Obama 'You cannot let up'
By ALEC O'MEARA
Union Leader Correspondent

LONDONDERRY – The Barack Obama train pulled into town yesterday at Mack's Apples.

Several thousand turned out for the rally, which featured an Obama fresh from Wednesday's debate with Republican opponent Sen. John McCain.

The Democratic presidential candidate continued to drive home themes from the previous evening in his lone political stop for the day. He returned to the talking points of his campaign, calling for tax cuts for people making less than $250,000, and making a federal health care plan available.

"Here's what Sen. McCain doesn't seem to understand," Obama told his supporters as they stood in a steady drizzle. "With the economy in turmoil and the American dream at risk, the American people don't want to hear politicians attack each other. You want to hear about how we're going to attack the challenges facing the middle class each and every day."

Obama also talked about the current economic crisis and tried to tie his policies directly to New Hampshire. He noted the current revenue shortfall in the New Hampshire budget and said he had proposed creating a $25 billion fund in August specifically to help state and local governments address service needs without having to increase local taxes -- including property taxes.

"We need this fund to help New Hampshire and states across the country pay for health care and education and policy and firefighters without resorting to tax or fee increases," Obama said. "You've got a great governor in John Lynch. What he needs is a strong partner in Washington, and I am going to be that partner for him."

Aside from location, the rally bore little similarity to a visit Obama paid last October; size, security and rhetoric were all dramatically bigger. The change in scope was not lost on 10 Londonderry Middle School students attending the rally as a special field trip.

Keegan Smith said he had been to last year's Obama event.

"It's so much bigger this time," he said. "Last year, there were maybe 700 to 800 people across the street. This is huge."

Celebrity sightings

No Obama rally is complete without a few celebrity sightings.

Actor Justin Long, co-star of "Live Free or Die Hard" and the popular "I'm a Mac/I'm a PC" commercials was spotted by the middle schoolers and posed for photos. Actor John de Lance, better known as "Q" from "Star Trek: The Next Generation," was also present.

Not present, or at least not singing the National Anthem at the rally was Londonderry senior Zach Bencal.

Bencal, who sings the anthem for a number of school events and is actively involved in local community theatre, had been contacted by the Obama campaign to sing the anthem. He agreed to do so, then was told later in the evening the anthem had been scratched from the program. Bencal said he was told by the campaign the decision was a simple programming change to make room for another speaker.

"I guess it just wasn't meant to be," Bencal said.

Sandra Abrevaya, communications director for the Obama campaign's Manchester office, confirmed the choice had simply been a last-minute scratch from the rally's program, which included the Pledge of Allegiance.

"We regret the miscommunication with Zach about today's event but we are pleased that several other New Hampshire residents were able to speak at today's event, where thousands of voters in both parties gathered to hear Sen. Obama discuss his plan to bring the change we need to Washington."

Obama was introduced by Governor John Lynch. Also speaking prior to the senator was New Hampshire Congressman Paul Hodes.

The rally came and went without any notable incidents, said Capt. Bill Hart of Londonderry Police, with no protesters or unexpected traffic snarls to speak of.

A half-dozen vehicles improperly parked along Mammoth Road were towed for security reasons, but all things considered, the rally was managed successfully from a logistical standpoint, Hart said.

He said the Londonderry Police Department would attempt to reclaim some of the cost to the department for covering the rally from the Obama campaign.

Matt Goodwin, a teacher at St. Anselm College, was one of the new faces at this year's rally. An Illinois native, Goodwin moved to New Hampshire in June and had voted in his own state's primary. The rally was the first opportunity he had to see his home-state senator speak.

"I thought he was great," he said. "He seemed pretty pumped up from the debate last night."

Fighting words
Following the rally, former U.S. Congressman Charlie Bass held a teleconference on behalf of the McCain campaign to respond to the rally.

Bass spoke of McCain's experience and leadership skills while cautioning against Obama's trade policies.

Bass also mentioned Obama's $25 billion fund to help offset local taxes, but added that it sounded a little too good to be true.

"I'm guessing the $25 billion wouldn't be left on a stump at midnight for New Hampshire to come and pick up," Bass said. "I would expect there would be very significant controls on that money that would make the use of that fund fairly undesirable."

Both Obama and Bass mentioned the latest round of polling in New Hampshire showing a sizable lead for Obama.

Bass said October was historically a tough month for Republicans in the state and that a turnaround was likely as the election approached.

Obama also noted the possibility of a late charge, and called for supporters to finish the race strong.

"We are 19 days away from making history. We are 19 days away. But for those of you getting a little cocky, I got two words for you: New Hampshire." Obama said. "I learned right here, with the help of my great friend and supporter Hillary Clinton, that you cannot let up, you cannot pay too much attention to polls. We've got to keep making our case for change, and we've got to keep fighting."

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