Thursday, 4:30 PM
Obama supporters rally in downtown Boston
By Nathan Hurst, Globe Correspondent
About 60 supporters of Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., rallied in downtown Boston to celebrate Obama's announcement today that he intends to run for president.
Many of those who came to Copley Square to support Obama were members of DraftObama.org, a national grassroots organization that sought to persuade him to run for president.
"Today, we accomplished our goal," Ross Neisuler, head of the group's Massachusetts chapter, said from atop a small platform plastered with Obama support signs in Copley Square. "This is the dawn of a new age of politics for this country."
Supporter Jenny Nordan, 32, of Winchester, said today's event was the first political rally she had ever attended.
"I really feel strongly about this guy," Nordan said as she helped her 4-year-old daughter Abby hold her "Barack '08" sign. " He really has a strength of character that's unparalleled."
Another rally attendee, Jessica Gustin, 25, of Brookline, said she believes Obama is a viable candidate, despite critics who say he has he has too little experience.
"People see this as a new beginning," Gustin said. "It's been years since we've had a truly fresh start. He's going to give that to us."
