Obama draws large crowd at college rally

[Ron Burgundy]

AP - Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama (news, bio, voting record) drew an overflow crowd at a college rally Friday, the type of turnout usually reserved for winning basketball teams or rock bands.

Students filled a building atrium at George Mason University on Friday at a "Yes We Can!" rally, showing up to hear from the man many want to be their next president. There were no crowd totals, but the numbers likely exceeded the 1,500 organizers had expected.

"I'm fired up! This is unbelievable," the Illinois Democrat said, looking at students who even lined the railings along the upper floors.

Some were exuberant, squealing and shouting, "I love you!"

"Settle down, you all. Settle down, settle down," Obama said. "You're too fired up."

During his speech, the freshman senator introduced himself as a politician who never planned to be one, a man who didn't come from a well-connected Chicago political family, and a native of Hawaii who was raised by a single mom. The only black in the Senate, Obama also recalled how his father was a native of Kenya and his own early job as a $13,000-a-year community organizer in Chicago.

He said he wanted to ensure that "people just as deserving as you that never got a shot" have a chance at higher education. Obama also talked about the unpopular war in Iraq and energy policy.

But for the most part, Obama spoke as if he were recruiting the students to join a movement for change and trying to make them believe they could really make it possible — or perhaps get them to work on his campaign.

"This crowd is not about me, it's about you," he said. "I've been a receptacle for your hopes and dreams."

Some of the students said Obama set the right tone.

"He didn't focus too much on national policy. I mean, he did, but I don't think it was overbearing," said Daniel Walker, a junior majoring in government and international politics. "He did a very good job of just kind of like meeting us where we're at as students."

Law student Ryan Woodberry, who described himself as an undecided Democrat, said he found Obama's talk uplifting.

"I think it'll probably move a lot of people to act," he predicted.

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WASHINGTON (AP) — Everyone needs a soundtrack — even politicians.

The presidential candidates who addressed the Democratic National Committee's winter meeting Friday got to choose their tunes, and it was an eclectic mix that reflected personal favorites and not-so-subtle messages.

Some candidates requested two songs, one that blared as they approached the stage and another that played as they left the podium.

The selections:

_John Edwards: "This Is Our Country" by John Mellencamp.

_Sen. Chris Dodd of Connecticut: "Get Ready (Cause Here I Come)" by the Temptations and "Reach Out," also by the Temptations.

_Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York: "Right Here, Right Now," by Jesus Jones and "Ain't Seen Nothing Yet" by Bachman-Turner Overdrive.

_Rep. Dennis Kucinich of Ohio: "America the Beautiful"

Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois decided against using any music in keeping with the somber tone he sought to convey. Wesley Clark, who hasn't indicated whether he will run, entered to Johnny Cash's "I Won't Back Down."

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Associated Press writer Nedra Pickler in Washington contributed to this report.

source: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070203/ap_on_el_pr/on_the2008_trail [link]