WAVE 3 TV Louisville, KY | Barack Obama makes rare visit to Louisville

Barack Obama makes rare visit to Louisville

By Mark Schnyder

LOUISVILLE (WAVE) -- Barack Obama electrified a crowd of around 10,000 at the Kentucky International Convention Center Monday night. The likely Democratic nominee has been a stranger to Kentucky as this was only his third visit in 15 months. WAVE 3's Mark Schnyder was at the rally. He reports it was a stump speech that felt like a rock concert -- the music was loud, the crowd was huge and at least a couple of women apparently fainted.

It doesn't feel like primary season any more. In Louisville Monday night, Barack Obama made it open season on the Republican presidential contender John McCain.

"Remember he likes to say he's part of the straight talk express, but let me tell you something, that straight talk express lost a couple wheels on the way to the republican nomination," said Obama. "I don't think we've made great progress, you don't think we've made great progress and that's why we can't let John McCain's campaign make great progress."

The Obama campaign thoroughly researched the economic issues facing people in Louisville. Senator Obama even invited a Ford plant employee who's about to be out of work for a month to introduce him.

"So here in Louisville the unemployment rate continues to outpace the rest of the country," said Obama. "Families in Louisville are earning $5,000 less per year than the typical American family."

After criticizing the Bush administration, Obama took a step back and told his admirers this country's problems aren't all the current president's fault.

"We can't blame just one person or one party for all the problems that we've got, because the truth is many of these problems preceded George Bush and many of them will outlast George Bush unless we change how politics is done in Washington," said Obama. "It's not enough just to change parties, we've got to change politics."

Despite the raucous ovation for Obama, he is way, way behind in the polls for the May 20th Kentucky primary. The latest ones show Hillary Clinton with a 27-point lead.

Online Reporter:  Mark Schnyder

Online Producer: Charles Gazaway