By Molly Bloom , W. Gardner Selby AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF Thursday, February 28, 2008
SAN MARCOS — Thousands of Hays County residents, who have seen more national political figures in the past week than in the previous 40 years, roared for Barack Obama on Wednesday night at a spotlighted rally straddling both banks of the San Marcos River.
Sen. Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts stumped for the Illinois U.S. senator last Thursday. On Monday, Chelsea Clinton stumped for her mother, New York Sen. Hillary Clinton. Then came Obama, who started a three-day return tour of Texas earlier Wednesday in Duncanville and was introduced in San Marcos by Lyndon Nugent, former President Johnson's grandson. Obama thanked Nugent for his support "and everything that his family has done for this country."
Looking over the crowd — estimated at about 12,000 by Texas State University Police Chief Ralph Meyer — Obama said, "Y'all do it big in Texas." Then he launched into his speech, which was briefly interrupted by someone calling out their love, and Obama replying, as he does often, "I love you back."
Obama, whose platform includes proposals to roll back tax cuts given to the wealthy and to make health insurance and college more affordable, drew a big cheer by reminding the crowd that President Bush won't be on November's ballot, though the cheers turned to boos when he added: "Now, that's the good news. Keep in mind that he is coming back to Texas.
"The American people tell me they are ready for a new direction," Obama told supporters
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