Update: Thousands of Obama faithful line up in Madison to see their man

UPDATE: Thousands of Obama faithful line up in Madison to see their man
MATT DEFOUR

More than 300 people were lined up to see U.S. Sen. Barack Obama at the Monona Terrace Convention Center before the doors opened this morning at 9:30 a.m. and by 11 a.m. more than 1,000 were waiting for admittance to an overflow area.

Organizers are calling the campaign event the largest student-driven event the Obama campaign has held.

The presidential candidate was expected to speak to the crowd before noon.

About 3,000 tickets had been sold before the event began, driven largely by a UW-Madison student campaign push. The event was taking place at Monona Terrace to provide more room for the crowd. It was originally booked at the Orpheum Theatre, which holds 1,500 people.

Tickets were $15 for students, $30 for general admission.

At about 11 a.m., Bryon Eagon, a UW-Madison sophomore and organizer of Students for Barack Obama, announced to the crowd that more than 2,000 students were in attendance, with about 1,000 still lined up to get into an overflow area of the event.

"For many of us, this is the first time that we've found a candidate we can really care about," Eagon said. "But more importantly, we've found a candidate who really cares about us."

Madison City Council Ald. Zach Brandon, 7th District, said local Obama supporters asked the campaign to visit Madison to recruit students that might help knock on doors in Iowa before the January Democratic caucus. Wisconsin's primary won't take place until February, when the nomination may already be secured.

"Their goal wasn't to build political support, but to build energy to transfer to Iowa," Brandon said.

Hilary Manley, a UW-Madison junior studying elementary education, arrived at Monona Terrace decked in Badger red at 6 a.m., half an hour before anyone else. Her goal was to be first in line "because I love him."

"I think he's going to bring a lot good change," Manley said.

http://www.madison.com/wsj/mad/breaking_news/251195