Obama's Election Night Rally in Chicago's Grant Park- Page 2

[blueroses]

Posted: 11/4/08 at 6:54pm

"Have a great time tonite, all of you who are going ... and know that New Yorkers are there in spirit with you!"

We sure are! Have fun.

[NYadgal]

Posted: 11/4/08 at 11:56pm

Dear SticktoPriest and all our friends at the Chicago rally:

I hope you're having the time of your life!

I can't wait to hear all about it!!

Updated On: 11/4/08 at 11:56 PM

[mauriposa]

Posted: 11/5/08 at 12:31am

While watching all of this coverage, I'm starting to wish I had joined you crazy folks at the rally. Can't wait to hear stories.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 11/5/08 at 12:33am

Sueleen, I want every single detail. The electricity was palpable a thousand miles away.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 11/5/08 at 10:21am

I watched some of the coverage and it was inspiring. I actually live close enough to hear the crowds from my bedroom. And the celebration in New York looked wonderful as well. I would love to see some great photos from those who attended.

[xxnewgirlxx]

Posted: 11/5/08 at 10:27am

A friend of mine was there and I texted her early in the evening to see how everything was going and she said it was a large well-behaved crowd and she was currently in line for the FOURTH security check.

No major arrests or incidents last night; everyone was just happy.

I'm so proud of my city right now!

[Jon]

Posted: 11/5/08 at 2:18pm

Obama's gonna get us the 2016 Olympics!

[jessica0414]

Posted: 11/5/08 at 2:18pm

The rally seemed to go off without a hitch! There were several security checkpoints, and no one ran/pushed/caused any trouble where I was. There was an extremely positive attitude in the crowd (gee, I wonder why?) and everyone was very polite. The only incident I ran across was on the El on the way home, an African-American man began to yell some very harsh words at a white man (I only specify because that's what this guy specified in his words...) because the man didn't get out of this guy's way fast enough as he left the train. The trains were SO crowded, I doubt this man meant any harm, but the first guy just lost it ("I will slash your face!!") and punched the side of the train. Other than that I didn't see any real trouble! There were TONS of street vendors with Obama's face on anything you can imagine. I don't know that I'd go to something like this again because I wasn't anywhere near close enough to see him (I was inside but watched on the big screen they had because you could not see the stage where I was), but it was great to say I went. Hooray! :)

[LilMiZBroADwaY23]

Posted: 11/5/08 at 2:29pm

I was only there for the last 20 minutes, half hour or so.

But walking down Michigan Ave. with that crowd, the screams of unity will be something I will never forget.

And looking up to the skyline to see USA in lights on one of the buildings, I'm not gonna lie, I cried.

it was electric.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 11/5/08 at 2:30pm

It was like childbirth. 10 hours of discomfort (standing in the crowds) all forgotten in an instant when history was made. I will try to post some photos later, but it was a once in a lifetime night full of love and exhilaration, joy, hope, tears, hugs, and laughs with over 100,000 of your closets friends. Simply a beautiful event!
Of course I am a wreck today, though.

[brdlwyr]

Posted: 11/5/08 at 3:57pm

I am a wreck, but for other reasons! I wish I could have been there, but we had life time friends here and we partied like we won an election!

Daley secured 2016 last night!

[StickToPriest]

Posted: 11/5/08 at 4:04pm

I was as close as the public could get. (The very front was reserved for staff and people like Oprah). But I was right there.

It was an experience unlike any I will ever have again.

I will try to post more and some pictures/videos later.

Updated On: 11/5/08 at 04:04 PM

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 11/5/08 at 4:30pm

Priest, we started up front, but finally moved back after about 2 and a half hours. It was just too cramped for such a long night, I mean it could have been one in the morning before they announced...or NEVER. I ended up with a great view, if a bit far away, and some breathing room, too! And met some really incredible people.

[StickToPriest]

Posted: 11/5/08 at 4:40pm

Sueleen, yes it seems no matter where anyone was, from the press box to the front of the stage to cramped in the front to the very back of the crowd, the feeling was electric and contagious and one-of-a-kind. How lucky we were to be there and soak it in.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 11/5/08 at 4:44pm

I am still editing my photos, but here is a great slideshow from the Trib.

Grant Park Rally

[xxnewgirlxx]

Posted: 11/5/08 at 4:45pm

I'm C&Ping my friend's email. I love that she mentioned the proximity of the porta-johns:

We stayed in the back by choice. It was easier to see the jumbo screen
and alittle bit of the stage (on tippee toes). No lines for the johns.
Reasonable wait time lines for connie's pizza and hot
chocolate...shorter wait time compared to being at the Taste.

We were taken by surprise when they announced he won. It seemed so fast
all of the sudden. The cheers were amazing and the energy level was
awesome.

Well my sisters said they saw us on jumbo screen! CNN was the TV
station at grant park.

I didn't appreciate the size of the crowd until we left. All the
streets were filled with people walking west and north. We caught a cab
on wacker/state. The youth came out in droves! I never saw so many 18
- 34yrs olds at one time!

It was a very pleasant experience getting in and leaving. We'll do just
fine when we get the olympics!

I haven't gotten any work done this morning.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 11/5/08 at 4:47pm

Wow.

Sueleen--stop futzing with the photos and POST THEM!

[jessica0414]

Posted: 11/5/08 at 5:07pm

"We were taken by surprise when they announced he won"

Tell me about it! The poli-sci minor in me was really excited when he won Virginia and because of that the SECOND the west coast polls closed CNN was able to call it for Obama. *nerd out.*

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 11/5/08 at 5:08pm

Editin's HARD!

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 11/5/08 at 5:11pm

Jessica's right. We were all expecting "Polls closed on west coast predictions" and they announce his win. It was mayhem, pure electricity running through the entire crowd.

[StickToPriest]

Posted: 11/5/08 at 5:22pm

Especially sense Wolf was being such a tease. He kept saying, "Once the polls close on the West coast in [insert number], we may be making a big projection."

In the back of everyone's mind was them projecting the Presidency, but it was so uncertain that when it was announced the crowd exploded.

[brdlwyr]

Posted: 11/5/08 at 10:50pm

My wife and I were marveling at the beauty of the city during the speech, the lighting and setting were perfect.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 11/5/08 at 11:03pm

I only wish they had utilized the Field Museum facade a bit more. I mean, it might have been too obvious, but hell, what a perfect background that would have been.

[brdlwyr]

Posted: 11/5/08 at 11:06pm

True, but no room over there. Sue, how was your commute home from the rally?

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 11/5/08 at 11:12pm

Sue, that's so funny. In the Election thread I said it was like childbirth too (except I actually know what it's like.)

Please post those pictures soon!!! (I, too, am a wreck. I only slept 3 hours last night and then watched all the recaps tonight.)