Is this New Hampshire?

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I think I am finally getting just a glimpse into what it would be like to live in New Hampshire or Iowa during the primary season in presidential election years.


Being in Oregon we rarely get much attention from presidential candidates in the primary. Our primary is coming up on May 20th (the only other ones left after us are Republican primaries in Idaho & New Mexico, a Democratic primary in Montana, and both parties primaries in South Dakota and Puerto Rico): the airwaves are congested in with political ads, the phone is ringing with pollsters on the other end of the line, and the candidates are actually visiting cities all across the state (and not just stopping in Portland).


Senator Obama was here in Eugene on Friday night speaking to a crowd of about 8000 at the University of Oregon. I just heard on the radio that he will be back to Oregon again this weekend. Senator McCain is here today. Senator Clinton was in Central Point on Thursday and in Portland at OHSU on Friday. President Clinton was in Pendleton last night and is traveling all over the state today promoting a "Bring Your Ballot" events (Oregon is the only state with a complete vote-by-mail system.). We are still hoping for the chance to see Senator Clinton here in town.


For our little family who is interested in the political process, government, public service, current events, history, etc, this is really quite exciting.


Before Senator Obama spoke on Friday night we had a chance to go behind the scenes with a small group and welcome him to Eugene.


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Chris got his book signed.


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Simon got to shake hands.


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I got a blurred shot to go along with my collection of blurred favorites.


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And Simon's favorite part of the night was acquiring this flag that he was able to wave like crazy (thanks Emily). He was super serious about his job as a flag waver and made sure that we were all cheering at the appropriate times.


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It's a pretty amazing time in the history of our country.


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On another note, I hope you all had a fantastic Mother's Day. We got to have lunch with my parents on the coast and dinner with Chris' here in town. We are pretty darn lucky: both our Mother's still love us and listen to us talk politics even though we are on opposite ends of the political spectrum (they definitely don't sit quietly though - lots of lively, interesting discussions).


Love you Mom!

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149 thoughts

  1. Molly says…
    05/12/2008

    very exciting, indeed. I lived in keene, NH in '95 when the candidates came through campaigning for the '96 election. It was exciting to meet candidates up close, but I have to say ... the crowds I witnessed did not seem as large or excited as your photos reveal. This is a super-charged situation right now.

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  2. Jana says…
    05/12/2008

    How cool is this!?! It is exciting for Oregon to be so involved still. Bill Clinton is visiting our town tonight, his daughter was here a couple of weeks ago---still waiting for Hillary tho! Happily Senator Obama swung by on his way to Eugene a couple of weeks ago---I have the story on my blog: http://phinearts.blogspot.com/2008/03/guess-who-we-saw.html Was so exciting to see him in such an informal way! Your experience "wins" tho---congrats on having such a terrific up close and personal visit! Fabulous photos---even the blurry one!!

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  3. Brenna says…
    05/12/2008

    Bill Clinton went to Pendleton. Pendleton is NOT Central Oregon. It's Eastern Oregon. just so you know...

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  4. liz elayne says…
    05/12/2008

    what an incredible experience for all of you! love these photos ali!

    Reply 0 Replies
  5. Shealynn Benner says…
    05/12/2008

    Sounds like you had a great Mother's Day! :) I won't be voting for Obama or Clinton, but I bet it's exciting to see them anyway.

    Reply 0 Replies
  6. Jessica says…
    05/12/2008

    I feel the same way! I'm over in Central Oregon (Redmond) and we've had Clinton twice, Obama once and Hillary is coming this week. It's kind of crazy.

    Reply 0 Replies
  7. Paulette Sarsfield says…
    05/12/2008

    I won't be voting either( being Canadian and all!) but my HOPE is with Barack...Ali, it is such an amazing ride this political forum, I wish I understood your politics better...Happy is the day when we can all agree to disagree and still love each other!So glad you are living in the moment!!!

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  8. Regina says…
    05/12/2008

    Hi Ali. That was so exciting. I would love to hear Obama speak let alone have a picture taken with him - blurry or not. I love Obama's expression when he's talking to Simon. Just too cute.

    Reply 0 Replies
  9. Susan says…
    05/12/2008

    OMG you are so lucky! I wish I would have gone to see him when he was here in Boston (seems so long ago). Great photos! How does it feel to have photos with our next President?!!!!
    Not sure if you knew this already but Obama will officially accept the nomination of the Democratic Party on Aug. 28th....which happens to be the 45th anniversary of MLK, Jr's "I Have A Dream" Speech. How beautiful! Talk about cosmic synergy.

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  10. Michelle says…
    05/12/2008

    This is such a great post! Thanks for sharing. We are watching your country make this decision with great anticipation.
    Michelle

    Reply 0 Replies
  11. Melanie says…
    05/12/2008

    Wonderful photos and I would hate that the one with you and Obama was blurry but at least you have one. I am not an Obama supporter but I believe in the political system and love to see everyone out and about. It really is a great time for our country. I am headed out to Portland in July for a family vacation. (and then on down the coast) Any suggestions?

    Reply 0 Replies
  12. Amy says…
    05/12/2008

    How neat that Simon is getting to experience the political process from such a young age! Very cool pictures! It must have been amazing to meet Senator Obama! I've been so moved by this year's elections that I've even been scrapping about them. Really a very exciting time in our history for sure. Your dinner table talk on politics sounds like ours at my parents house. I love it though, when you get to hear arguments on both sides it makes it easier to form your own opinion! I'll be watching CNN the night of the 20th for sure!

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  13. grammie says…
    05/12/2008

    Our son and family live in Des Moines and had a blast during the caucus and its runup. Our older grandson (just turned 8) loves studying the Presidents and got B.O. to autograph his Presidential history book. Then he was front and center at the caucus crunching numbers to see if each candidate had the required percentage to continue to the next level. His brother, alas, contributed not at all. He fell asleep under one of the tables.
    It's great to see the young ones getting turned on by democracy.

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  14. Mary Beth Renze says…
    05/12/2008

    I felt the same way when the primaries were here in Pennsylvania. It was cool to feel like we counted for a change! I'm reading Obama's book right now, and while I was impressed with him before, I am now totally blown away by him. Everyone should read it.

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  15. Wilna says…
    05/12/2008

    I *heart* Obama!!
    At least you got a shot of you with him!! Blurred = better than no shot!!!
    : )
    Wilna

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  16. Rachael A. says…
    05/12/2008

    Wow. Neat shots! At least you got to actually talk to Senator Obama. He was in Chapel Hill, NC about two weeks ago, and my husband and I went to see him at the Dean Smith Center at UNC. Thanks to my "telephoto" lens (this went to 150 mm) we were able to get a couple of good shots of him onstage. Then afterwards, he was shaking hands with a lot of well-wishers and my husband was able to get some really good close-ups of him. It was an incredible experience.

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  17. Andi Sexton (rrlscrapgal) says…
    05/12/2008

    Beautiful photos!!! Awesome event & experience.. We got to see President Clinton in Baker City yesterday... we live on a ranch 17 miles away and were in town for our Mother's Day luncheon! I share your 'awe' of the moment! And, we are (dare I say) Republicans! We held up our two kids on our backs so they could see... Our kids, who are 9 & 10 have been watching the debates with us, following who dropped out, who is in (all of this for both parties) and taking it all in.
    It is an exciting time - for everyone!

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  18. Brenda Kauffman says…
    05/12/2008

    Ahh, Barack Obama... All my fingers and toes are crossed in hopes of his being elected! He seems to be the only one with potential for revealing commonalities among people and dedicated to mending foreign relationships.... I found some comfort in reading that your family spectrum is broad in terms of politics. Sometimes I feel like the "freak in the family" and find it so hard to have meaningful conversations with my dad without the blood pressure creeping up! But on the flip side, my 5-year old son prances around chanting "Mama for Obama!"

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  19. Brenda Kauffman says…
    05/12/2008

    Ahh, Barack Obama... All my fingers and toes are crossed in hopes of his being elected! He seems to be the only one with potential for revealing commonalities among people and dedicated to mending foreign relationships.... I found some comfort in reading that your family spectrum is broad in terms of politics. Sometimes I feel like the "freak in the family" and find it so hard to have meaningful conversations with my dad without the blood pressure creeping up! But on the flip side, my 5-year old son prances around chanting "Mama for Obama!"

    Reply 0 Replies
  20. Mary says…
    05/12/2008

    That is so cool - how exciting to get to meet Obama as a family and how cool for Simon! Obama has done so much to energize the elections.

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  21. Shaquanna says…
    05/12/2008

    How awesome for you and your family to meet Senator Obama! Sounds like you had a great Mother's Day weekend. Take care.

    Reply 0 Replies
  22. Michelle says…
    05/12/2008

    I live in Kentucky (which also has their primary on the 20th) and it has been very exciting around here! We are used to not having a say in who gets nomiinated, and now the candidates are bending over backwords for us. I am going to see Obama tonite at a rally and I am VERY excited. I have ben waiting for a chance to see him in person.
    Thanks for sharing your pictures!!
    Michelle B.

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  23. LobotoME says…
    05/12/2008

    Lucky, lucky YOU guys! I think that's TWICE you've been able to meet him, isn't it? GO OBAMA!!!

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  24. LobotoME says…
    05/12/2008

    Lucky, lucky YOU guys! I think that's TWICE you've been able to meet him, isn't it? GO OBAMA!!!

    Reply 0 Replies
  25. jen says…
    05/12/2008

    Oh Ali, I teared up seeing the picture of Obama with Simon. What a wonderful picture. So very envious; I'd love to meet Obama. He is going to change this country. Can't wait. :)

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