Posted on 11/01/2008 4:02:30 PM PDT by Zakeet
Chicago is bracing for a gigantic crowd this week in Grant Park, the city’s iconic front yard, where Senator Barack Obama has chosen to spend election night.
As many as 70,000 people are expected to attend an event for local supporters. All available tickets were swept up days ago, and thousands of people have applied to be on a waiting list. Thousands more — maybe as many as a million people, Mayor Richard M. Daley has proudly suggested — are expected to pile into the downtown parkland and sidewalks and streets surrounding Mr. Obama’s official celebration.
“This could be a moment of history right here, and it’s high time for it,” said Patricia Cadagin, who stood last week peering through a new fence around the south end of Grant Park, one of blocks and blocks of fences erected as part of the elaborate security efforts. Ms. Cadagin, 82, who said she had voted early for Mr. Obama, will probably not be here on Tuesday night. “It’s going to be a big crowd and at night, and I’m a small woman,” she said. “Will I be here in spirit? You bet you.”
Chicago, it seems, is of two minds about this party. Many supporters in Mr. Obama’s hometown speak with pride of the potential of seeing the first African-American claim victory in a presidential campaign here on the edge of Lake Michigan, in view of their beloved skyline. Still, in hushed tones, some say they are worried about his safety in the public park and about how a huge crowd in this city, which has seen violence after events like basketball championships, might respond, win, lose or draw.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
They might have to if their reporters are stuck in the middle of it! Think about it and some of the things we’ve read that the left has said will happen if he loses. I wouldn’t want to be within 20 mi of that place on Tuesday night/Wednsday morning.
about 1/5 of a full keg. It is a miniature keg
There’ll be a media black out of such events and mostly talking heads in some undisclosed studio location. The subject to discuss? Why the polls are so wrong in all the elections.
Imagine the hilarity if McCain wins and rubber bullets start flying in Chicago.
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