Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama makes his final Missouri appearance prior to the November 4th general election, appearing before a crowd of several thousand at a high school football stadium in Springfield.
The Change We Need Rally at Parkview High School’s JFK Stadium began with speeches from a number of Democrats, including Attorney General Jay Nixon – the gubernatorial candidate – and Secretary of State Robin Carnahan.
The main event was delayed as officials allowed those who had been trying to squeeze into the venue to get inside. Finally, Barack Obama and his wife Michelle made their appearance as the crowd went wild. The Democratic flag bearer sounded familiar themes focusing on the need to take America in a better directions.
The stadium seats about 5,000 but a press release from the Obama campaign cites Leslie Ballew, Quality Assurance Manager for Springfield Public Schools, putting the crowd count at between 35,000 and 40,000.
One more Obama event is currently scheduled for Missouri in the remaining days of the campaign. Both the Democrat and Republican vice presidential nominees will be in the Show-Me State on Monday. Democrat Joe Biden holds a rally at Longview Community College in Lee’s Summit while Republican Sarah Palin stages a rally on the south steps of the Capitol in Jefferson City.