Erin’s First Campaign Rally (Oh Look, There’s Bill Clinton) [VIDEO]
When I saw that the former President would be returning to Owensboro, I got the nutty idea to go and check things out. I had never been to a a campaign rally, big or small, ever. I have to admit, this was a great first one to attend.
First off, I knew the doors at the convention center would be opening at 1:30pm, but I thought there's no way the crowd will be too big. I was wrong. I arrived around 2:00pm and there was a line.
Erin Grant[/caption]So much for thinking I could just waltz in right before the President's speech. The line extended almost to the future Holiday Inn parking lot. After about 10 minutes, the line started moving and I also needed a ticket to get in. As I approached the entrance to the ballroom, the big exhibition hall, the line finally split in two, and then it was every man for himself. Yes, there were seats available but, like a concert, there was a massive group of people standing between the seating sections. I finally secure a placed and when I and others could, we would jockey around to get a little closer. This is about as close as I got. The pictures are zoomed obviously and I got a shot of former Kentucky Governor Martha Layne Collins.
Erin Grant[/caption]There were a bevy of speakers and at one point, we heard Senatorial candidate Alison Lundergan Grimes was there too. Thus I was misinformed. So here's Grimes, Gov. Steve Beshear, and the guest of honor, former President Bill Clinton.
Look at all the phones! I also saw a lot of people video taping and taking pictures with tablets, yes, tablets! It's funny when you see someone whom you have only seen on TV for the past 22 years in person. Clinton has dropped quite a bit of weight since his time in the White House. He had quadruple bypass heart surgery in 2004, and then had two coronary stents installed in 2010. When you hear him speak, you would never know. One story, when Sec. Grimes referred to a story where Sen. Mitch McConnell didn't know the difference between UK and Duke basketball, it made Clinton chuckle.
Erin Grant[/caption]About 30 minutes into Clinton's speech, I needed to leave. So I got one more shot from the opposite side of the stage, where I ran into an old friend/band drummer buddy of mine who came up from Bowling Green. A couple of Secret Service guys were looking at me funny too, oh well.
Erin Grant[/caption]This was pretty cool, but who else can't wait until the election is over?