Asheville News

BREAKING: Obama drops in on Vance-Aycock dinner, wows crowd of party faithful

Jason Sandford October 5, 2008

Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

I just got to a computer after seeing U.S. Sen. Barack Obama at the Vance-Aycock dinner at the Grove Park Inn. Obama dropped in about 7:30. He was introduced by Gov. Mike Easely, who was at the ballroom bash along with every other big-time Democratic candidate in the state.

Obama, who entered from the kitchen area that was serving the dinner, walked through the long tables of politicians, clasping hands, hugging and kissing cheeks. The crowd went wild, and everyone with a camera stormed to the stage, where the national press corps following Obama had been ushered in.

Obama delivered about an 8 to 10-minute speech. He urged the crowd to “turn the state blue” and said asked the crowd to “fight for me, because I’m going to fight for you.”

As Obama left, he paused to shake a few more hands. The crowd, alive with energy, chanted “Yes we can!” over and over. He left the same way he came in.

The visit was no surprise to the hundreds who gathered for the annual state Democratic Party fund-raising event. Several people told me early that he had been spotted arriving a bit earlier, and everyone I talked to at the event fully expected to see the candidate. After all, it would have been foolish for Obama to ignore the giant group of party faithful.

Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

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4 Comments

Tarheel Hal October 5, 2008

Do you think Easley thinks he’s "cool" because he does the "fist bump"?
First time I remember seeing the "fist bump" was in the movie SWAT. Sammuel L. Jackson made it look "good".

Reply
Dad October 5, 2008

MONEY!

Reply
Ash October 5, 2008

thanks!

Reply
arratik October 5, 2008

Awesome shot, Ash!

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