Politics

CBS 11 News Talks With Barack Obama

 More Campaign Information

 

(CBS 11 News) CBS 11's Jay Gormley was the only North Texas television reporter traveling on the campaign trail with presidential candidate Barack Obama. He blogged live as Sen. Obama travels to Austin, San Marcos and back north to Fort Worth.


February 28, 2008 - 9:32 p.m.
Twenty-four hours with Obama, and it wasn't until the last 15 minutes with him that we finally landed a one-on-one interview. I spoke to the Senator inside his plane. I asked him about the war in Iraq, the Hispanic-Black divide and Adelfa Callejo's comments.

It's been an exhausting, sometimes frustrating and exhilarating journey, and I wouldn't change it for the world.


February 28, 2008 - 6:17 p.m.
Sen. Obama's motorcade consists of two SUVs and two large buses. Sen. Obama travels in one of the SUVs, while the press and members of his staff follow in the two buses.

On the way from downtown Beaumont to the airport, our bus broke down. So, we pulled both buses to the side and everyone on my bus had to jump on the other bus.

After spending 14 sweaty hours with the same people, packing us all in the same bus wasn't the most pleasant experience.


February 28, 2008 - 3:13 p.m.
Sen. Obama addressed a packed house at the Julie Rogers Theatre in Beaumont. The theatre holds nearly 1,800 people.

Beaumont has provided the toughest security so far on the trip. The police department has fenced in the entire theatre and has blocked off several of the major roads going into the theatre. It's obvious that they're taking this assignment very seriously.

While in route to Beaumont, Sen. Obama met with reporters. Let me tell you from first-hand experience, conducting an interview on a plane is not the best situation. It's loud, hard to hear and the audio is terrible.


February 28, 2008 - 11:50 a.m.
Sen. Obama wrapped up in Austin this morning, but not without lending a helping hand to a child who was separated from his parent.

At the end of Sen. Obama's speech, he walked into the audience to shake hands with his supporters, and there he stumbled upon a little boy who was looking for his mother… obviously lost in the crowd.

Sen. Obama went back to the podium, fired up the microphone again, and made an announcement asking for a woman named Amy. "Your son is looking for you."

Mother and child were reunited.


February 28, 2008 - 9:48 a.m.
We reached the Austin Convention Center around 8:45 a.m. It's a good-sized crowd, but it's not filled to capacity. It's about 2/3 filled.

These political rallies are becoming less and less like a rally and more and more like a rock concert. The audience members stamp their feet and clap their hands. They chant "Obama! Obama!" and "We want change!" I'm almost waiting for them to break into "We Will Rock You" by Queen.


February 27, 2008 - 10:42 p.m.
On the bus back to Austin, campaigning for Sen. Obama is done for the night.

By the way, there's way too much food available on this tour. Get on the bus, there's food! Get off the bus, there's food! Get on the plane, there's food! Get off the plane, more food! It's no wonder why so many journalists are overweight.

Since the campaign has come to an end tonight, for the first time, we don't have a motorcade to escort us. Sen. Obama left about ten minutes ahead of us and went straight to his hotel. That's why we aren't being escorted. So now we must obey all the traffic lights.


February 27, 2008 - 10:02 p.m.
We reached Texas State in San Marcos where Sen. Obama maybe addressing the largest crowd of the day.

The audience is mostly made up of Texas State students. Sen. Obama is repeating his speeches almost word-for-word. However, for those hearing it for the first time, his words are greeted enthusiastically.

But for myself, I'm starting to memorize his speech, because I've heard it so many times.


February 27, 2008 - 8:50 p.m.
If you're reading this blog to see Sen. Obama's speech word-for-word, this is not the place. For the next 24 hours, this blog will give you a behind-the-scenes look at the Obama campaign, and the unique and sometimes funny events that take place when you're on the road 14 hours a day.

I'm now in the air with Sen. Barack Obama; we are on our way from Dallas to Austin.

Inside his plane it's quiet and relaxed, just members of the press and his staff exchanging jokes and laughs.

Sen. Obama actually came back to hang with us and we spent a few minutes talking about music. One of the photographers on board had an iPod hooked up to a boom box.

Sen. Obama spent several minutes going through the music selection and making requests. He finally settled on Howlin' Wolf's "Wang Dang Doodle."

(© MMVIII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

---