Did you ever attend a presidential campaign rally where the candidate was present and spoke?

I saw Obama speak at the University of Oregon in front of the Knight Library in 2008 on a campaign thing. It was actually a bit uncomfortable since there were visible snipers in windows and on roofs. And we had to go through metal detectors to get in. I wasn’t sure I would get in since the people I was trying to get in with and myself had primed the pump at Max’s.

But we got in and it was a blast.

And yeah. No difference in my vote. I can not see a situation where I would vote for a Republican.

Me either.

I do not attend political events.

I haven’t, but my sister did in high school. She was very moved by it. I think it is part of why she was more political than I was at a young age.

Yes. Jimmy Carter rally when he was running for president.

Fall 1976

Burke Lakefront Airport, Cleveland, OH

I shook his hand.

I went to a John Edwards gathering (it was too small to call a rally) in San Francisco in November of 2007. I would have voted for him, but he washed out following the news of his affair.

I went to an Obama rally in Oakland in December of 2007, he appeared, but he was late and I had to leave before he spoke. Wish I had stayed.

As a kid I saw Jerry Ford in 1976. This was in his home town, Grand Rapids. Security was not noticeable. I walked up and shook his hand. He was friendly.

In 1988 I saw Mike Dukakis on election eve at the Medinah Temple (Shriners auditorium) in Chicago. There was a torchlight parade to the event. Yes, real flaming torches. I fell in with a bunch of Greeks (Dukakis is a Greek-American), and there were tiny grannies wearing black looking like they just got off the boat from Crete. I don’t remember Dukakis’s speech.

In 1996 Bill Clinton had a rally in Daley Plaza in Chicago. They emptied a couple of blocks and then let people back in through metal detectors. It was a huge loud crowd. Someone from REO Speedwagon played warmup, that was kind of lame, like a State Fair concert. I don’t remember that speech either, but it was fun.

None of these changed my mind on anything. I just liked the spectacle.

Yes, too many to recall or describe.

I appeared in a John Edwards campaign commercial! Of course, he was there for the filming. He interacted well with everyone and came across as a very decent, sincere person. Too bad his personal life imploded so majestically.

Yes! I saw Bernie Sanders speak at a rally in, I think, 2015, maybe early 2016. It was great. I was already planning to vote for him in the primary and the rally didn’t change that.

Sometime last year we attended a rally for Bernie Sanders in Kissimmee, FL. He seemed kind of tired, but was still impressive.

A few months later we went to the same venue to hear President Obama speak at a rally for Hillary Clinton (who wasn’t there, but we wanted to see the president in person before he left office).

Stevie Wonder played a few songs before Obama spoke, so this thing was kind of a two-fer….

Plus, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be glared at by the Secret Service….

@PullMyFinger Plus, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be glared at by the Secret Service….

Those dudes (and dudettes) are pretty intense, aren’t they? The check-out everyone in the room and don’t drop their gazes for even a millisecond. I avoid looking at them directly, much like a child who feels naughty for no reason.

Once. Boise airport, 1964, LBJ.

@Love_my_doggie Yeah, I don’t know if those people attend a semester at Intimidation School or what, but I was wary enough to check my naturally inherent wise guy behavioral habits at the door, and leave them there for the entire the afternoon….

I went to a Nader rally in 2004. A friend was going and was very excited. I went to see the spectacle and I wasn’t really sold on any of the options that year, so who knows.

He spoke, but it was mainly just playing for applause on points I was familiar with.

I don’t remember it being fun, it was interesting, but it reminded me of going to church with someone. The people there were already sold, so it was really just a chance to congregate.

It didn’t change my vote.

Yes. I worked for John Anderson in 1980.
I met him, and attended several rallies.
He was a nice guy, and very compelling.
The best part of it was getting searched by the Secret Service.

In 2001 Bill Bradley spoke at UCLA. I didn’t plan to go, but I was walking by and stopped to listen. He shook my hand. I voted for Nader.

I attended the rally for Eugene McCarthy at Fenway Park in 1968. It was exciting to be part of a huge, single-minded crowd (and isn’t that a big part of why people go to rock concerts, major-league games, political rallies, and other mass events?). My attention level, however, was somewhat affected at the time, and the main thing I remember is the long, long, long walk back to Cambridge.

Yes, Bill Clinton’s second run. It was very exhilarating and fun. It was nice to be surrounded by people who were rooting for the same person. No bickering, no protests, just a joyful communion of like minded people. I definitely voted for him.

It was kinda weird seeing the sharpshooters up on the roof

Yeah, I voted for Slick Willie twice.

But let me be clear…..

I did not…...have sexual relations….....with that man…......Mr.Clinton.

I saw Jesse Jackson in a rally in San Francisco during one of his presidential runs. It was fun, but it didn’t influence me to vote for him. I went for the novelty.

Yes, for Bernie Sanders in the 2016 primary. It was my favorite political experience, and yes, fun. Great to hear a politician I actually agree with, and to be in a huge crowd of people who would like to elect him. It entirely confirmed my support for him, and deepened my sadness and disappointment when he didn’t get to be the Dem candidate.

Oh, and it also reinforced my disgust at our stupid-as-dirt “lesser of two evils” election system and the domination of our politics by two sick corporate-owned parties. I have no doubt that if you could even simply vote Yes or No for every candidate, and Sanders was on the list, that he would have won. He was the only candidate with a positive approval rating, and with good reason.

One of my favorite moments during the primary debates was when Bernie walked to the front of the stage to answer a question and said “That’s not what you do….but I’ll tell you what you DO DO….”

Hillary can be seen behind him at her podium with a big smile on her face…..

A year later, my wife and I still occasionally say to each other…..

“I’ll tell you what you DO DO….”

Ha! Forgot I saw Slick Willie when he came to a union rally in 1996. I had really good seats, and could have easily shook his hand, but a friend of mine, who got us the seats, left just before the speech due to heat stroke.
I was more worried about her, than interested in shaking Bill’s hand.