Officials report a few heat casualties

[Jim Damaske | TIMES]

DUNEDIN -- Today's high temperatures caused some casualties at the Obama event. William McElligott, division chief of the Dunedin Fire Department, said his team treated 22 people for heat-related injuries.

The patients were among the crowd of 11,000 that McElligott estimated were inside the stadium.
At one time, he said, the line to get in was in excess of a mile (eventually, everyone got in) and temperatures reached 88 degrees.

Three people were taken to area hospitals for more advanced care. There were no critical cases, he said. McElligott's team operated an area that offered air conditioning and water.

"Most of the folks here needed to cool down,'' he said, calling the room "the basic comfort station.''

Will Van Sant, Times staff writer

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No surprise, fans loved it

DUNEDIN -- Not surprisingly, Obama fans reacted favorably to the speech.

Mattie Hall, 77, of Dunedin, wearing a U.S. Navy hat, said being there in person meant a lot. "It was just the pleasure of me seeing him in person,'' she said. "For him to be in Dunedin, ... I wouldn't miss it.''

She said he came across as a "true person. ... I personally believe he is a man of his word.''

Mark Myrik 37, of Oldsmar, was afraid he'd have to miss it. A waiter at Applebees, he begged his manager (a hard-core Republican) for the day off.

And how much different was this than watching on TV? "It was more exciting,'' he said. "You get more out of it seeing it live. Just the enthusiasm you get from the crowd.''

The part of Obama's speech that dealt with the economy resonated most with Myrik. "If we keep going the way we are,'' Myrik said, "we'll be worse off than a Third World country.''

Jonathan Abel, Times staff writer

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Obama: Put me in, coach

Barack Obama to the roaring crowd in Dunedin:

"I am running for president because we simply cannot afford four more years of an economic philosophy that works for Wall Street instead of Main Street, and ends up devastating both. 

"I don’t want to wake up in four years to find that more Americans have losts their jobs, more Americans have fallen out of the middle-class, that more Americans have lost their homes, and more families lost their savings. I don’t want to see that our country failed to invest in our ability to compete, our children’s future was mortgaged on another mountain of debt, and our financial markets failed to find a firmer footing. 

"At this defining moment, we have the chance to finally stand up and say: enough is enough!"

And Buzz notes a new song has replaced Stevie Wonder's Signed, Sealed, Delivered as the first song after his speech. Now John Fogerty caps it off before Stevie: "Oh, put me in, coach -- I'm ready to play today; Put me in, coach -- I'm ready to play today; Look at me, I can be centerfield."

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Race and politics

[Mike Freese, left, and Waleed McFarland, right, discuss political issues outside Knology Park as they awaited Barack Obama to hold a rally Wednesday afternoon at Knology Park in Dunedin. Joseph Garnett, Jr.]

DUNEDIN -- Several hours before Obama took the stage, protesters clashed in front of the VFW Post 2550 across the street from the stadium. Waleed McFarland, 29, an African-American man from Tampa had a contentious verbal exchange with Mike Freese, 55, of St. Petersburg, who is white. Freese wore a camouflage hat with a rebel flag stitched on it, and the message "Git-R-Done." He carried a sign with a black-and-white duck referring to the fact that Obama is biracial.

"I've already been called a racist," Freese said, referring to the hat, but said he is not a racist. He tried to tell McFarland that the country is not racist, to which McFarland replied, "This is the most racist country in the world, and that is a fact. What about segregation?"

Freese replied, "I admit there was some discrimination."

If you aren't there yet, don't bother

[Times photo | Douglas R. Clifford]

The Pinellas County 911 Center has just issued this advisory:

"If folks are not in line for the event at this time, do not come to the stadium.  The line is over a mile long and they are no longer accepting people.''

[Times photo | Jim Damaske]

Surprise! Obama's in town

DUNEDIN -- This town has been invaded by cars. Lots around the stadium are full, and people are parking their vehicles on side streets -– sometimes to the surprise of the few Dunedin residents who weren’t aware that Barack Obama was coming to down.

This morning, as a long row of cars lined the side of Broadway Street, a tree-shaded lane just across the Pinellas Trail from Knology Park, a bleary-eyed retiree walking his German shepherd looked at them quizzically.

"What’s all this?" asked Carl Sheppard, 68. When informed that Obama was giving a speech nearby, he looked surprised. "Oh," he said, and continued walking his dog.

Mike Brassfield, Times staff writer

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Scenes around Obama's Dunedin visit

The buzz of Obama's visit was felt all around Dunedin on Wednesday.

Dunedin Lanes: During the Wednesday's Ladies League, 20 women talked about Obama's visit as well as the presidential race.

"I swing back and fourth," said Peggy Roche, a retired social worker. "But I do want them to stop slandering one another and tell me what they can do for this country because we are in one, big mess."

Gregory's Salon: A a couple of customers were primping with plans to attend the rally.

Heather Rudolph, 33, took off from work to volunteer at the rally helping disabled people. "There's lots of cute volunteers there," Rudolph said as her stylist put the finishing touches on an inverted bob, highlights and lowlights.

Community over cash

DUNEDIN -- Tammy Adams, 42, lives on Roanoke Street. Across from her home, they are charging $20 for parking. However, Adams couldn’t bring herself to charge, even though she’s voting for McCain. She thinks this is a good day for the city. “It’s exciting for a little town like Dunedin,’’ she said. Adams, by the way, does charge people $5 or $10 when the Blue Jays are playing

Jonathan Abel, Times staff writer

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We're moving!! No, wait

DUNEDIN -- People way back in line to get into the stadium had a burst of hope when the queue lurched forward on one big burst. Turns out it was a false alarm, as it merely was the result of another turn being added to the line, bringing folks more tightly packed together, but no closer to getting inside. At least Disney World usually has something to entertain the folks in line.

People are streaming into the stadium, but it's slow going, given the number of people in line.

Jonathan Abel, Times staff writer

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Obama visit a surprise to neighbors

DUNEDIN -- Not everyone in town is fired up about, or even aware of, the presidential nominee's visit. Two people who live within a half-mile of the stadium were caught by surprise when people started pouring into their neighborhood Wednesday morning.

Tom Dee, who lives in the 400 block of Lexington Street, perhaps a quarter-mile or so from the stadium, had no idea Obama was coming to town.

"I was sleeping in my bed when they told me I should go out and make a buck."

So Dee is now outside, parking cars in his yard at $10 each. He said he's been wanting to take his girlfriend out to a nice dinner but couldn't afford it. So at least one person's economic situation has been improved.

For at least one, Obama not worth wait

DUNEDIN -- The heat and the $20 for parking did not bother Allison Snell, who arrived at 10:30 a.m., But after 45 minutes, the Indian Rocks Beach resident decided to head home. "I adore him, but I never even found the end of the line," she said.

-- Jonathan Abel, Times Staff Writer

Inside or out, for some it doesn't matter

DUNEDIN -- It looks like the line is a mile long. If you start at the stadium and go east on Beltrees Street, you get to Milwaukee and the line is still going. It goes south along Milwaukee all the way to Orangewood Avenue.

One person in line on Milwaukee was Daryle Russell, 70, from Bradenton, and it’s unclear whether he’ll be able to get in because there are lots of people in front of him. “We came here to show support. Whether we get in is incidental,’’ Russell said. “It’s an important outlet. When you look at the overwhelming response, it’s a statement in itself. I’m proud to be a part of it.”

There are also entrepreneurs making a buck. They’re selling everything from parking spaces to Obama rally towels, pins and water. Some supporters of Pinellas County Sheriff candidate Randall Jones are out there with “Randall Jones for Sheriff” signs.

Jonathan Abel, Times staff writer

Photo: Deana Sanabria, of Fort Lauderdale, sells Barack Obama pins at Knology Park. [Douglas R. Clifford | Times]

Mayor's moment: Introducing Obama

DUNEDIN -- Mayor Bob Hackworth didn't appear to be too stressed out about preparing to introduce a presidential nominee. He was in his office this morning, feet up on his desk, going over the note cards he would use to deliver the introduction. He actually didn't have to sweat writing the speech, since the Obama campaign pretty much provided the introduction for him to read.

Hackworth, who also is running for Congress against Republican Bill Young, did add this sentence to the end: "For my town and my family, this election is all about the future.''

And just to make sure he wouldn't forget anything, Hackworth's wife, Gwynne, was there to remind him before he left for the stadium to remember his notes, his speech and of course . . . remember to turn off his cell phone before he begins his speech.

--Theresa Blackwell, Times staff writer

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Obama traffic in Dunedin not bad so far

DUNEDIN -- While there's a long line of people waiting to get into Knology Park for the Barack Obama rally, people apparently headed the warnings about not trying to park at the stadium. Traffic in the area is heavy, but manageable. It appears generally not much better or worse than a Blue Jays spring training game.

Jonathan Abel, Times staff writer

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Obama's faithful line up early

[Jim Damaske | Times]
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UPDATE: Doors opened on schedule. The city expected about 8,000 people, but it's too early to know what the count will turn out to be. The crowd is funneling through medal detectors. Obama is scheduled to speak at 12:30.

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With an hour to go before doors open for Sen. Barack Obama's rally today at Knology Park in Dunedin at about 10:30, several thousand supporters were in line to get in. The line snakes from the ticket office, through the parking lot, out to Douglas Avenue and out of sight.

Bedecked in Obama campaign gear and chanting slogans, the crowd was excited with anticipation. Many waved handmade signs, one read "Obama Retires McCain in Dunedin." Another, "We love you, stay the course."

The very first in line were sisters Ginny Johnson and Marilyn Myers, both of Dunedin. The pair arrived at Knology Park at midnight. Johnson, 64, is recovering from a broken right ankle. "It's a little sore, having to stand since midnight, but he's worth the pain."

-Will Van Sant