The President rallies the troops at historical black college

BOWIE — — It was a Democratic pep rally for Gov. Martin O'Malley, with President Barack Obama as cheerleader in chief.

Calling Martin O'Malley "one of the best governors in the United States of America," President Barack Obama spoke Thursday to about 5,000 students and supporters on the grounds of Bowie State University, a historically black college in Prince George's County.

"Here is a man who made tough choices in tough times to move Maryland forward," Obama said, echoing a favorite line of the governor's. He praised O'Malley's Chesapeake Bay policies, education funding and crime-fighting strategy.

O'Malley is in a tight race against his Republican predecessor, Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. Maryland Republicans said Thursday that Obama's policies "have failed."

"We are far worse off than we were when both Governor O'Malley and President Obama took office," said Maryland Republican Party Chairwoman Audrey Scott.

Though the Bowie event marked Obama's 59th appearance in Maryland as president — making it his most frequent stop outside of Washington — it was his first appearance on behalf of an individual candidate since stumping in January for Martha Coakely, the Massachusetts attorney general, who then lost her bid for a Senate seat.

At a time when Obama's popularity lags solidly below 50 percent nationally, it remains higher in Maryland. Many at the rally expected O'Malley, who was an early endorser of Hillary Clinton in the 2008 election, to benefit from Obama's support on Election Day.

"If the president comes out to help on your behalf, that can only be a positive thing," said Robert Horton Sr. of East Baltimore, who traveled to Bowie with a small group to hear the president's speech.

Many Democrats who attended the rally said the president's visit provided a much-needed energy boost.

Karen West said she came to the rally for "motivation." The 46-year-old Owings Mills resident is in charge of a program to find jobs for unemployed people. She ticked off the numbers: Only about one-third of the 637 people who have come to her for help have found employment.

With such basic needs, she said, it's no wonder Democrats aren't engaged in politics. She said she hoped Obama's speech "gets people out to vote."

Baltimore resident Mike Canady and girlfriend Tisa Silver of nearby Mitchellville, both 31, said the presidential pep rally will help Maryland's Democratic candidates. "If you can get support from the White House, that's great," Silver said. "Democrats need a swift kick in the butt like this to get out and vote."

Before Obama took the stage, a series of Maryland Democrats gave pep talks, openly disparaging the Tea Party movement, lauding health care reforms and lavishing praise on the president — topics that might be considered too controversial in other states.

"We're not going to stand for the Tea Party people here in Maryland," Maryland Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller said, shouting out to the crowd.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/bs-md-obama-visit-omalley-20101007,0,7205601.story

:wtf:

fired up and ready 2 go!!

:thumbsup: