Obama to open state HQ in Ybor City
Officials with the Barack Obama campaign today signed a lease to house its state headquarters in Ybor City. Offices will fill space once occupied by Big City Tavern in Centro Ybor. "We're going to take over Centro Ybor," said U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor. "It's going to be the place to be all summer long." Castor said the Obama campaign was drawn to the diversity and history of Ybor: "You had folks from Cuba, Spain, Italy and Germany all coming together for a common purpose way back when in the cigar hey day."
From the writers of the St. Petersburg Times, The Buzz offers the latest news in Florida politics. This is a public forum sponsored and maintained by the St. Petersburg Times. When you post comments here, what you say becomes public and could appear in the newspaper. You are not engaging in private communication with candidates or Times staffers.
What does Kathy Castor have to do with Obama's campaign headquarters?
Did she sign the lease?
Fill me in.
Posted by: Ari Hinkelberger | June 17, 2008 at 05:00 PM
Excellent. Great place. The O-team will have a great time.
Top-rate place to hang after work.
Posted by: Crusader | June 17, 2008 at 05:03 PM
Are you sure he can find it? He hasn't been in Florida much.
Posted by: | June 17, 2008 at 05:45 PM
Why have a hdqtrs.? He has already crapped all over Florida voters. He said he doesn't need Florida or Ohio to win. Why waste time with all the clods who live here.
Posted by: | June 17, 2008 at 06:26 PM
Obama can open an office in Disney World for all I care. I will never vote for this un-American racist.
He can go hugg his elitist Hollywood buddies.
Posted by: | June 17, 2008 at 06:37 PM
Get the truths about Obama without being subjected to the "cleansing process" the media is now using to rid anything that will be harmful to getting him elected. Yes, it is happening!!
http://investigatebarackobama.blogspot.com/
Posted by: Truth Seeker | June 17, 2008 at 07:43 PM
Note to McSame: Yo… old dude… fire these lameass blog snipers. They’re not helping your dementia problem.
“You can have your Tiger Woods (R-code for n-ger), we have Senator McCain (R-code for old, senile, rich, white, and McSame as Dubya)
Vote McSame… The other white racist!
Posted by: People "not" on drugs! | June 17, 2008 at 09:22 PM
I just reread what I wrote and realized I was on CRACK!
I just saw the new Obama movie: "The Happening"
That's what "happens" if Obama is elected.
Posted by: People "not" on drugs! | June 17, 2008 at 09:32 PM
Truth Seeker:
Great website!! We don't need a racist, socialist, baby killer in the White House.
Big Brown loses!
Posted by: | June 17, 2008 at 09:33 PM
These are disgusting posts. What is wrong with the people on here. The racism is ridiculous. The webmaster should delete their nasty comments.
Posted by: larry | June 17, 2008 at 10:02 PM
Agree, let's delete Obama the racist come November!
Posted by: | June 17, 2008 at 11:16 PM
Barack Obama is a racist just like Rev Wright & Father Pfleger
NO to KKK
NO to Obama
Posted by: | June 18, 2008 at 02:28 AM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gW4ZcY-VHA4
Posted by: | June 18, 2008 at 05:51 AM
You can always measure a leader by the people that pick. You can have the greatest ideas in the world but if you don’t have the ability pick the best people to implement them you are just another guy with a good idea that goes nowhere. Just look at our present administration. You could write a book about his bad choices. Maybe someone has. It is a stroke of genius to put the headquarters in Ybor City I visualize thousands of young people at rallies and getting them involved in the process. Our young need to be part of this and they need to be heard. Obama has that nose for talent; just imagine what his cabinet is going to do.
Posted by: JD | June 18, 2008 at 09:58 AM
Thank you Terri Watson for finding the location!!
The O-train has had the back of the Obama campaign every step of the way!
Posted by: | June 18, 2008 at 10:43 AM
Good job O-Train! And thank you Terry Watson for getting the job done! You have been a magnificent Obama supporter and the O-Train is a success because of your tireless efforts!
Good job and I can't wait to be volunteering there the coming months!
Posted by: SALLY | June 18, 2008 at 11:14 AM
Good job O-Train! You've been holding down the Florida fort until Obama's campaign could come down here.
Thanks to Terry and the O-Train, Tampa Bay area volunteers are ready to hit the ground running.
Posted by: Steve H | June 18, 2008 at 04:07 PM
A great big thank you to Terry Watson for the time and energy he spent going to look at office space throughout Tampa. You did a terrific job working with the National team to secure this location in historic Ybor City. The Obama campaign and the local volunteers are very lucky to have you as part of the team.
Posted by: IJ | June 18, 2008 at 10:12 PM
Thank you Obama Staff for the last five posts. You are redundant and no one gives a hoot!
Posted by: | June 18, 2008 at 10:21 PM
10:21 just want to be sure you know who arranged for the office space - and has been getting things done.
And thanx for reading volunteer entries - as there are two staff persons in Tampa and they're pretty busy. Everyone else - we're just hard-core supporters/ volunteers.
Posted by: Clarice | June 19, 2008 at 10:29 AM
Whether my decision is to vote for Obama or not (I'm still undecided), I have to comment that what he is doing will be GREAT for Ybor City! I work at the bar Adobe Gila's right next to what used to Big City Tavern. We are all very excited (including my die-hard Republican assistant manager) about the amount of much-needed press and business this is going to bring to the area!
Posted by: Caitlin | June 19, 2008 at 10:33 AM
Great!! I can hardly wait to start protesting him right there! -and grab a beer from the Tampa Brewing Co. for a break!
Posted by: Nightbiker | June 19, 2008 at 12:13 PM
I'm with you!!
Posted by: | June 19, 2008 at 12:40 PM
Well, as long as you both are eating the food and buying the beer, you are doing exactly what he hope everyone who goes to Ybor City will do.
Posted by: Caitlin | June 19, 2008 at 02:32 PM
Great! let's get moving to elect Obama.
And all you people who voted for Bush last time, your opinion ain't worth crap.
Maybe McMummy can get a real nice hq in Palma Ceia. oops, is that "code"?
Posted by: yellowperil | June 19, 2008 at 04:41 PM
I can't believe some of the ignorant and just plain STUPID comments being written here. I see the bar for IQ's has been set REALLY LOW. Obama a racist? Are you kidding me? Or is this just your problem of possibly having a black president. Go put your white sheets back on the idiots!
Posted by: Phil J. | June 20, 2008 at 09:20 PM
Obama is a Muslim and his wife is a tranny! That's why I'm voting for him!
Posted by: Obamus | June 20, 2008 at 09:34 PM
These comments are so hurtful and painful to read.This is so shameful and negative. Where is any facts that support such angry comments.One nation,One United States,under GOD, with liberty for all..its so unkind for someone to insult this man's wife.Obama people don't allow this to stop you. A new day is here and only those who embrace darkness speak in ignorance!
Posted by: Erobbins | June 23, 2008 at 05:39 PM