Obama In Austin - Liveblog

4:00 pm - from the Editor
I caught the last part of the speech on the live feed, and the crowd really was substantial and energetic.
It seems like the speech was well-received, and of course Obama is a dynamic speaker. He stumbled on a few of the stump standards (I've been in Washington long enough...) but his overall message of hope and change went oveer well.

Katie's liveblog is available in its entirety within. She had to do most of it from a Blackberry, and she did a great job. - Josh

3:54
Obama's speech ends with an anecdote and then he fires up the crowd one last time.

Then he starts to move through the crowd, shaking hands and greeting supporters.

By the end, the crowd was very very large.

3:45
Barack asks, "Why are we here? Why is everyone here today?"

The crowd yells, "For change."

Sen. Obama openly discusses health care, Katrina, the environment and college issues as the crowd yells.

He is spreading a message of change and opportunity.

He questions our motives for going to war and losing American lives.

3:28
Obama is on a roll, and the crowd is loving it.

He's covered the origins of labor unions, World War II, and the civil rights movement.

The crowd breaks into spontaneous chants of "Obama!"

3:14 pm
Barack takes the microphone, amazed at the response and crowd.

Someone yells I love you and Barack yells, "I love you back."

He is telling the story about his first large crowd and how great today is.

3:11 pm
Marissa conveys her story of volunteering at the convention center in Austin.

The message is we are all family. "Hope is contagious!"

Barack enters as the crowd goes wild.

3:06 pm
The Alpha Iota fraternity is stepping for the introduction of Obama. Dressed in black and gold ties they dedicate their presentation to their brother Obama.

That signals that Sen. Obama is about to arrive.

The crowd of 20,000 people are cheering and waving signs as Obama enters backstage.

Marisa, a young female, conveys a story about Hurricane Katrina and the failure of the government.

2:43 pm
Obama will speak in 10 - 15 minutes or so. The crowd is growing restless from waiting, and it is still growing. They are waving signs to the beat of the music.

2:26 pm
Helicopters are circling. The crowd is going wild raising their signs and yelling for Obama.

The crowd is overflowing into the park. Over 17,000 people are here. I am on the press riser...all you can see is people and blue and white Obama 08' signs.

The rain is beginning to clear and the crowd is still growing.

"The young people are getting fired up. And that means something is about to change!"

The crowd is yelling change and waving signs.

2:13 pm
A band from New Orleans is playing a message of change to the White House. It is cold and raining but 15,000 people are grooving to the music.

Sen. Obama is set to speak in one hour.

It is raining harder and signs are now in short supply as they become make-shift shelter from the rain.

1:53 pm
Nicholas Chu and the President of the African American Culture Committee are welcoming everyone and announcing Cyril Neville, the next musical guest.

It has started to rain, so I'm relocating. Back with you soon.

1:48 pm
It is beginning to sprinkle, but the rain is not dampening the crowd's spirit or the awesome music.

Over 50 local, state and national media outlets are present.

State Representatives are beginning to arrive in the VIP area, lining up to meet Sen. Obama.

The crowd is over 10,000 people now with limited space left.

1:27 pm
Different counties have huge banners on sticks reading "Tarrant County for Obama" and "Fort Worth for Obama." This is a Texas size event.

College Democrats from A&M, Baylor (yes they do have Democrats), Texas State, Central Texas College and others are volunteering at the event.

Rain is lingering as storm clouds hover over the stage. However, fans are not deterred.

Over 7,000 people are listening to the soothing songs from the musicians with people still flooding into the gates.

1:10 pm
The band is playing "One more step to the promise land," sending the message that Obama will "not be denied" on his quest for the promised land.

Press from Time, MSNBC, all Austin and Texas media outlets are present for what is sure to be a speech to define the Obama campaign.

5,000 people have entered the site, homemade Obama signs in hand.

12:45 pm
The gates just opened with the crowd running in to get seats.

Over a thousand people were already in line with two hours to go until
the Senator arrives.

It is officially Demstock! The bands are playing and thousands of
Obama signs are being handed out to the audience.

Over 2,000 people have entered the gates.

12:06 pm
Sen. Barack Obama is scheduled to speak to over 17,000 Texans in Austin at 2PM today.

It is 12 noon and more then 250 volunteers are already yelling Obama chants with the crowd lined up 3 blocks away. Live music will begin at 12:30 PM.

City Councilman Lee Leffingwell proclaimed today University Democrats day in The City of Austin for their work with the city.

University Democrats and other organizations at The University of Texas are responsible for hosting today's event.

More to come when the band begins to play.