Obama out there already

The Democrats organized, the Republicans not?

Can such things be?

And yet, in State College, one mere block from the downtown nexus of College Avenue and South Allen Street, Barack Obama's local presidential campaign headquarters has opened in time for July Fourth.

And John McCain's counterpart headquarters? Nowhere in sight, it's location not yet settled on and not expected to open (somewhere) until next week. In time for the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts, perhaps, but not in time for the 4th Fest and the world's greatest political holiday.

The Obama headquarters? You can't miss it. Ten Obama yard signs in Andy Warhol soup-can repetition lead the way from the sidewalk to the door at 224 S. Allen St., the old Verizon building, the same place the Obama campaign used for the primary.

You could tell you were there Wednesday. When you walked in the door, a near life-size cardboard cutout of Obama stood at the top of the stairs, as if in welcome.

Obama clothing — sweatshirts and the like — were stacked on shelves ready to be sold, competition for the Nittany Lion garb ready to be sold in stores just down the street: Politics challenging the uncritical enthusiasm of collegiate rah-rah for the T-shirt dollar.

Obama people are waiting there in the headquarters, too. They're already signing up new voters, first-time voters among the ranks of just-arrived Penn State summer freshmen. That's organization.

And where is the McCain presence in town? Republican Party officials say they're working on it.

But it'll be catch-up work.

Seen an Obama yard sign lately as you drive by the homes of Centre County residents?

Of course you have.

Seen a McCain sign lately?

Maybe that's why we're reading today about another shake-up in McCain's campaign.

Comments

[robbie]

i have seen alot of these cutouts of obama popping up at functions like these. I see at least 3 news stories a day of things people are doing with their obama cutout. We have had a few customers order obama cutouts from our company. if you want a cutout for yourself check us out at http://www.lifesizecustomcutouts.com we have recently done cutouts off all the canidates but obama more so then everyone else