Primary Place Online

Got a call Saturday asking if I would introduce Barack Obama at Sunday's Exeter event - goodness, why me? I asked. You are an independent, was the answer. Hmm. I said yes, then when to bed and dreamed about Michelle Obama in a fashion show. (I haven't figured that one out yet.)

At 10:30am there was a line of traffic to get into Exeter High School, and very long line of people waiting to get in. An Obama volunteer led us (My daughter and three friends - all 18) through the packed crowd inside, and into the gym. "Sugar," a lean black lab dog was busy 'sweeping' the area for explosives. Reality kicked in. This is a big deal.

There were several 'greeters' along with the school principal, waiting in the athletic director's office. We had a long time to chat, waiting for Obama to show up. As I was the only person speaking, I was given directions and shown a guideline script. There was no way I could read what was written and sound like myself, so I sat down and wrote on a scrap of paper my own introduction. I had to promise that it had a certain last line.

When Obama arrived, he was relaxed and took his time meeting everyone. Lots of photo opportunities. All the greeters were escorted into the gym, where more than 2,500 people were cheering, chanting and waiting. A woman that looked just like Diane Sawyer was waiting in the hallway near the press. Obama came over and said to me, "Have you met Diane Sawyer yet?" Duh.

Obama asked how my fundraising was going, and I asked him how his was going! He doesn't keep track of that stuff, he answered. I told him that 10 minutes of his crazy life was enough for me - and he confessed that this was not the part he liked best. I never had time to ask him what he did like best - it was time to go on.

I can't IMAGINE what is like to be a presidential candidate going in front of thousands of cheering people 4, 5 or 6 times a day- speaking for hours each time. Up on the podium, the crowd was full to the rafters on bleachers on both sides of the gym. Between the "Got Hope" and "Fired Up" signs - it was easy to pick out friends and familiar faces in the crowd. And so, I did my introduction - with the promised ending: "Please welcome the next President of the United States, Barack Obama!"

He took his time entering, shaking hands along the way as Secret Service men shooed anyone who strayed over the railing. And then, for over 90 minutes he talked. Much I had heard before, but what was different was how he tackled his "opponent's" comments. Happy to be a "Hope-monger" he took issue with being accused on providing "false hope" to the people as part of his pledge. I had seen the debates the night before, and it had only reinforced in my mind that Clinton represented more of a Washington continuum.

His ending comments included a thought that he was still new enough to all of this to be "normal" - not tainted by years of Washington, politics, celebrity. That would come soon enough, but he was still fresh enough from his ordinary life that he could relate to all of us. After meeting him a few times in person, and talking at length, I realized that was part of his appeal for me. That he is really just a normal guy, who happens to believe he can be our next president. And I believe he can too.