Just 12 days before the general election, President Barack Obama made another stop in Cleveland to rally the troops.
The event was held on the tarmac of Burke Lakefront Airport. Doors opened at 5:00 p.m., but of course that means the President wasn’t due for at least a few hours.
The weather that day was perfect for an outdoor event. A warm fall evening that felt more like early summer.
Early on, space near the podium was plentiful. As we neared the arrival of President Obama, space around us quickly filled up. Now, wasn’t the time to be claustrophobic. Many people fainted, needing medical attention in the hours leading up to the big moment. I could feel the crowds pushing us towards the gates that were used to create a secure pocket around the makeshift stage.
There was lots of chatter about how the President would arrive — by bus, car, Marine One, Air Force One — but no one was certain. However, I knew it would be Air Force One (technically it was the smaller jet often used by the Vice President, as the true “Air Force One” is too large to land at Burke). That certainty came from the huge Arri light aimed at the tarmac behind the President, and a little press release that detailed the event ;-).
The crowd had become restless after a few takeoffs by Cleveland Clinic’s Critical Care Transport chopper, prematurely mistaken as the President’s arrival.
The sight of Air Force One in the distance ignited what I believe was one of the most electric crowds you could be a part of.
As the plane came to a stop and the door opened, the crowd erupted. A few minutes later, the President stepped off, gave a presidential wave, and trotted to the stage.
I must say, a special feeling comes over you to see the arrival of the person who is arguably the most powerful man in the world.
When he finally reached the podium and began to speak, you could immediately tell he had been speaking all day. His voice was hoarse and crackled at times. But it didn’t take away from his energy or his ability to get the crowd “fired up and ready to go,” a chant often repeated throughout the evening.
From beginning to end, I attempted to capture every moment, snapping nearly 600 pictures that night. Many of them were unusable, others were more stunning than I expected.
The President stressed the importance of voting and voting early. It helped him win the White House in 2008, so why not do it again. He’d also already voted early himself.
Of course he also pointed out flaws in his opponent’s plan for the country, saying he’s “visited the website” and still believed it didn’t add up referring to Gov. Romney’s plan to balance the budget.
Barack Obama pulled out a copy of his plan, saying he wasn’t hiding anything and had the right solutions for our country’s problems.
The President’s speech had a good balance of ups and downs. He joked at times, but still made sure you understood how serious the election really was.
As his speech came to a close, the crowd erupted again.
Of course the President didn’t just leave, he made his way around the crowd, shaking hands, waving, and even giving hugs.
We (my girlfriend, her sister and I) were in the perfect position to greet the President. But what do you say in 2 seconds? How do you greet the President of the United States?
As he headed our way, I attempted to snap pictures. But the Secret Service officers were quick to let me know that was frowned upon. They came through the crowd ahead of the President and forced your cameras down, as a security precaution of course.
Knowing that I wouldn’t be getting any close snapshots, I prepared to shake his hand. He continued to smile the whole way through the crowd. He comes up to my girlfriend and gets to me next.
I reach out to him and shake his hand. The only thing I thought to say was, “Hello, Mr. President.” That must have been the right the to say. He looked me in the eye, momentarily took the smile off his face, and gave me a nod along with a firm handshake — probably a moment in my life I won’t soon forget. Now, if only there were a picture to go along with it.
President Obama then continued to make his way through the crowd until he stopped to have a longer conversation with an elderly man. It was a very heart-warming moment for everyone who could see this. The man appeared to be very frail, so the President spent a little extra time with him to make sure the wait was worth-while.
Just like that, the rally was over and the President disappeared behind a black curtain.
For me, this was a once in a lifetime event. I’ve never experienced anything like it. Not because it was Barack Obama, not because he’s a Democrat, not because he’s a black man, but because I had the chance to shake the hand of the sitting President of the United States of America!
Check out more pictures from the rally in the photo gallery below
(Click Photos to Enlarge)