Word came down Wednesday morning of the Obama visit. We scrambled along with area media for media passes and coveted camera positions. Early Friday crew set up cameras inside the Salem Armory. Cameraman Drew Taylor and I talked to some of the thousands of Salem area residents lined up outside.

“He uplifts. He inspires hope,” said Tina of Keizer, who huddled for warmth with other Obama Town Hall ticket holders outside the Armory gate. Nearby, others snuggled under blankets under chill Good Friday skies. It was worth the inconvenience and discomfort, they told us.

“I’d rather be frozen for Barack,” Salem-resident David said,  “than warm for any other candidate. I’m excited about Barack’s ability to reach the diversity of America better than anybody else.” They were among the first of over 3,000 Obama supporters to brave the elements, get frisked by security, and wait more hours inside the Armory for Senator Obama to make his way down from Portland for what was an historic event: the first Oregon appearance by a national Democratic presidential candidate in two decades. Free tickets given away at the Coffee House Café in downtown Salem were gone in less than two hours.

Obama Notes Hispanic Questions
At 2 pm Obama mounted the stage to thunderous applause, the first of over a half-dozen standing ovations during his hour and a half appearance. Erubiel Valladares Carranza, KPCN-LP 96.3 FM radio technical engineer listened intently with fellow farm worker union organizers to Obama’s response to a question about immigration reform.  “I had a good impression,” he told me Monday. “His answer shows he takes the issue seriously.”

Making Local History
Oregon has not had a seriously contested Democratic primary since 1988, when Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis and the Rev. Jesse Jackson both made campaign stops. The Democratic Party of Oregon (DPO), anxious over a close primary race possibly being decided by “superdelegates” had been urging both Senators Obama and Clinton to come to Oregon.  Even so, Obama’s arrival was a complete surprise. What was set to be a Portland and Eugene swing suddenly added stops in Salem and Medford, plus an impromptu stop at a Corvallis pizza parlor.

Clinton ‘Compelled’ Now to Visit State?
The Obama campaign was the first to make Oregon contact, Marion County Central Committee chair, Wayne Baum told me Sunday, and that only last Tuesday.  “Before he came,” Baum said, “the DPO figured only a 40% chance they’d get one of them here. Obama has pre-empted that.  (Senator) Clinton may feel compelled—can’t skip it, now.” “He’s more than a candidate.” said Baum, “He’s a phenomenon. That’s rare in politics.”

CCTV worked hard to bring the Obama Town Hall not only to its channels but to also provide it streamed, in its entirely, on our website. We have also invited both Senators Clinton and McCain to visit our community.  CCTV will provide the same television and web coverage of their events.

By Wendy Brokaw
Top image courtesy Drew Taylor

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