Standing in line outside Salem High School, with my dad, my great aunt and my sister, we looked at the line that stretched behind us to see a Barack Obama rally. With numbers higher than expected, my little group had to sit in the lunchroom and watch an A/V feed of the speech.
Simply put, the speech was just as inspiring as anything Obama's ever said, and nothing new or more, at least to me as someone who likes to think he has some grasp on whats going on in this presidential race.
But: My dad, and my aunt, both lifelong Democrats are caught between Obama and Hillary. Both are torn between Obama's message, and Clinton's experience claims.
My problem? Convincing them either way. Follow me after the jump to see whats going on.
My Great-Aunt is in her 60s. She is easily excitable, and the palpable enthusiasm at the rally today really got her going. She reacted when Obama came in like a Rock Star. She was originally going for Clinton, but this rally and the Iowa results are beginning to make her indecisive. She is moderately liberal, and while she respected Bush in the beginning, she has come to the conlcusion the rest of the country has about his ineptitude. She is concerned about healthcare, electability (sorry!) and the economy.
My father reacted the same way to Rock-Star Obama, whose hand my father got to shake. My dad was overjoyed to meet him, and loves Obama's message. His biggest problem is with the results Obama has gotten. Dad thinks Obama's heart is in the right place, but he has no place to see where Obama has followed through. He cares about healthcare, is somewhat anti-union (sorry again!), and the corruption in Washiington.
Well Kossacks, your not so hard task is to help me convince them to swing one way or another (or to Edwards, if you see fit). Go wild.
(an interesting thing I noticed: the two older women standing next to us at the rally are registered Repubs. They are choosing between McCain, Huckabee and Obama. I'm impressed that he appeals to such a wide range of people... especially with such different views.)
Disclaimer: I lean towards Obama, but like my family, I am open to being swayed...