Uncategorized Jefferson Jackson Dinner: This Crowd Goes to Eleven By anamariecox Nov. 10, 2007 Share Read Later Send to Kindle Most Popular From Swampland The Crash of Independence 08Does the Military Vote Really Lean Republican?Why the U.S. Flag is Red, White and BlueBorn to Run: The Life and Times of New Jersey Governor Chris ChristieTop 10 Dirty Political Tricks From Time.com Connect With TIME
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<p>The actual sign war was last night. Squads of young volunteers running around screaming, plastering signs on anything that was nailed down outside of Veterans Auditorium. I understand that the Obama team wore camouflage paint and tracksuits. (Hunt for meaning at your own risk.) There’s a kind of sign war inside the hall tonight, with thousands of supporters filling up the balconies in color-coded battalions: Obama’s people are in red t-shirts, with “Os” made out of rave-accessory-type glowing necklaces. Hillary has a yellow field, and yellow signs. Edwards is a more muted presence in blue. The noise is consistently deafening and almost hysterical but not in a crazy way — more like the excitement that comes before a long-awaited movie begins, or that of a child anticipating Christmas. Which, in a way, these people here are.</p>
<p>Over lunch today, a senior staffer for the Obama campaign said that Iowans peruse candidates like they’re picking Christmas presents, “they see a lot of things they like, but they don’t have to make up their minds yet.” I asked, if Obama is a Christmas present, what kind is he. Another staffer jumped in: “Tickle Me Elmo.”</p>
<p>Well, he is demand. The candidates speeches haven’t yet begun but the press craned its collective ear during their introductions, and while the applause went up exponentially when Hillary was introduced second-to-last, it managed to go up a notch or two more when Obama took the stage.</p>
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