Connecticut Local Politics

Sen. Barack Obama came to Hartford Monday night for a rousing, inspiring rally at an absolutely jam-packed Hartford Civic Center (now the XL Center). My wife and I waited in a line that stretched all the way around the outside of the Civic Center for about two hours before finally getting in–and finding seats up in the nosebleeds.

Obama was introduced by those members of the congressional delegation who have endorsed him, namely Murphy, DeLauro and Larson, and then by Caroline Kennedy and, last but hardly least, Sen. Ted Kennedy.

Obama himself, who entered to thunderous applause, spoke for a little under an hour about the need for change and his plans for the country. On policy, his speech wasn’t all that different from Hillary Clinton’s–he just delivered it much, much better, and the atmosphere in the Civic Center was absolutely electric. I will try to upload the audio of the speech as soon as possible.

I’ve been fortunate to be able to see both Democratic candidates speak over the past week, and both have their strengths. Obama still impresses me as the candidate who can truly bring our country together–and I’m finding that that’s what I want most of all. But Hillary Clinton has a bright policy mind, and has a resilience that I admire. I wish I’d been able to see McCain, who seems destined for the GOP nomination right now.

Tomorrow is going to be really exciting.

Update: Here’s the audio of the speech! The audio includes Caroline Kennedy and Ted Kennedy speaking at the beginning.

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http://ctlocalpolitics.net/obamahartford.mp3