Home  News Local News Obamania in Sunrise
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Written by Sonia Morgan
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Sunday, 01 June 2008 |
 Democratic front-runner, Senator Barack Obama electrified the near-capacity crowd at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise, Florida last Friday in what was the end of a three-day Florida tour in preparation for the November elections.
Despite inclement weather, supporters waited in long lines and filed into the auditorium under tight security, to hear the senator deliver another landmark speech to the Sunshine State.
The candidate, who has not been to the state in about nine months, assured screaming supporters that he would not be a stranger if he gets elected in the fall.
Obama, who has had a challenging time with Florida, which he lost to Senator Hillary Clinton in the January 29 primaries, acknowledged that he has to make up for lost time in the state where there is a lot of Hispanics, older voters and Jews – some of whom Obama will have to work hard to win over.
In his speech, Obama pointed to Republican Senator John McCain’s plans to “perpetuate George Bush’s failed policies.” Obama said McCain spent a lot of time talking about who he won’t talk to. “That’s not change,” he said, “that’s George Bush; that’s Dick Cheney.” Obama reiterated his intention to not only “talk to our friends, but also to our enemies,” but reassured that he “will not hesitate to strike against anyone to would bring us harm.”
Remaining resolute on his stance on the Iraq War, Obama said to rousing applause, “We do not only need to end the war; we need to end the mindset that got us into the war.” Criticized for not being in Washington long enough, the candidate said he was “not trying to play the game in Washington; I’m trying to end the game plan.”
With the diverse South Florida population, reflected in the attendees, it was easy for Obama to speak to groups like Haitians and Cubans when he mentioned upping human rights in Port-au-Prince, closing Guantanamo Bay and for all, when he said he would restore habeas corpus – a right that has been taken away during the ‘war on terror’.
Broward County Commissioner backs Obama
Broward County Commissioner, Stacy Ritter, one of the key organizers of the rally said it was a phenomenal rally event. She said, it was the “Largest rally in South Florida’s history and it was on a three-day notice.”
Stacy Ritter told the National Weekly that she threw her support behind Obama because, “He represents change in the direction of the country. I don’t want to see the same old business in Washington and to me Barack Obama has the ability in a massive way to change how people do business in Washington.”
She said people are generally dissatisfied and Obama recognizes this and has tapped into it. “Obama has an idea as to how to make it different. John McCain just represents doing things to way we’ve always done them,” the commissioner said.
The main concern in the Democratic Party now is the seating of the Florida and Michigan delegates, which will be decided when the Democratic National Committee (DNC) meets on Saturday. Commissioner Ritter said, “I expect that they will come up with a compromise that will be satisfactory to Obama’s campaign. I hope it will be satisfactory to the Clinton campaign.”
However, she doesn’t think the fight will go all the way to the convention floor. “It shouldn’t. Senator Obama, by the middle of June would have the magic number (2026 delegates).” But when asked about the Clinton camp talking points, she said, “Clinton wants to change the rules because she’s behind. I think that once the DNC comes out and they give us half the delegates, we will see more super delegates moving Obama’s way.” Ritter said “we all absolutely [acknowledge] her right to go to June 3rd, but I hope that her supporters recognize that the only thing that matters is winning in November. So we need to unify the party and I think we will get there.”
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