Bruce Springsteen Backs Barack Obama

Bruce Springsteen Backs Barack Obama

Like a bolt out of the blue and frankly with more empact that Elton John's Hillary Clinton concert , "The Boss" backed Barack Obama today, effectively turning the news cycle in Obama's favor and hitting a demographic group that some said Obama could not reach: White rural dwellers. This is what he wrote.

Dear Friends and Fans:

LIke most of you, I've been following the campaign and I have now seen and heard enough to know where I stand. Senator Obama, in my view, is head and shoulders above the rest.

He has the depth, the reflectiveness, and the resilience to be our next President. He speaks to the America I've envisioned in my music for the past 35 years, a generous nation with a citizenry willing to tackle nuanced and complex problems, a country that's interested in its collective destiny and in the potential of its gathered spirit. A place where "...nobody crowds you, and nobody goes it alone."

At the moment, critics have tried to diminish Senator Obama through the exaggeration of certain of his comments and relationships. While these matters are worthy of some discussion, they have been ripped out of the context and fabric of the man's life and vision, so well described in his excellent book, Dreams of My Father, often in order to distract us from discussing the real issues: war and peace, the fight for economic and racial justice, reaffirming our Constitution, and the protection and enhancement of our environment.

After the terrible damage done over the past eight years, a great American reclamation project needs to be undertaken. I believe that Senator Obama is the best candidate to lead that project and to lead us into the 21st Century with a renewed sense of moral purpose and of ourselves as Americans.

Over here on E Street, we're proud to support Obama for President.

Barack Obama Rally and Hillary Clinton Rally In Oakland

Sunday September 30th 2007 was a day that featured an event I seriously doubt will ever be replayed in my lifetime, or yours. On a day where Senator and Presidential Candidate Hilliary Clinton was expected to be the host of a rally in Downtown Oakland, California, local and state organizers with the Obama for America campaign held a rally of their own to open the new Northern California field office. An office located not just in Downtown Oakland, but only two blocks from where Senator Clinton was to speak.

The Obama people blocked off a one-block stretch of land between 14th and Broadway and 14th and Franklin, and erected a stage for bands, then opened the doors of their new Oakland home at 436 14th Street, Suite 305.

For a time, it seemed as if there were more Obama supporters than Clinton supporters, and that was because there were. As time went on, many of the estimated 5,000 people that came to hear Senator Clinton seemed to be causal attendees.

Each one of which was greeted by the smiles and waving signs of Obama supporters. It was a total circus that was a peaceful, fun Democratic Party fest, where everyone was actually quite happy to see the friendly competition for attention – from people and the media.

What this says about politics today is simple: people are energized and will turn out to vote in large numbers. What's striking about today's event was how excited people were to be involved and to debate and talk about issues. In the video that comes with this, the opinions expressed are not of the minority. There was no one unhappy with the proceedings, there were no fights of any note, and you'd have to be a proctologist to find any.

This is certainly the most exciting Presidential race I've seen, and it's good for the City of Oakland to have another day in the spotlight during this contest. Moreover, it showed the best of the Obama campaign in how they conducted themselves, as they outnumbered the Clinton die-hards and could have been rude and nasty, but were anything but.

At the end of the video, a Clinton volunteer said she wanted to see both Obama and Clinton on the ticket. I agree. I think everyone wants to see that, judging from today's events.