Obama rides rails to capital, as onlookers cheer

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By JENNIFER LOVEN

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - President-elect Barack Obama, cheered by onlookers along the train route Abraham Lincoln took nearly a century and a half earlier, undertook the final leg of his inaugural journey to the nation's capital Saturday, pledging to reclaim America's spirit but also warning of steep challenges facing the country.

Hundreds of people screamed and cheered as Obama waved from the back of his inaugural train when it rolled slowly through the station in little Claymont, Del., on the way to larger crowds at stops in Wilmington, Del., and Baltimore on the route to Washington.

Unfazed by frigid temperatures, scattered groups stood waving at crossroads along the way.


President-elect Barack Obama, his wife Michelle, and Vice President-elect Joe Biden and his Jill Biden, stand on their train car after a stop on their inaugural whistle stop train trip in Wilmington, Del., Saturday, Jan. 17, 2009. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)



"Starting now, let's take up in our own lives the work of perfecting our union," Obama told several hundred people gathered for the sendoff inside a hall at Philadelphia's historic 30th Street train station. "Let's build a government that is responsible to the people and accept our own responsibilities as citizens to hold our government accountable. ... Let's make sure this election is not the end of what we do to change America, but the beginning and the hope for the future."


Read more: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20090117/D95P3D5G0.html

[jaxx]

1. I'm watching this as the day goes on......and it's so exciting!

They said already 30k people are waiting in Baltimore for the train to come.

I keep thinking of what President Obama says.......this is our time.

[polichick]

2. Nice photo of the four of them!

[acmavm]

3. This man, he holds soooo much promise. *sigh* Time will tell.

[scotto2008]

4. Is it safe to smile yet?

SMILE! original song and video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLslGLe6Oc8

[liberalmuse]

5. Best way to get through a hangover ever!

I celebrated a little too much last night, but woke up at 5am to walk the dog and turned the tv on in time to catch the kick off. This is wonderful! I don't know if I'll make it until Tuesday. The excitement is liable to do me in.

[Alcibiades]

6. The fact that he did this by train

Becoming the first president-elect to come to DC by rail since Eisenhower shows the class and good sense of Obama. Maybe he'll help to reinvigorate rail travel in this country (if he doesn't, Joe Biden will)!

TIVOing the whole thing to watch with my 3-going-on-4 year old, who loves choo choos and Obama.

[Muttocracy]

12. CNN had a feed from inside the train for a while - Biden told the press to support rail

:)

[No Elephants]

18. He's been living in DC with his family since the beginning

of January. The train trip is purely symbolic, but on many levels. It's theater. Still, it's serving many good purposes, including making people along the train route feel as though they are part of what goes on in Washington. It's important that we feel connected again.

[onethatcares]

7. I am

simply AMAZED. Let's go America, time to get on the train and take our country back. WOW, JUST FREAKING WOW.:toast:

We're going ot a bye bye bush bash tonite, and this little clip will be mentioned (probably too much).

Peace.

[Number23]

8. And I'm cheering right along with everybody else...

:party: :bounce: :party: :bounce:

[Historic NY]

9. * 's going out too, riding a rail too.

[llmart]

10. Everything about this "journey".....

we have been on with Mr. Obama has been exciting to me. This gives me goosebumps as did his letter to his daughters in this weekend's Parade magazine and the Oprah show on Friday. I remember being excited about President Clinton's inauguration but this one is already way beyond that. I just know watching it on TV this week is going to be very emotional.

For all of us who donated money, or went door to door, or attended rallies, we were a part of history in the making. It doesn't matter how much you gave or what you did, this was truly a grassroots effort and Mr. Obama is proving to be one classy President elect!

[Infinite Hope]

11. Is the train trip over yet? n/t

[elleng]

14. Yes; they arrived in DC some hours ago.

.

[elleng]

13. MORE!

Michelle's B'day!

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/17/AR2009011701020_2.html?hpid=topnews&sid=ST2009011703024&s_pos=

[eilen]

15. I have never seen such public enthusiasm

for a President in my life. Not even Clinton. In contrast, Bush is lurking off with at least 80% of the electorate leaning towards tar and feathering him... he never had the love of the public like this. I think they need the gates for his new community in Texas to block the rotten tomatoes, manure and stinky shoes we'd all like to throw at him. If nothing else, this outpouring of excitement and love towards Obama should burst his bubble.

[originalpckelly]

16. 9/11

It was a bout of national temporary insanity. :P

[No Elephants]

17. Right. He had 90% approval then, which slid to 20% and he leaves at 22%. Dramatic.