AUDIO: 18,000 rally for Obama in East Lansing

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama in East Lansing, Mich. (photo: Todd A. Heywood)

EAST LANSING, Mich. — With dark gray storm clouds threatening overhead, more than 18,000 gathered on the campus of Michigan State University for a campaign rally for Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, the Democratic presidential nominee.

U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow introduced Obama to the crowd before Obama prefaced his own address with, “We’re going to see if we can get through this speech without it pouring down rain on us.”

Obama’s address was near identical to one he gave earlier in the day to a crowd in Grand Rapids that police officials there estimated to be 15,900 people.

The speech struck a populist theme, attacking the policies of Republican President George W. Bush and his Republican rival Sen. John McCain. Obama hammered at the financial crisis, acknowledging many may not support the $700 billion bailout that passed the U.S. Senate last night in part due to his “yes” vote. In fact, Stabenow, who introduced Obama, voted “no” on the measure.

“We are in a financial crisis as serious as any we have faced since the Great Depression,” Obama said. “We have seen the credit crunch put new pressure on banks, businesses and families … everywhere you look the economic news is bad.”

Sounding like a president using the bully pulpit of the office, Obama went on to urge passage of the bailout.

“We are going to have to act to pass the rescue plan that is before the Congress,” he said. “You don’t like it and I don’t like that we are in this situation in the first place. Democrats and Republicans in the House need to do, though, what the Senate did last night and what’s right for this country. If the financial markets collapse, loans aren’t available for businesses large and small. Already, you’re seeing car dealers that are having to shut down because nobody can get an auto loan. Pretty soon, students are going to have a tough time getting the loans you need to go this great institution. It’s your jobs, your savings, your ability to pursue your dreams for your children and your grandchildren that are at risk.

“That is why we have to act. That is why we have to set aside the politics of the moment and exercise something we haven’t seen in Washington lately — responsibility,” he said.

“Now, Let me be clear, Spartans,” he said. “Let me be clear, the fact that we are in this mess is an outrage. It’s an outrage because we didn’t get here by accident. This was not a normal part of the business cycle. This did not happen because of a few bad apples. This financial crisis is a direct result of the greed and irresponsibility that has dominated Washington and Wall Street for years.”

In her introduction, Stabenow said, “I am so excited that we have someone who gets it. Someone with the right values and the right priorities. Someone who put out an energy plan that has Michigan stamped on every page.”

Even as Obama was preparing to take the stage in East Lansing, Politico was reporting that McCain was pulling his election apparatus from Michigan and redistributing it to swing states Ohio, Wisconsin and Florida.

The attendance numbers at the rally were provided by Sgt. Jill Geile of the MSU Police, and confirmed with Lt. Scott Beckner of MSU police as well. Geile said about 15,000 people were in the enclosed speaking area, with an additional 3,000 outside the area. Beckner told the Obama campaign the number in attendance was “18,000 and counting” at the start of the event, according to an e-mail from Obama spokesperson Brent Colburn.

Overhead a small airplane circled with a banner encouraging voters to select Judge Diane Hathaway for the Michigan Supreme Court.