Obama draws 3,500 to Seattle rally, raises funds

SEATTLE – Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama drew an estimated 3,500 people to a Friday night campaign rally where he repeated his standard themes, calling for a form of universal health care insurance, better help for education, a national energy policy that focuses on green technologies – and an end to the war in Iraq.

After the rally, the Illinois senator headed to several fund- raising receptions.

Campaign spokesmen declined to say how much money they hoped to raise from the rally and receptions. Tickets to the rally cost $25, and those to the general reception at the Westin Hotel cost $500, or $2,300 to the “sponsors” reception.

Among the receptions’ hosts were Democratic U.S. Rep. Adam Smith and former Seattle Mayor Norm Rice, the two highest-profile Washington state politicians who have come out for Obama so far.

Other hosts were RealNetworks Inc. CEO Rob Glaser and Lloyd Frink, president of the online house-value company Zillow.com.

So far, however, leading political figures in the state have largely avoided taking sides.

“Washington looks a lot like the rest of the country,” said Seattle-area Democratic consultant Christian Sinderman, who is not working with any of the presidential campaigns. “Edwards, Clinton and Obama are the best known and have the most enthusiastic support. And there’s some interest in the next tier of candidates.

“But Washington voters, even the most partisan Washington voters, tend to be fairly open-minded and a little bit independent of the national trends.”