Obama in Seattle Friday: Insider Tips?

Announced last night... Barack Obama will be in Seattle Friday!  Will he fill up 17,000 seat Key Arena?  Perhaps.  My question for those of you who might have attended an Obama rally of this sort... when should I show up?  8 am?  9 am?  The night before?  Well, the latter is probably not happening...  I don't even own an umbrella because they keep getting blown away in windstorms.

Stand for Change Rally with Barack Obama

Key Arena
305 Harrison Street
Seattle, WA 98109

February 8, 2008
Doors Open: 11:00 a.m.

Obama rally link

•  my advise

  if you're able to volunteer, contact the campaign and tell them that you're available to help out at the event.  They'll probably ask you to show up early - but it's a great way to get involved.
  
  
  ````
  peace
  
  

  by peace voter on Thu Feb 07, 2008 at 08:37:14 AM PDT

•  good first comment...

  ...that would be my number one choice too.

  But, if that's not doable, pack a lunch, and hunker down with some friends.  You may meet other friends in line.

  This is what democracy looks like.

  by CupofTea on Thu Feb 07, 2008 at 08:38:54 AM PDT

•  Daybreak

  Is my suggestion.

  by egarratt on Thu Feb 07, 2008 at 08:42:38 AM PDT

•  Go early

  At the AU rally with Ted Kennedy, people who did not get there early enough were turned away by the fire marshall. I have heard similar stories from other rallies. If you want to get a good seat/spot, get there a few hours early, at least.

  by democrattotheend on Thu Feb 07, 2008 at 08:42:55 AM PDT

•  Pioneer Square

  When you are done with the rally head to Pioneer Square with all the new friends you have made and MARCH!

  Enjoy!

  by Gator on Thu Feb 07, 2008 at 08:47:19 AM PDT

•  3 hours early.

  I also recommend volunteering.

  by Yoshimi on Thu Feb 07, 2008 at 08:47:37 AM PDT

•  The line is going to be long, but

  you'll have a good time. I met some fun people while waiting in line. It's great to be in a huge crowd of people with whom you pretty much agree. Here it was snowy and cold so dressing up warmly was required. There, maybe not so much, but do realize you'll probably be outside for a while. Typically the Secret Service will not let them let people in until right before the event.

  Even then, it takes a long time to get 17,000 people seated, so you're going to have lots of time to talk to the people around you.

  Plan on being there a while after the event. While 17,000 people may show up in dribs and drabs they're all going to be leaving at once. Just chill and take your time. We stayed a while after the Nashua, NH event and talked to a few reporters. Just in case, think in advance of how you'd answer the question, "Why do you support Obama?". Then prepare to be stuck in traffic.

  Do visibility! Wear your Obama button or whatever. Bring a homemade sign if you want. They love that.

  Have fun. Get your dose of inspiration, and then leave there and put it to work.

  by Travis Stark on Thu Feb 07, 2008 at 08:47:55 AM PDT

  •  fortunately...

    i live close enough that i can bus over there from home, but i'm going to have to take the day off it appears.

    by cardinalzen on Thu Feb 07, 2008 at 09:04:07 AM PDT

    •  How many chances do you get to be part of history

      by Travis Stark on Thu Feb 07, 2008 at 09:06:28 AM PDT

      •  well,

        i figure this may be my best shot to see him in person since WA will not be a swing state in the fall for him (just fundraising stops, which i can't afford).  so yeah, i'm taking a personal day. :)

        by cardinalzen on Thu Feb 07, 2008 at 09:10:25 AM PDT

  •  signs?

    on the website it says not to bring signs, but you see so many people at events with them...I want to bring one, so it sounds like from what you're saying it's okay to bring them?

    by larmos on Thu Feb 07, 2008 at 09:48:30 AM PDT

•  See you there...

  My friend and I are playing hooky from work.  I will be going early.  Probably 8 am...I have heard that people have waited in line in other places for a couple of hours.  

  by RubyGal on Thu Feb 07, 2008 at 08:48:03 AM PDT

  •  8 am

    seems about right.  i can probably only withstand about 3 hours outside waiting.  i'm not in my 20s anymore.

    by cardinalzen on Thu Feb 07, 2008 at 09:05:42 AM PDT

•  is this event posted on his website?

  where did you find out about it?

  by retriever on Thu Feb 07, 2008 at 08:54:58 AM PDT

  •  sorry...

    there was supposed to be a link.  i'll add it now.

    by cardinalzen on Thu Feb 07, 2008 at 09:02:13 AM PDT

•  Saw my wife online this morning--Instant message

  She is deployed and hating life in Iraq. She took Obama's books "Dreams" and "Hope" with her to Iraq last spring and handed them out. I asked her if I could take our kids out of school tomorrow to see Barack and she gave me the ok. We will be leaving eaaarrly! It'll be the second time we've been able to see him here. She told me she had to go lay down because she is having another migrane from all the noxious smoke she has inhaled over the last year. She will see a doctor tomorrow about them because the meds aren't helping anymore. The electricity is on only half the time and the potable water has been off where she is for a week. They have been taking showers from bottled water. She fucking hates that place and doesn't care at all about what happens to Iraq anymore.

  I'll be thinking about her as we scream our asses off for Barack tomorrow here in the great state of Washington!

  Hillary voted to send my wife to Iraq and we are very disgusted about that to this day. Clinton is not an option for President in our home.

  FIRED UP!

  by ToxicTidepool on Thu Feb 07, 2008 at 09:09:37 AM PDT

•  It would sure be fun to meet some of you

  My husband, Old Abe, and pal Denny in Seattle will be there. We're busing it, of course, and will probably be there around 8:30.

  Anyone know if there's a Tully's near the Key? I've only been there twice. A Norah Jones concert and to see Michael Moore in '04.

  WOOT!

  by Auntie Neo Kawn on Thu Feb 07, 2008 at 09:11:52 AM PDT

  •  Don't know about Tully's

    but there are other coffee shops just north of the Arena on Mercer Street. And a Metropolitan market across Mercer street which will have espresso.

    I'll be going too, but probably can't get there till about 1 hour before they open the doors.

    I'll bring my cell phone and make calls to voters from there.  I have a list for my precinct.

    by dgb on Thu Feb 07, 2008 at 10:37:56 AM PDT

•  I'm a volunteer!

  Woo-hoo!  I have to get up at the freakin' crack of dawn but that's ok if I get to see history in action!!

  WA WILL go for Obama--I'm hoping big time!!

  by oscarsmom on Thu Feb 07, 2008 at 09:17:59 AM PDT

  •  volunteer?

    i already get up that early normally.  do you think they will take more volunteers?

    by cardinalzen on Thu Feb 07, 2008 at 09:21:02 AM PDT

•  Recruit as many to go as you can

  I'm worried that people aren't going to go in huge numbers because it's during the day on a workday.

  by barath on Thu Feb 07, 2008 at 09:29:55 AM PDT

  •  But it's a Friday...

    and a lot of people work downtown, which is a short bus ride (or walk) to Key Arena.  this is also a city of 600,000 with a metro population of like 3 million.  

    by cardinalzen on Thu Feb 07, 2008 at 09:39:57 AM PDT

•  thanks!

  for all the tips. hope to meet some of you there too. I'm so excited.

  by larmos on Thu Feb 07, 2008 at 09:41:46 AM PDT