Obama: Crowd reaction
BY SARAH NEWELL
HICKORY
U.S. Sen. Barack Obama talked to area residents for about an hour Tuesday afternoon on topics ranging from revamping the health care system to changes to the No Child Left Behind legislation.
Obama arrived at the Hickory High School gym around 4:30 p.m. to loud applause. He spent the earlier part of the day campaigning in Chapel Hill and Winston Salem.
Hickory resident Melessa Pearson said she appreciated Obama’s candidness.
“He was honest and straight forward. He was not trying to put sugar on things. He’s not trying to deal with the lobbyists, like Hillary is,” she said, adding that his policy on improving the economy and bring the troops home from Iraq really struck a chord with her.
Although Lena Abernathy already made up her mind about who she plans to vote for before she came to the rally, Obama still made a lasting impression, she said.
“It was because he said he was going to change everything. We need change. He’s going to win,” she said.
John Schierlmann is an Obama supporter because he thinks America needs a change.
“I was interested in hearing how we’re going to get out of this mess we’re in,” he said. “I have four kids, so I was interested in hearing what he had to say on education.”
Schierlmann, who is in the chemical industry, said he was also interested in Obama’s views on the energy crisis. These include a windfall profit tax from gas companies, developing new kinds of energy, new types of hybrid cars and increasing fuel efficiency standards. He said there should be the same sense of urgency to improve alternative fuel as there was in the ‘60s to put a man on the moon.
For Herbert Bell, Obama’s talk appealed to the average American.
“He was talking more about issues to the average guy, and they’re all important,” he said. “He has such a wonderful stage presence, and that’s important.”
By 12:15 p.m., about 100 people were already in line to hear Obama.
Helen Burner, the first person in line, arrived from Statesville at 11:45 a.m. She said she supports Obama for several reasons.
“I think he will make a change for the people. He will surround himself with good people,” Burner said. “He also has managed to attract the youth. We need that.”
Roberta Crane, who’s attending Obama’s rally from Morganton, said she used to be a supporter of Hillary Clinton. She changed her mind, though, because she seemed too extreme.
“She was too adamant, too much. If you compare him to Hillary, it’s day and night. He’s smart, young, intelligent, calm,” Crane said.
