BY MARY MITCHELL Sun-Times Columnist | March 30, 2008PITTSBURGH, Pa. — Barack Obama supporters in the Steel City must not have read the national polls.
Young white males in this town also must not have heard that Gov. Edward Rendell, the state’s top booster of Sen. Hillary Clinton’s push in Pennsylvania, doesn’t believe they will vote for a black man.
Because Pittsburghers — in all shades — came out en masse, filling up the auditorium at the Soldiers Military Museum where his more-than-40-minute speech was interrupted repeatedly with raucous shouts, whistles, clapping and stomping.
Children too young to see over the heads of standing adults stood on the seats and clapped as if they understood every word.
‘Half hour too long’
Seith Reighard, a 20-year-old microbiology major at Pittsburgh University, sat with a row of other young white males as they waited for Obama to appear.
“I think Obama is the most genuine politician I have seen in a long time,” Reighard said. ”My generation had lost our faith in politicians to actually do something, and finally I see a guy come along who will. It doesn’t matter, the color of his skin.
“I am here because I feel for once my views will be heard.”
National polls put Obama behind by double digits in Pennsylvania, but given the enthusiastic turnout (all of the free tickets were taken), you couldn’t tell he’s an underdog in the state.
He was introduced by Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.), who told the crowd that Obama’s campaign offers a “chance for America to chart a new course” and cited Obama’s “intellect” and “integrity” as some of the factors leading to Casey’s endorsement.
“We need to hear and listen to the voices of young people all across the country,” Casey said. “Young people have sparked a renewed sense of hope and optimism.
Under fire, Obama has appealed to the “better angels of our nature,” Casey said.
The recent negative
publicity surrounding the Obama campaign, and the sniping between the candidates, didn’t seem to deter Reighard and his buddies.
“I feel that all of the issues that they use to battle each other really don’t matter,” he said.
“The whole Wright controversy is kind of a guilty-by-association thing. The reverend has a right to his own views. What was Obama supposed to do?” he asked. “Walk out of the church?”
Ironically, during a taping of “The View” aired earlier Friday, Obama said had the Rev. Jeremiah Wright not acknowledged his remarks were offensive to many, Obama would have left the church.
“Most of the stuff that the candidates use to attack each other is completely irrelevant,” Reighard said.
Obama’s ability to strike a chord with young voters hasn’t abated, mainly because they still see him as being different from other politicians. But if he begins to respond to the attacks by caving in to his political foes, he may open himself up to a youth backlash.
Obama acknowledged
Friday that the campaign has been much like a “good movie that lasts a half hour too long.”
“Sen. [Hillary] Clinton and I have had so many debates that we could recite each other’s lines and do a role reversal, and we would not miss a beat,” he said.
Despite the rough waters his campaign has sailed into because of the Wright controversy — waters Clinton stirred up last week — Obama again insisted that in November, the Democrats would be able to put the acrimony behind them and defeat likely GOP nominee John McCain.
Willing to listen
In Greensburg, Obama spoke before a smaller, predominantly white crowd in the gymnasium at Hempfield Area High School.
Nick Carnicella has yet to turn 18, but he is willing to at least listen.
“I feel this is a good chance to get into the political experience,” he said.
His friend Jeff Cumming, 18, is a senior. He still doesn’t know what to make of the Obama campaign.
“I think it is definitely different having a black leader,” Cumming said. “He would be he strongest man in the world. I’m not against it, but I don’t know if everyone is ready for it.
“But I am here to see what he has to say.”
Obama’s six-day bus tour continues through April 2.
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