Early Saturday morning nearly 2,000 people gathered to hear the electric presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama speak at Claflin University.

He received loud ovations and a near-consensus approval among those in attendance. Obama touted a different kind of politics that will help America through the challenges facing the country.

This departure from political norms is what attracted many to Obama.

“He’s refreshing. He’s willing to bring about a change. It’s time for this country to take another position on a lot of issues, especially Iraq and health care,” said Anthony Lemon of Summerville. “I really like what I’m hearing from Barack Obama.”

Bailey Slice traveled from Columbia to see Obama and left Orangeburg enamored with his presence.

“He got everybody involved. He’s a real person. You can tell the things he says he really means,” Slice said.

Obama’s speech – a mixture of humor and seriousness – impressed Courtni Ages, a student at South Carolina State University.

“I thought the senator’s speech was wonderful,” Ages said. After the speech, “he took the time to answer everyone’s questions. He was very articulate.”

Gloria Gardener of Kingstree was amazed by how well Obama tackled the unscreened questions from the crowd.

“He was very sharp. He’s a man that thinks on his feet. You could tell those questions weren’t planted.”

People who attended liked the manner in which Obama wants to handle the critical issues facing the nation.

Tony Rodriguez of Columbia thinks Obama’s emphasis on education was important.

“I liked the way he ties education to everything else. Really, education is the foundation for anything you what want to do. I really like that he makes it a major priority,” Rodriguez said.

Obama also discussed improving infrastructure in rural communities, a point that hit close to home with Amy Conger, owner of Blu-Bird Medical in St. Matthews.

“I have a small business, we’re so tied down to our small communities, and we need a way to open up to the bigger market,” she said.

Conger also favors Obama’s plan to get rid of the red tape associated with health care. “We need to cut down on the paperwork ... and put that money back into health care.”

Sylvester Hickman, an SCSU graduate who resides in Sumter, favors Obama’s Iraq strategy. “He brings to the table something that is going to bring our troops home earlier,” he said.

Although Obama is garnering an increasing popularity, many pundits wonder whether he can win the election, or even the Democratic nomination.

Among those watching him at Claflin Saturday, there is not much doubt about his chances of winning.

Sabrina Randall, a Baltimore native who has lived in Orangeburg for the last 20 years, believes Obama can win. She wants to donate money toward his efforts.

“I know he can do it, but he needs a lot of help. He needs our money, our support; he needs our faith,” Russell said.

Many in attendance have already been moved toward Obama’s side, but some are holding out to see what other candidates have to offer.

Amiah Fmazidi came to watch Obama and will also take a look at Sen. Hillary Clinton when she comes to Columbia on Monday.

“I’m very open to whomever who can best address the problems of this country. I was hoping he would be more of a sportsman than a politician, Fmazidi said.

“I would like to give Hillary the same opportunity I gave Obama. Those two are my favorites at the time in terms of the Democratic Party.”

State Rep. Jerry Govan says he’s going to wait a while before giving out his endorsement. Govan says the strength of the candidates in the Democratic field is very positive.

“I’ve looked at all the candidates,” he said. “There are about three that have yet to come to Orangeburg. I’m going to wait and see what they have to say. I’m speechless when it comes to the candidates and the quality of them.”

Vivian Glover, a former journalist who is now a Claflin vice president, said Obama’s advantage is that he can command attention. “While he’s a kind of celebrity in the eyes of a lot of people, they’re also going to listen carefully to what he has to say.”

Francena Williams said she hopes Obama’s visit “will wake up the young people. They have such a lackadaisical attitude about everything. They think their vote doesn’t count. Yes, it does count.”

Rick and Robin Vine drove to Claflin from Charleston, not knowing free tickets were required for admission.

“We stood in line and thought, maybe they’ll let us stand in a corner and be, as fate had it, (tickets) fell into our laps,” Robin Vine said. “We’re definitely excited to be here.”

She said she likes Obama because “he’s everything that Bush is not! Things are going in the wrong direction and we need a fresh face.”

“I like everything that he stands for, and the fact that he didn’t vote for this war in the beginning,” she said. “I would like to see an Obama/Clinton ticket.”

“Sen. Barack is saying things that people are thinking about but no one’s talking about. He’s getting the conversation started. I think it’s good for South Carolina,” said Brandon Brown of Greenville, a former candidate for Congress.

Orangeburg County Council member Janie Cooper said Obama’s visit is “history making. It’s one of the best things that could have happened to Orangeburg.”

“I believe, if elected president, he’d be a great one. He knows the issues, he knows how to present them. I haven’t heard him be presented a question that he wasn’t able to answer. I’m impressed.

“They say he does not have the experience. Maybe he does not, but he has the charisma and he has the knowledge and the zest to lead. That’s all it takes,” Cooper said.

Rep. Gilda-Cobb Hunter said she thinks all nine of the Democratic Party candidates ’are strong’ and could all qualify for president.

“I am not committed to any candidate,” Cobb-Hunter said. “I think each candidate brings different things to this process.”

What about Obama’s lack of experience?

“Experience does not seem to carry much weight when I look at people already in there,” she said. “Leadership is intangible. You are either a leader or you are not. I think Sen. Obama clearly demonstrates leadership.”

Rep. Harry Ott said he was pleased that Obama touched upon topics of concern to him including affordable health care on the national level.

“Right now, I personally am uncommitted,” Ott said. “I want to hear from all the candidates and then hopefully we will be able to pick someone we can support.”

Ott gave Obama a good chance to be the next president.

“I think if he continues to resonate with people and put forth ideas and solution to problems, he has a wonderful opportunity to be successful not only in the South Carolina primary, but also in the national election. This will be a campaign about ideas and who can convince the general population that they have solutions to our problems.”

State Sen. John Matthews said Obama “embodies the youthfulness of change that people are looking for.”

Matthews said the pulse he feels on the trends is that people want change and this desire may hurt Hilliary Clinton. “I don’t think they see her as change. They see her as an extension of the past.”

Matthews said he will continue to look at the candidates.

“It is like trying to buy a new car. You have to look around and under the hood before buying,” he said, adding that he sees as front-runners three candidates: Obama, Clinton and former N.C. Sen. John Edwards.

Lane Brown of Berkeley County had a friend in Orangeburg send him some tickets by FedEx so he could attend the event.

“He brought up something today we haven’t heard from other candidates and that’s talking about broadband access and that is absolutely critical in terms of providing a quality education,” Brown said.

Brown said he sees “great parallels” between Obama and John F. Kennedy. Obama can excite people and galvanize them into supporting his election, Brown said.

“I think he has the potential to get the highest plurality in the South Carolina primary. He’ll have a lot of the base that John Edwards had last time that I don’t think Edwards will have this time,” Brown said.

You must be logged in to comment.