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Having attended the Obama rally (See
Part 1) January 30 with 10,000+ of my closest friends, I decided it was only fair to give Clinton equal time under the Rally Fairness Doctrine. After all, he has been called a Democratic rock star, too, even if his grueling campaign schedule makes him start resembling one of the Rolling Stones.
As far as attendance, let's just say DU's Magness Arena was less than overflowing, although the appropriate spin would blame the snowstorm and the hour. One supporter commented the 9 pm start time allowed working people to attend; I guess Obama's morning rally tally indicated underreported unemployment.
Arriving one hour before and wishing I wore socks, I immediately entered the door to a red velvet rope line area. A campaign worker told me I needed to fill out a form requesting contact information. A signatory line stated confirmation that I would caucus for Hillary.
"You need to sign and date the form," she said when I handed it back to her. Maybe that's why campaign projections are all screwed up.
"I haven't committed to Hillary," I said, perhaps taking my signature a little too seriously.
"Oh," she responded.
We moved along rapidly toward the concession stand wafting buttered popcorn scent. I remarked, "I won't buy popcorn, but I could use a hot chocolate." The woman in front of me said, "Are you kidding? I want bourbon."
Although Mayor Hickenlooper remains officially neutral, he did speak before Clinton, not Obama. I found his story of the former President hanging out after hours at a Governor's convention disappointingly tame. None of Bobby Kennedy's kids endorsing Hillary showed, but Chelsea was there.
Watching Clinton work, I couldn't help wondering if it was him or me or both suffering effects of being up past bedtime. He presented Hillary's case of legal, legislative, and all-around humanitarian experience, usually staged in the one-two-three format, complete with fingers. He outlined her programs and ideology about "persistent and growing inequality," global warming and not surprisingly, speaking at a campus, tuition costs. He handled a 9/11 conspiracy heckler, who I'd seen on the Obama line fringes earlier. I guess the guy couldn't be heard during Obama's speech.
Everybody raised signs and cheered. A supporter next to me commented on the Smart Choice signs, "Isn't that a frozen food brand? Do you suppose they endorse her?"
I was looking at an ex-president, a Democratic icon, a symbol of the late '90s dot-com stock market glory days, but I stifled yawns. Maybe I can only take so much excitement in one day.