Obama: Virginia, your voice can change the world tomorrow

Keith Walker, News & Messenger
Published: November 4, 2008

Folks started lining up before 3 p.m. Monday at the Prince William County Fairgrounds for a show that was sched-uled to start at 9 p.m.

The word was that Sen. Barack Obama wasn't going to take the stage until 11 p.m.

But that didn't stop the ever-growing crowd from getting into the recorded music that ranged from Motown to Hip Hop to Rock-and-Roll, with a little country and some funk thrown in.

Obama's last campaign stop before election day was a party.

But not everybody was happy to see Obama visit.

Rosario T. Reilly of Manassas organized a counter demonstration to the Obama rally.

In an e-mail inviting people to join her in the protest on Dumfries Road between Wellington Road and Hastings Drive, Reilly said, "Whether or not he wins the election tomorrow, we need to let him know that Virginians do not support his radical pro-abortion, anti-family, pro-tax, surrender-in-Iraq, America-hating agenda. I don't work for any campaign. But God be my witness tonight, Barack Obama's going to know that he's not welcome in my home state and town!"

Keith A. Savage, the pastor of the First Baptist Church of Manassas, came out early and told the crowd to "embrace the now for a victory tomorrow."

Savage remembered Obama's grandmother, who died Sunday, and offered a prayer for Obama and his fam-ily.

Then the crowd that the Obama campaign estimated at 80,000 waited.

The crowd chanted "Obama, Obama, Obama" as a convoy of SUVs and three buses full of the traveling press corps pulled into the fairgrounds.

Gov. Timothy M. Kaine spoke first after the convoy's arrival.

"We are on the verge of making history in this country," Kaine said.

Then Obama took the stage.

Obama said Virginia has welcomed his family into their homes and "shared stories of strug-gle."

He told the crowd that he had been inspired during the campaign by supporters such as the ones at the fair-grounds.

"Sometimes when I'm down, you lift me up," he said.

"You filled me with your hope for our future and you reminded me what makes America so special," he said.

Obama, too, reminded people to vote on election day.

"We are exactly one day away from bringing about change," he said. "Virginia, your voice can change the world tomorrow."

Keith Walker can be reached at 703-369-6751.