Senator Barack Obama Holds A Rally In St. Louis

Senator Barack Obama held a huge rally under the Gateway Arch in St. Louis on 18 Oct 2008. The official crowd count was 100,000, tho there were a number of reports that it was considerably bigger. As a supporter of the Senator, I was thrilled for the opportunity to see and hear him in person. It was a gorgeous fall day, with temperatures in the low 60s and only a few puffy clouds in the sky. The crowd was in a good mood and the whole event unfolded like a giant party. After some music, the singing of the national anthem, and a few warmup speakers, Senator Obama took the stage and gave a rousing speech which thrilled and energized the crowd. Regardless of your politics, events like these are pure spectacle, and I tried to capture some of that feeling in my photos. The shots below aren't in sequence. Instead I plan to do something a bit different this time and incrementally add to this page over the coming days as I process selected images.

 

Barack Obama Giving A Rousing Speech Under The Gateway Arch Today

 

The Crowd Responds To One Of His Comments

 

Part Of The Estimated 100,000 Strong Crowd Awaiting The Arrival Of Senator Obama

 

A Closer View Of The Crowd Waiting Patiently For The Main Event

 

Barriers Are Meant To Be Overcome - Who Knows, This Young Man Could Be A Future President

 

She's Not Going To Remember This Day, But Her Parents Will Tell Her About It Often

 

Her Button Reads "Children For Obama" - This May Be More Excitement Than She Bargained For

 

The Crowd Was Made Up Of A Wide Range Of Ethnicities, Cultures, Ages, And Backgrounds

 

The Audacity Of Hope - Couldn't Have Said It Better Myself

 

More Photos To Come......