Obama supporters rally in Gary

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BY KIRSTEN SRINIVASAN
kirstens@nwitimes.com
219.933.4158 | Sunday, March 30, 2008 | (25 comment(s))

Packed wall to wall and out the door at a new presidential campaign office in Gary, hundreds of U.S. Sen. Barack Obama's supporters and volunteers mobilized Saturday morning.

They hope to pack the voters into the polls during Indiana's primary May 6, as well.

"We've got this title that Gary people don't vote," Gary Mayor Rudy Clay said to the crowd. "It's going to be eliminated because Gary is going to register more people than have ever registered before."

During Indiana's primary, Gary will be a name on the lips of newscasters on CNN, he said.

"They are going to point at Indiana and say Hillary Clinton is leading by one point but Gary ain't come in yet," Clay said.

The campaign opened 11 new offices across Indiana on Saturday including the one at 4405 W. Fifth St.

Obama, D-Ill., supports funding programs that would increase cops on the streets and fight poverty, Clay said.

"We have a lot of poverty in Gary," he said. "The United States of America cannot be what it ought to be unless Gary is what it ought to be. I think Barack Obama is the man that can make it happen."

Candace Jones, 16, and her mother, India Jones, 35, of Hammond, set out to register voters Saturday. This was their first campaign registering people, India Jones said. In the past week, they've spent hours outside in the cold signing people up, she said. Everyone seems so excited by Obama's message of change, she said.

"I think Hillary is so divisive," she said. "She has good intentions but I believe if she's elected she'll be too busy fighting to get anything done."

Volunteer Andre Cheairs has been involved with other campaigns, but said he'd never seen such a diverse crowd turn out from Gary with residents across genders, socioeconomic classes, ages and races.

"People want change," he said, adding that it's about "change for my grandkids and all people."

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Bill wrote on May 6, 2008 11:51 PM:

" I think it's hilarious that the entire presidential race comes down to an old-fashioned crooked Gary election. "

Drewf wrote on May 6, 2008 11:42 PM:

" " "They are going to point at Indiana and say Hillary Clinton is leading by one point but Gary ain't come in yet."

Man, he called it! Way to go, mayor. What;s your name, Rudy Clay. I'ma remember that. You called this one from the bleachers.

Valerie, you're sooo right. so right! "

Valerie wrote on May 6, 2008 11:14 PM:

" "They are going to point at Indiana and say Hillary Clinton is leading by one point but Gary ain't come in yet."

Wow. Talk about predicting the future. "

scholar wrote on Apr 9, 2008 1:15 PM:

" Say what you want, it's Barack's Time "

My Pastor was crazy wrote on Mar 30, 2008 11:34 PM:

" I would hope I would never be held accountable for statements made by my Pastor...or Grandfathers, or great Aunts & Uncles...my thoughts are very different from theirs on most issues. All those trying to hang Obama for the statements of a Preacher should look through their own lives first. We all have a Rev. Wright somewhere in our Life....he just isn't put in a spotlight. "

Hillary is no saint wrote on Mar 30, 2008 10:56 PM:

" There are plenty of pictures of the Clintons with both Jeremiah Wright and Tony Rezko. Hillary is running a smear campaign because she knows she has no substance. "

Obama 2008 wrote on Mar 30, 2008 9:57 PM:

" I'm voting for Obama because I can't trust Hiliary. "

Angry Resident wrote on Mar 30, 2008 9:24 PM:

" The only changes that ou are going to see is more money from your pay checks when the tax breaks are taken away. Christian values being converted to the hate and beliefs of his so called ex minister. And white people get blamed for being racist, He chose to sit and listen and still take part in the church. I really don't see anybody worth voting for. "

Laughing wrote on Mar 30, 2008 7:35 PM:

" Well, its nice to see Rudy Clay support Barack Obama,I am sure thats going to stand real big with Indiana voters,being that Rudy Clay has done nothing for the people of Gary. "

ALSO VOTING FOR HILLARY wrote on Mar 30, 2008 7:23 PM:

" I am still waiting for Barack Obama to tell this nation this so called change that he keeps talking about,is all about.Just to go around say it time for a change is nice, but what is it?I also find it quite interesting that the church he attends his preacher preaches hate toward his fellow man,being because of race.I dont think i want a president in office that follows a man who preaches that.As for Rudy Clay,well,Gary needs your help more than Barack Obama does.Be a leader and start helping the people of Gary. "

geoge wrote on Mar 30, 2008 6:37 PM:

" I hope Clinton wins.Obama needs more experience and to stop going to that racist church and then try to run for president. "

Predictable wrote on Mar 30, 2008 5:12 PM:

" Yes and he's going to end world hunger too. Obama's message of change = Typical political talk that only beguiles those gullible enough to believe everything they hear. How old do you have to be to know it's part of the game.

"

Jean Jaye wrote on Mar 30, 2008 3:35 PM:

" I wish someone from the Obama camp would tell me exactly what this "change" is that he is talking about. He's been spreading this rhetoric since day one and all of us are going blindly along with it without knowing exactly what he is taking about!! WHAT IS HE GOING TO CHANGE!! Any candidate elected will by default bring change. "

doubleclutch wrote on Mar 30, 2008 3:15 PM:

" I got news for you Rudy Clay! Obama if elected, ain't gonna do your job for you. Its your job to see the needs of the city, thats what you were elected to do. Now quit jive talking, and do your job. "

Like It Is wrote on Mar 30, 2008 2:22 PM:

" They want change alright, but with Obama they will be lucky to get 35 cents. "

yeah! register wrote on Mar 30, 2008 1:37 PM:

" Hey Rudy.........just make sure you don't register more voters then people. Wouldn't be anything new for Gary. Make sure there's at least houses on those empty lots. "

Voting for Hillary wrote on Mar 30, 2008 11:54 AM:

" I will vote AGAINST anybody Rudy Clay supports "

Excellent news! wrote on Mar 30, 2008 11:07 AM:

" However, I'd rather have heard from more of the local organizers and volunteers than from Mayor Clay. It should be made clear that this is a grassroots effort and not that of any party 'machine'. "

Leef53 wrote on Mar 30, 2008 10:37 AM:

" Go Gary Indiana! You carry Obama to the White House...You can do it. It is up to YOU this year. All America is counting on you, the soldiers in Iraq are counting on you to bring them home, the people losing their homes are counting on you, those without health care are counting on you, the earth is counting on you to stop global warming with Obama, the world wants America back as a Leader they can trust. Carry him to the White House. You can do it. "

FIRED UP! wrote on Mar 30, 2008 9:17 AM:

" YES WE CAN! Obama in 2008. "

dalia wrote on Mar 30, 2008 9:10 AM:

" Packed wall to wall. What does that tell you about reace relations in this country? "

meteostar wrote on Mar 30, 2008 8:41 AM:

" "They are going to point at Indiana and say Hillary Clinton is leading by one point but Gary ain't come in yet,"

First off, Clay, you need to start speaking like you have some intelligence. "A'int" is not a word, last I checked. Secondly, the votes won't come in, because you have so many crooked people up there who don't know how to count and who don't care about the quality of life and their "city," rather a cesspool, that Gary is. "

PulSamsara wrote on Mar 30, 2008 7:36 AM:

" Whatever Hillary Clinton decides ... and whether or not it's good for the Democratic Party and America - Barack Obama will lead an administration that stands tall for the concerns of the American people... including the very worthy concerns and considerations that weigh heavily on the Clinton supporter. "

Former Hammond Resident wrote on Mar 30, 2008 7:22 AM:

" Wow, who is this Mayor Clay? "The United States of America cannot be what it ought to be unless Gary is what it ought to be. I think Barack Obama is the man that can make it happen." Readers, I have been gone over 20 years...what has Mayor Clay done for city of Gary to bring about positive change?
"

Otto wrote on Mar 30, 2008 4:35 AM:

" Obama opening offices in Gary. Does he know its the murder capital of the US? Does Rudy know it too? How many payrolls is Rudy on? "

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