supporters who were a non-factor....Edwards did say that if you believe what Bush-Cheney stand for you ought to join these people....that got a nice round of boos.

On the way out, the Bush supporters had a life sized cutout of Bush...I yelled "string him up"....that got a few laughs. They started chanting '4 more years', but were drowned out with the '2 more months' retort. Mainly, people were just laughing at these clowns.

On the way south to Bangor, I saw Edward's motorcade in the rearview as he was heading for the airport. I rolled down the window and gave him a "thumbs up" as his SUV went past....my wife says that he returned the gesture, but I was kinda busy driving to really see for sure. :-)

[jus_the_facts]

1. SUPER Coolness.......

....I'm a HUGE Stephen King fan and also an Edwards fan...he was m'first choice for Prez. :hi:

[MockSwede]

14. King

He looked pretty good today. That car running him over didn't do him any favors back in 1999.

We have gone to his office on occasion to get our SK books signed by him.

You should see the new municipal outdoor pool he helped fund. It opened this summer. He and Tabitha are very generous. To the University, to libraries, to the city of Bangor.

Nice ordinary (and literarily gifted - both) people.

[Old and In the Way]

15. I only caught glimpses....he's aged quite a bit and looked really pale.

I know that accident really did a number on him....he has been really good to UMO and Bangor, no question.

[jus_the_facts]

18. I'd absolutely LOVE to live in Maine.........

....it's beyond awesome to know they're such wonderful people...must be equally as awesome to get to know them personally! Welcome to DU too btw!! :hi: :yourock:

on edit...I'm quite thankful he's doin' aight since that horrible accident...I've been buyin' all his work in hardback for the last few years...to have 'em signed by him...maaaaan yer luuuucky! :P

[MockSwede]

25. Tabitha

Try some of Tabitha Spruce King's work. She's a writer, too. Nice folks. Used to see them at the pharmacy. Not since the accident. I think they have those items picked up for them now. But, you'll run into them at baseball games behind their house and at the bookstore downtown and at hockey games at UM.

If "LSU" means Louisiana State - it's be one hell of a change. Freeze to death until acclimated - took me three years to get used to Carolina heat. You ain't a Mainer unless you've spent a winter in Maine! (Actually, you have to be born here to be a 'local'. Everyone else is 'from away.'

Did you know he bought the van that the guy was driving when the guy ran over him. Didn't hear what he did with it. (Another book! - or a sledgehammer.) The guy wound up killing himself a while back. Too bad he didn't do it BEFORE running over someone.

Most folks (locals) have two or three jobs cobbed together to make a living. We got no time to fuss about 'airs' and fancy pants. What you see is what you get. No pretenses. That's why the Kings can walk about and be normal - not mobbed or made a fuss over, just treated like every other local.

[Protected]

2. WGME said there were about 7,000 there

:hi:

I couldn't believe the amazing line of people there! It was great to see so many people.

I'm glad the Bush supporters showed up for the comic relief. I think one Bush supporter had a sign that said something like, "I'm middle class, what R U?" Maybe they were trying to be ironic? I guess that was aimed at Edwards and not the crowd, but once again the hypocritical Republicans fail to see that their own candidate is not a member of the middle class.

[Old and In the Way]

4. Actually, I thought there was more than 5000, but the SO said

2000, so I deflated it.

It was real difficult to see Edwards....they should have set him up on the open veranda of the building instead of at ground level over to one side.

[Protected]

8. Bad layout, I agree

I was very surprised at the set up that they had. I agree that he should have been up on the veranda instead of where he was. I was only about 20-25 yards or so from stage and I know that most of the people around me were having problems seeing him.

Here's an AP story on the event:
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/politics/9611884.htm?1c

[MockSwede]

11. Placement

My wife and I thought they'd set up on the portico of Fogler Library, too. That would have elevated him so all could see him. I think they wanted a quick exit building (Stevens Hall - South) that they could lock up at that time of day, whereas they could not do that to the Library. A great time, otherwise.

[blue neen]

3. Sounds like a nice sized crowd.

I'd love to see Edwards speak sometime. He and his wife both seem so genuine. Did she speak also?

[Old and In the Way]

5. I don't think she was there....she wasn't introduced.

[Sydnie]

6. Their daughter started school today so she was probably there instead n/t

[MockSwede]

12. Rally

Edwards was there without his wife making public presence. Stephen King was fired up. I saw him arrive and walk up behind the mobile antenna trucks for the live feeds and he was carrying a hockey stick! I didn't see him brandish it, but I believe it was the one John Baldacci gave him. Maine Hockey fans....

[bushwakker]

7. Go Black Bears - my alma mater!!

Freshman year Gannett Hall room 123.....

[MockSwede]

13. Aruba

I was in Aroostook Hall 426.

[mrgorth]

24. UMO

Class of 95, the dorm right before Hilltop, forget the name. Go Black Bears!

[MaineDem]

21. I was in Hart

Man, has the campus changed in a few 30 years. :)

[MockSwede]

27. Aruba

Sure has. I was in Aroostook 1979-1983. But you'll find they throw out these posts since not on campaign 2004 topic. I lost a bunch others on same threads just 1/2 hour ago.

[blm]

9. Felt good to be there with your compatriots in this battle, didn't it?

Glad you shared the fight.

[Old and In the Way]

17. Indeed......my batteries got charged!

There were almost as many people my age as there were students, too.

[MockSwede]

10. Fine Time

We were there, too. The line to get in ran from around the side of the library to Wingate Hall and the President's House, up the next street all the way back to Hitchner Hall and then down toward the Maine Center for the Arts.

Fun waiting in line with nice folks. We must have packed in 6-8000 people. TV folks said about 7000. Edwards made a hit with the crowd when he walked off the risers and down onto the quad and INTO the crowd.

Had two fellows I'd alerted at work about event. One made a great catch for one of the T-shirts being thrown and the other waved it about during the speech. Later, with Edwards in the crowd, he was able to make some face time and get a handshake. This fellow was stoked afterward!

Took over 15 minutes to clear out of College Avenue and drive toward and through Orono toward home. Bumper to bumper. I'd looked at all the traffic heading toward Stillwater Avenue and thought I was being smart.....

Wish I could post the photos I took of the event.

[Old and In the Way]

16. Welcome onboard!

Not a UMO graduate (my wife is, though), but I did "socialize" up there on a couple of ocaissions many, many moons ago. I was going to wear my DU'er shirt, but it looked like it was going to rain today.

I kind of wished I had DU business cards to hand out...this would have been a great audience to connect with.

[AP]

19. That has got to charge Edwards up when random people on the street...

...driving by are giving him the thumbs up.

[spooky3]

20. Great first person report! Thanks!

[chefgirl]

22. Thanks for the report.

Im soooooo jealous! I was supposed to be there last night, but had work obligations at the last minute, and I was devastated.

Sounds like it was a great rally!

I would just like to add, for those unfamiliar with our great state, that a crowd of that size is HUGE for an event like this in Maine.

The longer I live here, the more proud I am of the people here.

Go Maine!! :bounce:

-chef-

[MaineDem]

23. I stood at the fence as he came out

I shook his hand twice...before the speech as he walked to the stage and afterwards when he made the rounds of the crowd.

He didn't fly out last night. He's still in Bangor and will go to NH today.

The article in the Press Herald gave way too much ink to the GOP. How often do we have "protestors" at events and they're never mentioned? That pissed me off.

http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/news/state/040909edwards.shtml

They also led with him talking about the war. I remember hearing much more talk about domestic issues.

His speech was superb! Did you see the "flip flopper" walking through the crowd? Someone walking around waving a pair of flip flops. Edwards commented, "Oh, I see another Surfer for Kerry." Funny.

I saw more Secret Service than I've ever seen at any event before. They wouldn't let him sign autographs.

I have it on pretty good authority that Kerry will be here before too long. ;)

[Protected]

28. The flip flop guy

I thought the funniest thing, aside from Edwards' "surfer for Kerry" response, was the person with the "A Stronger America Begins at Home" sign walking along with him and shielding the flip flops from the cameras.

About the first person I saw when I drove onto the UMaine campus was Peter Cianchette, so I'm not surprised to see him quoted in the Press Herald. :puke:

[GreenPartyVoter]

26. Sorry I missed that. Sounds like it was great