Obama outside the Key Arena, Seattle, Washington

Sen. Barack Obama speaks to people outside of the Key Arena on February 8, 2008, in Seattle, Washington, who couldn't get in because full attendance (20,000) was reached.



These rockstar scenes are repeats of what happened in New Hampshire and across the nation. A common observation however is that not all of these huge, energized crowds actually come out and vote. This has been the lingering strength of Sen. Clinton's electorate: they don't come out to cheer, but they cast their ballot en masse.

However, this does not minimize the importance of Sen. Obama's crowd appeal. It is very rare for a politician to arouse such strong emotions amongst the young and political uninitiated, and not only because of his looks and posture, but because of his message.

Funny: note the "young man" Obama doesn't want to see falling, is probably the guy in this picture -