Obama making stop in Tallahassee
Tallahassee.com | August 24, 2007
By Bill Cotterell
U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., is bringing his presidential campaign back to Tallahassee today.
Obama has a local campaign kickoff rally scheduled at Florida A&M University's Gaither Gymnasium at noon. The event is billed as a fund-raising event with a $20 "suggested contribution," or half as much for students.
City Commissioner Allan Katz, a member of Obama's national finance committee, said Thursday "we're getting pretty close" to selling out the gym. Commissioner Andrew Gillum predicted a crowd of 3,400.
"That would be capacity for the gym," he said. "We may only have a couple tickets left."
Katz said Obama was "running effectively even in the first three states" with Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., and former Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C., for the Iowa caucuses and primaries in New Hampshire and South Carolina.
"He's doing remarkably well," said Katz. "We think he'll have enormous support in North Florida."
The Illinois senator is also slated to be the featured speaker for the Leon County Democratic Executive Committee's annual fundraising dinner at the University Center Club grand ballroom at Florida State University.
County Democratic Party Chairman Rick Minor said Thursday the dinner is sold out, with 400 paying $80 for members of the DEC or $100 for nonmembers.
"All the proceeds will be used to help us get out the vote and build a network here in Leon County," said Minor. "We are going to strengthen the party's outreach for 2008."
Obama had a fund-raising reception and spoke to a mostly student crowd at Kleman Plaza on March 30.
The Obama campaign is on a southern swing, with stops in South Carolina on Thursday. His campaign schedule takes him to Miami and New Orleans over the weekend.
Read the full article at Tallahassee.com.
