After warming up the crowd to Gary Glitter’s “Rock and Roll Part 2,” Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama greeted thousands of fans at Auditorium Shores on Friday afternoon.
Like a rock concert, there were two opening acts to entertain the audience. The group Texans for Obama organized the speech, and said about 20,000 people requested free tickets online.
The Illinois senator formally entered the campaign two weeks ago. Since then, he's been drawing eye-popping crowds in an unusual campaign swing that is taking him to large urban areas outside of the early voting states.
Obama said it's time to turn our attention back home to health care, education and rebuilding New Orleans.
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Sen. Obama's speech
Watch Sen. Barack Obama's February 23 speech from Auditorium Shores.
 
Obama visit
News 8 Austin's Bob Robuck reports from the Austin rally.
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Obama said he wants to put more money into accessible and affordable health care, teacher pay and early childhood education. He got his biggest applause when he spoke of his opposition to the war in Iraq.
Speaking at a Houston fundraiser last night, Obama said the country is “at a crossroads.'' Pointing to issues ranging from the Iraq war to health care, he says it's not that people don't know what the solutions are. Instead, Obama says the nation's leaders are unable “to develop consensus.''
There are some roads affected around Auditorium Shores for the rally. Riverside Drive from South First Street to Lee Barton Drive is closed until 6 p.m.
News 8 Austin will re-broadcast it at 10:15 p.m. And you can see it on News 8 On Demand, Time Warner Cable channel 1408.
