Obama: 'This is your campaign'
The Indianapolis Star | March 16, 2008
By Mary Beth Schneider
Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama got something from Indiana on Saturday that politicians don't usually hear: a groan of disappointment when he said he had to leave.
But then, for Hoosiers, a presidential campaign stop has been a rarity until this year. With the Democratic presidential nomination undecided, Indiana's May 6 primary election and the 72 convention delegates at stake suddenly matter.
...Obama promised Saturday's visit wouldn't be a solo stop.
"We are going to be campaigning actively in Indiana," Obama said as he urged people to join him. "This is your campaign. This is your chance to make your mark on history. Right now. Right here."
...He promised to focus on three priorities: a responsible withdrawal of troops from Iraq, health-care reforms that will cut premiums for the average family by $2,500 annually and an energy plan to reduce reliance on foreign oil.
"If we don't take care of those three things," Obama said, "we won't be able to afford any of the other initiatives that we're talking about because we will be broke."
The crowd that packed the gymnasium punctuated his remarks several times with chants of "Yes, we can," three words that have become a trademark of Obama's campaign.
