I was at the House Call yesterday. I'd be surprised if there were fewer than 30,000, but I really wouldn't know how to estimate the crowd size. If you use the USA Today crowd estimator for the inaugural, it may have even been upwards of 50K. The west lawn of the capitol was full, and people were in the trees on either side, but, unlike 9/12, the crowd stopped short of the pool at the Grant Memorial (whereas, on 9/12 the crowd covered the whole lawn, engulfed the pool, spilled over across 3rd and a hundred yards into the mall, proper). Yesterday, it didn't cross the street that separates the lawn from the Grant memorial. So, bottom line: it was a huge crowd for a Thursday at noon and we should be proud!
One thing I thought was really amusing and ironic that hasn't been mentioned: "Won't Get Fooled Again" by The Who was a BIG hit with the crowd. Whoever decided to use that for warm-up music is a genius!! Patriots were shouting the chorus! "We won't get fooled again!" HA!
This is the crowd estimator I was referring to.
The crowd at the House Call Teaparty filled probably 1/3 of the shaded area, on the west lawn that resembles a baseball playing field. That would suggest 30-40K, right? I guess it doesn't really matter that much, but it's fun to try and guess (unless someone flames you for your effort). . .