Obama watchers gather at home

After George W. Bush was re-elected in 2004, Connie Lindgren felt discouraged. Upset about the war, the rising cost of health care and other issues, the Spokane resident didn’t want Bush to lead the country for another four years.

To make her feel better, her politically active brother sent her a campaign button. “Keep Hope Alive,” was the message over the photograph of a young, African American man. Beneath the picture, it stated: “President 2008.”

She didn’t recognize the man’s face. She had never even heard of his name.

Now, two and a half years later, Lindgren and others in the area are working to spread the word about Barack Obama.

“I don’t think anyone can bring people together the way Obama can,” said Lindgren, one of about 15 people who showed up Saturday at an open house for the Illinois senator, one of the Democrat front-runners in the presidential race.

The open house – which took place at the South Hill home of Gloria Wood – was among nine sites in Eastern Washington and North Idaho where people crowded around computer screens to watch a live telecast of the candidate at a public library in Onawa, Iowa. His appearance was streamed live on his campaign Web site, www.barackobama.com.

Nationwide, more than 5,000 open houses took place Saturday afternoon, according to the telecast.

“Obama is about working together to solve the country’s problems,” said Wood, who decided to host an open house after abstaining from any sort of conversation about politics for the last decade. “He inspires me. That’s why I’m doing this. It’s exciting to think that we can connect all over the country to support him.”

“Obama ‘08” signs greeted visitors as they entered Wood’s home for a potluck and the “community kickoff” event. While Wood invited a few friends, she had never met most of the people who showed up at her door.

“Obama’s on, you guys,” someone yelled as people hurried to finish lunch and position themselves in front of a laptop in the living room.

Despite experiencing some major technical difficulties – the live stream off the Web site was difficult to hear in parts and the video was a few seconds behind the audio – the enthusiasm didn’t waver.

Like the people at the Onawa Public Library, those gathered at Wood’s home nodded in agreement when a woman in the audience talked to Obama about the rising cost of health care.

When the young senator talked about the war and how proud he was of the fact that he had been against invading Iraq from the very beginning, his Internet audience at Wood’s home, as well as the folks who surrounded him in Iowa, applauded.

“Do you guys like what you’re hearing?” Wood asked during a moment when the audio briefly cut out.

Her guests responded with more applause.

“Our efforts are really grass-roots,” said Lindgren, who proudly wore the Obama button her brother sent her. “The last time I got excited about an election was when John F. Kennedy was running for office.”

Most of the people who attended the open house at Wood’s house were in their 40s, 50s and 60s, but the group also included 17-year-old Christa Luckenbach, a senior at Ferris High School.

Luckenbach will be voting for the first time next year, and she wants to do a thorough research on every presidential candidate. “I very much support Obama,” she said. “He”s very charismatic and appeals to a younger generation.”

Sally Mauss, who’s 64 and retired, is also taking a serious look at the possibility of Obama as president. Although she considers herself an independent and even voted for George W. Bush during the last election, Mauss said she might vote for Obama if he can offer solutions to the war in Iraq, immigration and other issues affecting the United States.

“I’m alarmed at where the country is headed, and I’ve never felt such a sense of urgency to make sure things change,” Mauss said. “It behooves all of us to be informed. The future of this country depends on it.”