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Monday, December 10, 2007
News Oprah Drew the Crowd
Posted By Web Editor on Mon, Dec 10, 2007 at 1:07 PM
By Cheris Hodges
I’ve been to Williams Brice Stadium in Columbia, S.C., before. But I’ve never seen anything like Sunday’s Oprah Winfrey rally.
I mean Barack Obama’s rally.
The South Carolina Democratic primary is Jan. 26. Obama, who is running for president, is courting voters all over the country with the help of the Queen of talk shows. And he needed Winfrey to get the estimated 29,000 people to attend the rally, which felt like a college homecoming at times.
The line to get into the stadium stretched down the sidewalk and wrapped around the building.
And it got me thinking — who are all of these people here to see?
Clover resident Yolanda Coe said it was the combination of Winfrey and Obama that got her to drive down 77 South to stand in line and wait for hours to hear the speeches by Winfrey and Obama.
In January, Coe said she’s attending a conference where Obama was supposed to deliver the keynote address, but he’s not going to be able to make it.
“So, I wanted to come and see him and see what he stands for,” she said.
Coe, like others standing in the line, said she’s almost sure that her vote will go to Obama.
The majority of the crowd at the stadium was African-American. Some of the whites standing in line didn’t want to talk about why they were there or who they came to see or if Obama would get their vote in January.
Two white women, Shannon and Carrie (last names weren't given) spoke about who they came to see. Carrie had no problem saying that she came to see Oprah.
“I watch her show every day,” Carrie said.
Shannon said that she’s still deciding whom to support in the January primary and hearing Obama talk about where he stands would help her in the decision.
Linda Atiase said she wanted to see Oprah and Obama (but note she said Oprah first. )
“Well, Oprah hasn’t been traveling around as much,” she said.
Linda’s sister, Cecilia Atiase, said she wanted to see what Obama had to say and where he stands on the issues.
“It’s monumental that we have a black presidential candidate,” she said. Her thoughts were echoed by Charlotte resident and Columbia native Vicicus Thomas.
“Right now I’m between who I want to vote for and this is a really good time to chose,” he said. “I’m looking for passion, more truth, more from the heart.”
So, what did Winfrey and Obama say to South Carolina?
Obama: “I’m running for president because I’m tired of Democrats thinking the only way to look tough on national security is to act like George Bush.
“As president, I’m going to make sure that every American has insurance as good as I have as a member of congress.
“Our moment is now, South Carolina. Our moment is now. I don’t want to put red America against blue America."
Winfrey: “It’s amazing grace that brought me here . . . It’s just amazing grace that I get to stand here on this South Carolina stage and talk about the man who is going to be the next president of the United States.”
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