The President visits my hometown!

Yesterday, President Barack Obama came to my hometown of Kent, Ohio, for a rally held at Kent State University. It was spectacular, a huge crowd despite a day long pouring rain that had thousands of us standing outside for long hours, but the camaraderie was astonishing. We were told that we were not permitted to bring umbrellas, but those who did shared them with those of us who didn't and we all made fast friends with each other. It was absolutely AMAZING, impressive and heartening. Unfortunately, the President's back was to the part of the gym where I sat (I could have stood in front but I had spent hours already standing and wanted desperately to sit), but still, it was the closest I have been in the three appearances that I have been to see the President. This was the first time in 100 years that a sitting President has visited Kent, and may it not take another 100 years for a President to visit us again. I wish I could have been close enough to shake his hand, but it was just great to see him here, in our town, at our University. We are a major state University, one of the biggest in the state, so I am glad that the President decided to come and visit, and he also visited our arch rival across the state, Bowling Green State University. To those who doubt whether people are as excited as they were four years ago, I say, "What enthusiasm gap?" Yesterday proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that the enthusiasm is as high as it was in '08 and everybody I talked to, every single person, was either registered to vote or was planning to register to vote, and they were all determined to go to the polls as well and vote because they know what is at stake for them as college students. So they are very aware of what they face in the coming years and how this election will affect them. As someone who is nearing retirement, I know how this will affect me. So naturally, I am supporting this President's re-election and I do hope that we are successful in making sure that he gets a second term. Polls seem to suggest that the President has a lead in the so-called "swing states", but we're still 40 days out from the election and anything can happen between now and then, like, say, oh, an "October surprise", which seems to be something that happens in election years. I wonder what Mitt Romney has up his sleeve in the way of an "October surprise", or for that matter, the President. Well, we will see, but for now, we can't let up in our efforts to bring this election to the home stretch and make sure that our President gets a second term. Too much is at stake now to take anything for granted.