I attended the Obama rally tonight at Houston’s 20,000 seat Toyota Center. On the news they said 16,600 attended, but several thousand with Standby tickets couldn’t get in — I know because my girlfriend was among them.
The scene from the Toyota Center’s southwest corner 2 hours before the doors opened:
Obama, moments into his speech:
The two and a half hours before Obama came out were filled by staffers exhorting the crowd to vote both in the primary and caucus, as well as an offer to have the campaign text reminders to anyone in the audience who signed up. There were three volunteers for the Houston campaign (all female) who led the crowd in chants of “Obama ’08,” “Yes We Can,” and “Fired Up, Ready To Go” in a back and forth style reminiscent of my “Texas Fight” days in college. A six year old girl lead the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance (which Obama TOTALLY DIDN’T COME OUT FOR by the way) — It was a little weird because the flag was right over my head, and I didn’t like 40,000 eyes boring into my pasty face. Then I thought of the kindergartner on stage and my plight receded. I liked the “Yes We Can” Video leading up to Obama’s appearance, and was surprised myself at his early showing after confidently predicting we would see him around 9:30.
I was a little disappointed in the speech, to be honest, although the crowd was incredibly energized. I thought he seemed tired, and he stumbled a few times. He came across much better on the clips I’ve seen on TV. As to the crowd demographics, I’d estimate they were 75% African American, and about 20% white, though not just college kids by any stretch. The groups of black families I saw were absolutely inspiring. They stretched all possible boundaries — I saw four generations come in together dressed in their Sunday finest, infant in the great grandmother’s lap. I was surprised at how few Latinos I saw. I know Hillary is supposed to have a large lead in the demographic, but I saw only a few outside the stadium, and none from my seat in the arena. There were two separate Si Se Puede chants, however.
I think come March 4th Obama will take Houston based on a huge turnout in the African American community, and will probably take Austin comfortably. Dallas’ demographics favor Hillary a bit more. The suburbs will be a very interesting tell this year — they are largely conservative, and if they go for either Dem in anything approaching significant numbers it could make Texas an extremely interesting state to watch in the general.
Apologies for the poor quality on the second picture. I attempted to cut down the glare, but we were in the worst possible spot for pictures.
p.lukasiak
Apologies for the poor quality on the second picture. I attempted to cut down the glare, but we were in the worst possible spot for pictures.
don’t worry Tom. The slight visual impairment that occurs when your Obot chip is upgraded at rallies wears off within 24 hours.
sidereal
Nothin’ says lovin’ like leaving your girlfriend outside an Obama rally.
Seriously, Tom. That’s a bouquet-level fuckup. I’m leaning to tulips, but you’re arguably in rose territory.
Godspeed.
Tom in Texas
sidereal:
The ticket was preprinted with my name on it. Sadly, there was no way I could sneak her through.
We also had to show up separately, as I arrived at 4:00 and she wasn’t able to arrive until after the doors opened at 6:00.
Tom in Texas
Due to the fact she was at work.
kingfish
For other Houston-related fun, did anybody else hear about what the students at Prairie View A&M had to put up with in order to do early voting in Waller County?
Tom in Texas
This was indeed some amazing stuff kingfish.
zzyzx
I noticed that he does stumble a bit in all of his speeches at least since Seattle. It’s probably in part just because he gives so many, but no, he’s not a perfect speech giver. However, he sure can hit a peak, and I love what it is that he is saying, so I’ll put up with the stumbles.
It’ll still be an insane contrast with McCain.
eric jung
How do we know the glare wasn’t from the sparkle in Obama’s eye, as seen from behind his head? Why aren’t you reporting this obvious, and in fact likely possibility!? Why do you hate Obama so much, Texan?
ArchPundit
==How do we know the glare wasn’t from the sparkle in Obama’s eye, as seen from behind his head? Why aren’t you reporting this obvious, and in fact likely possibility!? Why do you hate Obama so much, Texan?
What’s wrong with you–it’s the halo.
(I keed, I keed, I’ve been on the bandwagon since 2002).
wobbly
Jeez, I wuz mobbin’ DC in October ’69…
600,000 strong, with CANDLES in our hands, TRUTH in our hearts, jeez, we totally STOPPED the Vietnam War…
Or I kinda felt that might actually happen fairly soon, given the contact high of being around mobs of people totally agreeing with me…
Enjoy the feeling. I did.
What has happened since is scarcely worth recalling.
firebrand
HOLY BEJESUS. Now THAT is a crowd.
srv
Actually, Houston now has a higher Latino demographic now than Dallas, with both now being about 20% Black. Probably 2:1 in Harris county now. I can see Obama still winning the primary, but if either demographic sits out the general election (which wouldn’t surprise me), who knows. That said, Kerry only lost Dallas by 1%… I still can’t believe that number.
I think only Hillary can win Bexar county, and that would take a really strong Latino turnout. Too many ex-military.
El Paso would easily go to Hillary.
I really do wonder how Florida, New Mexico and Texas would go for Obama against McCain. Could Obama/Richardson deliver? Too bad there aren’t any strong dems in Texas. Maybe a wildcard like Chet Edwards for VP (guy who holds GW’s home district). Sorta a Webb-lite.
Darkness
Tired? Can’t imagine why that might be…
By the time November rolls around he might look properly grey and elderly and distinguished from the stress.
Tom in Texas
One guy was really disappointed in Sheila Jackson Lee’s endorsement of Clinton. He thought she’d make the perfect cabinet member. I didn’t have the heart to laugh out loud.
And Houston has far more than 20% of a Latino population. In fact, a majority of the city is multiracial.
Like Obama.
The problem is in how many Hispanics will show to vote for Hillary as compared to the other demographics. I can tell you she hasn’t booked the Rocket’s home arena yet.
SmilingPolitely
^^
Jeralyn from Talk Left
chopper
man, this just gets funnier and funnier.
John S.
Ya, because the military seem to love Hillary. That’s why they have donated the most to Ron Paul and Barack Obama.
I swear, between you and lukasiak we are guaranteed laughs over here for quite a while.
Krista
Look, Hillary supporters: Your candidate is great. Really. She’s smart, ambitious and compassionate. She would do a better job than any of the Republican contenders out there.
However, she has surrounded herself with people who cannot control their mouths, and those gaffes have hurt her. She has not run a good campaign, and appears to not have prepared to have to do anything beyond Super Tuesday. And like it or not, there is a large population out there who thinks that Obama is a much-needed breath of fresh air, and that he will do a better job.
So let’s stop with all the bitterness and the ugliness. Let’s stop with the threats to vote Republican. The stakes are way too high. This isn’t just affecting you — U.S. policies have a major effect on the rest of the world. So could you please, please, please get over this infighting, vote for WHOEVER the Dem candidate is, and avoid foisting another insane Republican onto the rest of us? We’d really appreciate it. Thanks.
p.lukasiak
Re: seating capacity for the Toyota Center…
Seating Capacity 18300 for basketball 17800 for hockey Up to 19000 for concerts
http://www.houstontoyotacenter.com/about/atozguide.php
Tom, were there empty seats? Or were there really actually 19,000 people there?
Billy K
I’m starting to think maybe the MUP can’t fix everything wrong in the world with just a speech….
Len
Uh oh. We’re going to the rally in Dallas this morning. Scheduled to start at noon. Doors open at 10:30. It’s already almost 8:30 and we’re still sitting at home. Judging from your picture, we’d better get a move on!
Sinister eyebrow
Obama is the glowing orb floating above the crowd then?
I actually watched most of the speech. I thought it was pretty good and addressed a lot of specific issues–not the standard rah-rah stump speech thing. I think it was ole pumpkinhead or someone on MSNBC who said it was his first shot at giving a version of his rah-rah speech and his more specific policy speech combined, which would explain some stumbles (and how long it was). Still, even tired and unpracticed Obama makes McCain look like a befuddled angry old guy yelling at the squirrels in the backyard.
tBone
I’m guessing there were only a few actual cult members there. The rest of the crowd was no doubt a mixture of paid seat warmers, cardboard cutouts, and robots. That’s the only logical explanation.
Jay C
Tom: not to doubt your on-the-spot reportage about the ethnic composition of the crowd at the Obama rally in Houston: but from the photos you’ve posted, the attendance doesn’t look all that dusky. It is certainly a mixed crowd – but 75% Black? Did they shepherd all the white folks into the pit just in from of the podium?
Ted Barlow
Just for another perspective, I was there, too. I agree with just about everything Tom says, except that my estimate of the demographics of the crowd is pretty different. I’d guess that it was maybe 33% African-American, with a clear white majority. Who knows, really; it might have been different if you got there early or late. He’s absolutely right about the black families and black professionals- in a dress shirt and wool slacks, I felt a little underdressed.
For Houstonians, especially Houston Democrats, there might never be another night like this one. The primaries in Texas almost never matter, and in the general, candidates aren’t going to waste time and money to come here. It was nice to be part of the campaign for once, although the crowd, and the line to get in, were pretty intimidating.
The Box, the local hip-hop station, was absolutely gushing about Obama this morning. Some of them sounded like they were on the verge of tears.
Andrew
I want to meet whoever that is in the lower left hand corner of the first picture. Maybe it’s Obamagirl.
Evinfuilt
FYI, Bill is speaking tonight at UH, in the small Gymnasium. The Obama supporters are planning to hold a rally outside.
Wouldn’t be surprising if he only gets 10% of what Obama draws, and besides Clinton sent her husband to Houston, she couldn’t bother to come herself?
Houston has already gone for Obama.
quickdraw
That’s not glare. It’s obvious that God Himself endorses Obama. Take that, John Glenn.
Jon H
That’s not glare, it’s Tinkerbell! The clapping worked!
Jon H
” The rest of the crowd was no doubt a mixture of paid seat warmers, cardboard cutouts, and robots. That’s the only logical explanation.”
Clearly they were Katrina refugees. So they don’t count.
Tom in Texas
I’m pretty sure the only question is “how many are registered Democrats?”
tom.a
His speech wasn’t quite as fluid as previous ones, though, I noticed he was looking at notes this time instead of a tele-prompter which makes me think he was winging a large part of it.
srv
That’s what I said. 2:1, 20% black = 40% latino.
Don’t let those periods trip you up. Really. But a ‘but’ would be better than the ‘and’. I didn’t say Obama couldn’t win because of too many military.
Always putting words in peoples mouths. Really.
Even with that, I suppose you think only the wingnuties military prefer retiring to that ‘right wing’ bastion of San Antonio. Billary did carry the place, but McCain would be more competitive against her because of too many military.
Birdzilla
I dont care for BRACAK OBAMA he is too liberal and he would want bigger goverment and more regulations