Rainy Obama Rally in Charlotte

Nov 04 2008, Posted by Zachary Tracer in News, election 2008, 0 Comments

Long lines and occasional bursts of heavy rain didn’t keep thousands of Obama fans from streaming into a rally at UNC-Charlotte Monday. The rain cleared by the time Obama took the stage, but not before soaking this Chronicle reporter and the two photographers in attendance. The campaign set up a tent to protect the traveling press (the reporters who jet around with the candidate) but left the local press out in the rain, leaving them to take shelter under the risers set up for the cameras.

Obama, who took the stage around 6:30 p.m., announced the death of his grandmother, Madelyn Dunham, who raised Obama in Honolulu for several years. With tears running down his face, Obama said he did not want to spend much time talking about Dunham’s death. “She is going home and she died peacefully in her sleep,” Obama said.

Check today’s Chronicle for full coverage of the rally, and make sure to visit the Election Blog throughout election day for hourly election coverage.

Update: Justin Ruckman, who I met at the rally, has posted audio of Obama’s speech on his CLT blog.