Obama plans Tampa rally - St. Petersburg Times

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama plans a rally Wednesday in downtown Tampa at the St Pete Times Forum for his first Florida campaign trip in more than eight months.

The Obama campaign announced Thursday that doors will open at 10:30 a.m. for the noon rally, which will be free to the public. Tickets are required and available at www.barackobama.com. People also will also be able to pick up free tickets at locations in Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Sarasota and Manatee counties beginning Saturday; details will be available at www.fl.barackobama.com/tampa.

Tampa Bay is the first stop of a three-day Florida campaign swing that includes Orlando and South Florida. Obama is trying to make up for lost time in Florida, having boycotted the state's officially meaningless primary in January along with Michigan's.

"Sen. Obama is looking forward to campaigning in Florida and discussing the clear choice voters will have in the general election," campaign spokesman Josh Earnest said.

The Florida Republican Party launched a "Welcome Back Barack!" campaign Thursday, with a Web site (www.rpof.org/Obama) bashing Obama for refusing to campaign in the state. It features a map of the "United States of Obama," where Florida and Michigan don't exist.

Comments on this article

by ELAINE	May 21, 2008 9:10 PM
HILLARY IS EMBARRASSING HERSELF. WATCH HER IDIOTIC BEHAVIOR ON YOU TUBE.

by Mitchell	May 21, 2008 9:07 PM
Obama played by the rules even when things looked BLEAK, then the tides shifted and now Hill wants to cry foul about Michigan&Florida, We are waiting for Obama to come 2 Georgia,we supported supported Bill&HILL 4 8yrs now it's time to support our own

by Cheryl	May 21, 2008 9:07 PM
Had Mr. Obama not done well as everyone thought, you can best beleive that Hill would not have been @ all concerned with Michigan and Florida the tides turned for Mr. Obama, and she got her "butt" slammed, now she's crying like a BABY, we love Obama.

by dennis	May 21, 2008 9:05 PM
Viewed your 5:00 coverage on Obama rally. You gave him approx 4 min of coverage. In turn you gave Hillary's Fl rally less than 30 sec. Is this fair reporting? I'm ashamed of the media coverage of this election....it's as if Hillary doesn't exist.

by Rennie	May 21, 2008 5:06 PM
National TV Networks indicated that 2.5 million registered Democrats didn't vote in the Mich. & Fla. primary. Add that to the one that did. Come November, we will all be on the non-war winning page. God bless the troops.....

by Edna	May 21, 2008 1:42 PM
I'm w/Alan! As for comments such as Amel & Patrick's, they're typical of many Obamabots, who are prone 2 wrong assumptions & sweeping generalizations about people. So much 4 the campaign slogans of moving beyond labels, unity, etc. All just slogans.

by Faye	May 21, 2008 10:48 AM
I REALLY Want Barack O'Bama to come to Florida so that we can show him that not everyone In Florida Is as Stupid and Pathetic as he's probably been led to Believe!! But Alot of people here are idiots!, That part is true!!!

by Pete	May 21, 2008 10:48 AM
As a Typical White Person, I can't wait to attend.

by mike	May 20, 2008 9:36 PM
i think it's a shame how little advertisement and access there has been for the people in florida who wants to vote for and attend the obama rally in tampa florida. free to the public should be the equivalent of showing up with a drivers license.

by dsun	May 20, 2008 9:35 PM
i love barrac obama

by Parker	May 20, 2008 9:35 PM
I'm FIRED up! I'll be there! Bama's Best, America returns on 1/20/09!!

by CLH	May 20, 2008 5:00 PM
The only reason Hilary wants to include Michigan & Florida is because she is clinging onto whatever she can to help her win....I agree that it shouldn't be counted because that is what our states agreed to in voting earlier! Obama is not to blame!

by Debbie	May 20, 2008 4:34 PM
I plan to drive 2 hrs to get to this rally to support Obama! For those who want more of the same and want to see us continue to go on this downhill slide, you can vote another direction. I for one plan to vote for change we so desparately need!

by Patrick	May 20, 2008 4:17 PM
How sad, all the Bushies posting here, posing as Hillary supporters. Good riddance in November.

by Jean	May 20, 2008 4:01 PM
I am so excited about Barrack coming to Florida. Let's show him how great our state is.

by Amel	May 20, 2008 4:00 PM
Alan, you are an idiot and all these spammers. You guys are not only idiots, but I consider you also either uneducated or just a republican propaganda machine. Obama was right not coming here and we all know why, stop playing dumb!

by Amel	May 20, 2008 4:00 PM
btw...I'll be there

by Alan	May 20, 2008 11:02 AM
I understand some will attend and turn their backs to him. He used his lawyers worked hard behind the scenes to make sure our votes didn't count, and he was the only one with TV ads against the rules. He does not deserve our support. anyone but O..

by Natasha	May 19, 2008 6:17 PM
Joan, Arrogance??? There is no higher level of Arrogance that anyone can possess along side our current and unfortunately worst President in history. I think you have your facts and opinions twisted and misconstrued Hun. Go Obama!

by Edna	May 19, 2008 2:05 PM
Barack: NOW you want our votes, now that you suddenly realize U need us in Nov? Well, next time don't snearingly dismiss us for months on end to cow-tow to IA, NH & Dean. True Dems don't do that to FL Dems after 2000! I will write in Gore in Nov!

by Joan	May 19, 2008 10:30 AM
Obama only has guts when he has all of the big corp.,lobbyist,Oil,Gas& Ins co., San Fran billionaires. He was created to defeat San.Clinton. Check out Chicago and see if you still want him. He is arrogance with a smile. Stabbing you while smiling.57?

by Nick	May 19, 2008 10:29 AM
This will be fun, Obama '08!

by Shirley	May 19, 2008 10:29 AM
Mike, Mike, Mike The.Florida.Primary.is.over.there.is.no.longer a.boycott.in. play (effect). Reading is a wonderful pastime you should try it sometime.

by kat	May 19, 2008 10:29 AM
From the article, I can see that Obama will be in Tampa & Republicans are childish. From the comments, I can tell that Vickie needs a dictionary and both V & M just want to spout instead of actually adding to a meaningful discussion. What a waste!

by Sam	May 19, 2008 10:29 AM
Maybe John McCain will loan his Multi-Zillionaire wife Cindy McCain's Corporate Jet to Obama to fly into town. Naahh! I doubt it.

by Betty	May 19, 2008 9:41 AM
I am excited about Obama's visit. He played by the rules and did not try to change the rules when things were going his way. The people have spoken. I pray daily for this country. It is evident that we need real healing. God Bless

by Sam	May 18, 2008 1:51 PM
Go Obama! The last 8 years have gone so badly with Healthcare, the Economy and Iraq. Unless you want more of the same you should vote for Obama. McCain is 100% recycled Bush. McCain has 8 homes & left his 1st disabled wife for a Multi-Million wife.

by Betty	May 18, 2008 1:49 PM
I am excited about Obama's visit. He played by the rules and did not try to change the rules when things were going his way. The people have spoken. I pray daiy for this country. It is evident that we need real healing. God Bless

by vickie	May 16, 2008 2:27 PM
let him has his day....it will end soon enought with the press & his day in court

by Mike	May 16, 2008 9:47 AM
So now he's violating the boycott?