Wednesday, December 12, 2007
DAN DELONG / P-I
During an exclusive interview in Seattle on Tuesday, Democratic candidate Sen. Barack Obama said his top goal as president would be to get the U.S. out of Iraq.
Obama: We'll 'transform America'
Hundreds of candidate's faithful gather for fundraiser at Showbox
By ANGELA GALLOWAY
P-I REPORTER
Hundreds of supporters of presidential hopeful Barack Obama turned out Tuesday night for a spirited, late-evening Seattle appearance -- a brief detour from intense campaigning in key states where early caucuses and primaries loom.
"I know the only reason I'm standing here today is because sometime, somewhere, somebody stood up when it was risky, stood up when it wasn't popular, stood up when it was hard," Obama said in a speech built around a theme that he is the candidate with the courage to bring change. "Standing up with courage and conviction, they somehow managed to change the world.
"We will stand up in this election to bring about the change that won't just win an election, but will transform America," he said wrapping up the speech of nearly 30 minutes.
The event was hosted by a youth-targeting division of Obama's national campaign. Obama, a Democratic senator from Illinois, had appeared at two other fundraising events Tuesday before heading to the Showbox Sodo.
Although much of his speech attacked the Bush administration, Obama also hinted that he offers boldness lacking in rival and front-running Democrat Sen. Hillary Clinton. Obama has criticized Clinton for votes supporting the Iraq war.
If chosen as nominee, Obama said Tuesday night, his GOP general election opponent will not be able to accuse Obama of also supporting that conflict. "He won't be able to say I went along with the saber rattling towards Iran because I haven't.
"Being against (President) Bush is easy. The question is not what are you against, but, what are you for?"
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