President Obama spoke for an hour yesterday to an enthralled crowd of 1,500 at Tri-C Metro campus’ gymnasium. Although much of the media harrumphed afterward that the speech was too long and had too many proposals and ideas in it, the audience in the gym listened attentively and gave him ovations of approval when he mentioned things like the rescue of the auto industry. It was clear from the plethora of Obama T-shirts, hats, and buttons in the house (which appeared to have a nearly even black/white racial split) that this was a friendly group, something the President even referred to a couple of times.
Among those in attendance were three area congresswomen — Betty Sutton, Marcia Fudge, and Marcy Kaptur. Outside the building on the corner of E. 30th and Community College Drive were about a dozen men brandishing Romney signs and waving anti-abortion stickers. The Romney campaign bus also put in an appearance, circling the building and honking repeatedly. That’s sure going to win over a lot of hearts and minds.
