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Obama Camp Announces Grant Park For Election Night Party
The Obama campaign has now announced their venue for Election Night: Grant Park in Chicago.
Here's the campaign's statement:
Obama Campaign Announces Location for Election Night EventCHICAGO - The Obama-Biden campaign today announced that the location for the Election Night event on Tuesday, November 4 will be Chicago's Grant Park on Hutchinson Field.
Grant Park is regularly used as an open-air venue for concerts, charity events and sporting activities such as the Chicago Marathon and Taste of Chicago.
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I'm going to be there!
October 21, 2008 2:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
Me too. Thats only a 30 minute drive for me.
October 21, 2008 3:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
Don't drive - Take the EL or Metra - You will not be able to get near the loop anytime on Election Day. I'd also leave money, credit cards at home or use a travel wallet. Bring a sleeping bag - It may be a long night - although I certainly hope for a quick victory for Obama and my hometown.
Why didn't they select Millenium Park - It has better lighting and a huge pavilion where they also have concerts.
Oh well - I am NOT going. My parents told me about '68 and I am not going near downtown that night.
October 21, 2008 6:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
I don't like it. I'd rather he be in an underground bunker from the second he wins the presidency.
October 21, 2008 2:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm with you.
October 21, 2008 3:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'd like to get into that bunker for these next two weeks.
October 21, 2008 3:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
The Leader of the Free World squirrelled up in a bunker.
Can you say, "irony"?
I knew you could.
October 21, 2008 3:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
An even better way to ensure President Obama's safety would be for Vice President Biden to start making extreme left-wing statements in public, thereby making the idea of his ascending to the presidency terrifying to the wingnuts.
October 21, 2008 4:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
Like a reverse Cheney, you mean?
October 21, 2008 4:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
An even better way to ensure President Obama's safety would be for Vice President Biden to start making extreme left-wing statements in public, thereby making the idea of his ascending to the presidency terrifying to the wingnuts.
October 21, 2008 4:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'll breathe much easier when all of these open air appearances are finished. And this one is at night...
how long before McCain calls this "presumptuous"??
October 21, 2008 2:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
McCain will have his election night rally at the Arizona Biltmore.
October 21, 2008 3:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
He'll be too busy playing craps with the remainder of his campaign funds.
October 21, 2008 3:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
McCain: "Real Americans believe I am a war hero. It will be an affront to them for me to concede. I have to take time out for mourning this painful defeat. Oops, is that a concession? Wait. I won in the real America, so I declare myself the President of Real America. So, Sen. Obama can go ahead and take the oath of office or whatever, but he won't be the President of Real America."
Palin: That was my idea. Win or lose, President McCain for Real America, and President Obama for fake, socialist, Islamic America. Actually, that was the precondition of my acceptance of VP candidacy.
October 21, 2008 3:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
That's a great venue! -- saw it this summer.
I'm staying home, but will party with family and friends "like it's 1999"! Don't expect to be sober the next day, so I've already put in for vacation time!
October 21, 2008 2:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
You and me both. I'm taking off election day to volunteer and the day after to sleep off the festivities
October 21, 2008 3:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
Great venue if you're acclimated, maybe. To someone from down here, standing in an outdoor park in Chicago in November sounds like a frozen slice of hell. Which is fair enough, given that standing in one our parks in June would probably be similarly hellish for most natives of the Windy City.
October 21, 2008 3:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
The body heat of 1 million+ people will keep you warm.
October 21, 2008 3:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
That and a little flask you can bring along.
October 21, 2008 3:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
Exactly!
October 21, 2008 3:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
As will the steam coming from under the collars of a million losers.
October 21, 2008 3:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
Alcohol
October 21, 2008 8:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
Meh, that's the only way they'll manage to keep the crowds down to a manageable size.
October 21, 2008 3:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
Meh, I'm going in for gum surgery the day after the election. Bad scheduling, ftl. :(
October 21, 2008 3:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
Second city. How appropriate.
October 21, 2008 3:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
How many people can fit there?
October 21, 2008 3:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
All of them.
;-)
October 21, 2008 3:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'd estimate around 300,000 people could fit.
October 21, 2008 3:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
Although a friend tells me that for the fireworks they have 1 million+ down there.
October 21, 2008 3:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
We regularly get 1 million+ for the fireworks every year. All of Grant Park can hold well in excess of 1 million.
October 21, 2008 6:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'll watch from home. And think about whether to go to the Inauguration in DC.
October 21, 2008 3:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
Can't wait. Almost there. Let's make it the warmest night in Chicago. Love the city. I lived there for four years.
October 21, 2008 3:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
I lived in Pasadena, California when Brazil won the World Cup in 1994. The Brazilians were partying up and down Colorado Avenue until dawn.
The night of November 4-5 should be at least as jubilant.
October 21, 2008 3:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
I lived maybe a mile from Fenway Park in 2004 and partied in the streets after they beat the Yankees in the ALCS and then finally won the World Series. The scale of the collective celebration is impossible to put into words, it was one of the most incredible events of my life.
I think November 4th will surpass it by a factor of 10.
October 21, 2008 3:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
Of the course the big question is where will the VP candidates be? My hope is that Palin will be in Alaska and Biden in Chicago...
October 21, 2008 3:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
Palin will probably be in Jesusland, blaming McCain and kicking off her campaign for 2012.
October 21, 2008 3:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
...and there could be a lot to party about.
Pew (10/16-18):
Obama 52
McCain 38
October 21, 2008 3:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
OMG
October 21, 2008 3:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
C'mon, I've got a sense of humor...kinda:
http://www.palinaspresident.us/
(click on stuff once it loads)
October 21, 2008 3:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
FYI
Troll Alert!!!
October 21, 2008 3:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
You should change your name to Trash.
October 21, 2008 3:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
I mailed my ballot back. The post office lady promised me it would be there no later than Thursday, and Texas tells me my vote will be registered 72 hours after its received.
I can't stop smiling.
October 21, 2008 3:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
Outdoor venue, in Chicago, at night, in November?
Sounds cold to me.
October 21, 2008 3:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm sure plenty of people will beok with it!
:-)
October 21, 2008 3:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's not really cold. It will be around 40 degrees, the real Chicago winter usually emerges around Christmas.
October 21, 2008 3:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hey - it beats 90 degrees with 88% humidity and you are apt to get that in Dallas even in November -
October 21, 2008 3:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
LOL. I'll still take Dallas' weather any day!
October 21, 2008 3:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
It will be like the July 4, 1976 bicentennial fireworks in D.C., which I attended. It took me hours to get home, walking much of the way. Not surprising when you consider there were over a million people.
Could there perhaps be a reason to celebrate that way? Duh!
The fireworks alone will probably require an environmental impact study.
October 21, 2008 3:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
This makes me nervous. I don't like him being in an outdoor venue like this, on a night like this. I'd feel better if he were indoors.
I'm only about an hour from Chicago, this would be a fun event to be at. Although I haven't been up there in years, as I really detest Chicago.
October 21, 2008 3:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
Kankakee?
If it's been a while, you should see downtown now; much beautification, and the new parks are great.
October 21, 2008 3:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
Normal temps for Chicago on November 4:
(body heat not taken into account)
Low 36
High 53
Not bad.
October 21, 2008 3:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
I am with you Kristin, I really dont like it. I am nervous for him. I wouldnt mind if it is just us getting down.
October 21, 2008 3:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
I will be there with the kids in tow.
Cant miss this.
October 21, 2008 3:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
How is it that we're talking about a gigantic, cheering crowd in Grant Park and no one has yet started calling it "Obamapalooza?"
Maybe it has the wrong phonetic subtext. Obamapawinna?
Okay, nevermind.
October 21, 2008 3:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
I can't decide if I want to be in Grant Park or if I want to be GLUED to the televison for every moment of coverage.
It's a tough call!
October 21, 2008 4:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
I thought the same thing, but to be there in the midst of the party would be too much fun to pass up. Although I'll have to take binoculars if I want a chance to see Obama, just the excitement in the air will be something I don't want to miss.
Will they have a big jumbo tron?
October 21, 2008 7:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
CHI TOWN BABY!
I love that the next president will hail from my hometown. I'm going to do my best to be there, but my guess is that even if I get to the park immediately after work, there will be about 200,000 people between the stage and myself.
So long Crawford, hello city of big shoulders!
October 21, 2008 4:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hey, Gooner, is it a coincidence that you posted your comment at exactly 4:20?
Enjoy the party!
October 21, 2008 4:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
DemDave1972: That's my dilemma as well!
BTW This is my first time posting. I'm a a regular TPM reader and have followed a lot of the comment threads in the past, i feel like i know some of you very well. I look forward to joining the discussion.
October 21, 2008 5:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
Welcome to the circus!
October 21, 2008 10:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
I can't tell you how appropriate that is. 40 years ago the Chicago police gassed us and chased us out of that park at the Democratic convention. Now we come together and to that park in triumph.
I probably won't be there. After working my butt off all day on GOTV I don't want to be standing in the cold that night. I'd rather be inside celebrating with my feet up.
October 21, 2008 5:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
I wish I could be there! I'm out of town that week at a @^$&%&#$$ conference. I'll be glued to the television in my hotel room, champagne on ice.
October 21, 2008 6:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
Assuming the stage is on the south end of the park facing north, about 75,000-90,000 could fit into the crowd with a reasonable view of the stage.
Here is a pic from Lollapalooza:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=60603&ie=UTF8&ll=41.870759,-87.617201&spn=0.005872,0.013947&t=h&z=17
I assume this is where the stage would be.
October 21, 2008 7:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
As far as the 1,000,000 people showing up for the fireworks-
You can situate yourself in many, many places to get a good view of the fireworks - all along the lakefront, by Navy Pier, by the Planetarium, in boats, in every inch of the park, etc.
Which is totally different from seeing a stage in an enclosed park. My office and my residence are both about 1 mile from where the stage will be. I'll be there early, that is for sure.
October 21, 2008 7:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
1 1/2 hour drive for me. Will book my hotel reservations tonight so we can PARTY!
October 21, 2008 7:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
I am going to Washington for Inaguration day THAT'S A FACT.
October 21, 2008 9:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
That's going to be sooooo fantastic! I lived in northern IL most of my life, went to school downtown for a year or so, and Chicago will *always* be my all-around favorite city!
October 22, 2008 12:47 AM | Reply | Permalink
How secure is this place?
October 22, 2008 9:04 AM | Reply | Permalink