Area Dems cheer Obama

By Amanda Stewart

Published: August 28, 2008

As Sen. Barack Obama prepared to deliver his speech accepting the Democratic party's presidential nomination Thursday night, a group of party loyals gathered to watch the speech in the social hall of the Bull Run Unitarian Universalist Church in Manassas.

By 9 p.m. about 100 people had filled the room, during one of more than 1,000 convention-watching parties hosted by Democrats throughout Virginia, according to Obama campaign officials.

Manassas Park resident Cynthia Moore got there early and got herself a front row seat to watch the speech, which was projected on a screen hanging from a wall in the room.

"I'm here because this is history," Moore said a couple of hours before Obama took the stage. "This is the first time in a lifetime."

Moore, who called herself "an Obama fan" said this year's election is the first one that has spurred her to be politically active.

"I've never been into the political stuff before," she said. "But I was stuck between him and Hillary [Clinton] at first, so I had to listen to their debates. I just got into it."

Obama campaign signs hung on the walls inside and outside of the Bull Run Unitarian Universalist Church on Thursday night.

Inside, a standing-room-only crowd watched, clapped and cheered, first as Virginia Gov. Timothy M. Kaine spoke, then as New Mexico Gov. William Richardson took the stage, and finally as Obama delivered his speech.

Manassas area residents Maggie Harvey and Carolyn Testa said they thought it would be more fun to watch Obama's speech in a group than alone.

"I'm a very strong believer in Obama," Harvey said. "It's change that we need. What's going on right now isn't working."

Testa said she was excited to see an active Democratic Party in Prince William County this election cycle.

"We've been told that Prince William County is ground zero," Testa said. "We think Virginia could go blue in the election. I think it's possible. It's not one hundred percent, but it's possible."

Bruce Roemmelt, who organized Thursday night's Manassas event, said that about 275 people RSVP-ed to attend.

"We've just had incredible support," he said. "If you told me we could have done this two years ago or four years ago, I would have said 'no.' "

Gainesville District resident Shawn Moler said that he was happy to see a Democrat event in the western end of Prince William County, which is typically considered a more Republican area, he said.

"It's good to get out here and see a strong Democratic presence in western Prince William County," he said.

Staff writer Amanda Stewart can be reached at 703-878-8014.