Obama
10:05 a.m.
The Obamas have arrived at the White House, warmly greeted by George W. and Laura Bush.
And in case anyone was wondering, the inaugural parade route is filled to capacity, Associated Press reports:
Crowds are packing the National Mall from the Capitol to the Washington Monument as they await the inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama as the nation’s 44th president.
The city itself — as well as subway cars and sidewalks — are jammed with pedestrians from all over.
Some 207,000 people had entered Washington’s Metro transit system by 7 a.m., transit officials said. Huge lines formed outside subway stations; many parking lots filled up and were closed.
Meanwhile, thousands gathered near the Pennsylvania Avenue parade route, making it tough for many to find checkpoints into the secure area.
But that didn’t matter for long. Nearing 9:30 a.m., jumbotrons on the mall announced that the parade route was closed because it was filled to capacity.
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9:52 a.m.
President-elect Obama’s motorcade has left St. John’s Episcopal Church, where Obama and his wife attended a service.
Before heading to the Capitol, the Obamas will be joining President George W. Bush and his wife, Laura, at the
White House for coffee.
This from AP on the service:
Obama and his family attended a private service at St. John’s Episcopal Church, a tradition for those about to
become president. The family of Vice President-elect Joe Biden also attended. Barack and Michelle Obama waved to bystanders, then entered the church to applause from about 200 people. The choir and congregation began singing the hymn, “O God Our Help in Ages Past.”
The Rev. Luis Leon welcomed the Obamas and said every president since James Madison has worshipped at the church at least once, “some of them kicking and screaming.” Bishop Charles E. Blake Sr., of Los Angeles, drew murmurs and chuckles when he blessed the Obamas and asked that “they may finish these two terms in office” stronger than they are now. Obama, of course, would have to win re-election in 2012 to serve a second term.
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Michelle Obama is wearing an American designer this morning. (Did we expect anything else!?) Elizabeth Wellington, the Inquirer's fashion writer, gives us the scoop on her duds.
She'll be posting all day on the look in D.C.
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Melissa Dribben reports:
At 12:15, shortly after Obama finished his speech, the crowd on the west side of City Hall numbered in the hundreds.
About 10 police officers watched the gathering, which was loud but peaceful. Many people had ridden their bikes. Some videotaped the crowd. Almost all were young—in their 20s—and black and white.
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Jonathan Tannenwald, Philly.com staff:
12:31 a.m.
A crowd of several hundred people gathered on the north side of City Hall tonight to celebrate the historic election of President-elect Barack Obama.
The crowd was largely, but not only, young and African-American, and many were students who had walked south on Broad Street from Temple University and east on Market Street from the campuses of Penn and Drexel. At one point a massive group of students, about 400 strong, crossed the Schuykill River on its way into Center City.
Amid a cacophony of car horns, the celebrants chanted various slogans for Obama and one person played portions of an Obama speech on his car stereo.
Melissa Dribben reports this:
At 12:30, part of the crowd at City Hall decided to march, almost in parade form, south on 15th Street. They held signs, adults carried children on their shoulders. Cheers broke out: “Yes We Can. Yes We Can.”
And this from Mari Schaefer:
The march had a message but no apparent destination. When a group of revelers was asked whether they were marching somewhere, they happily shouted “No!”
Eighteen-year-old Chade Biney, from West Orange New Jersey, was in her Temple dorm room when she found out Obama won. “We went out of our building, on to Broad and just kept running,” Biney said. “I was just so excited. It is such a monumental time for everyone especially African Americans.”
Biney, who is African American, said she feels “proud to be an American.”
“I was relieved,” said Abe Schenck, 24, who was with friends at The Institute Bar when he heard the news. He said he began to cry.
“It is an inspirational thing to see,” he said about the crowds on Broad Street. “”It renews a love for America.”
Melissa Dribben reports:
I’m at Broad and Walnut Streets. People are walking through the street randomly walking up tp cars and high-fiving people. Total strangers are hugging each other.
I just saw a middle-aged white man walk up a car. A black man got out and the two of them were dancing around in the street.
Men are pulling off their shirts and walking up the street, just jubilant. It’s just complete euphoria.
A lot of 20-somethings are on bikes. There are signs hanging out windows.
Women and men are banging cooking pots with spoons. A pickup truck just went by with young people hanging out the back and out of one window.
People are chanting: “Obama, Obama, Obama.”
Michael J. Harris, 24, resident coordinator at the University of the Arts said: “I feel like I’ve experienced history.” He said he texted his mother, who was working the night shift as an EMT in New Jersey.
“It’s important for people to note that just because Obama won doesn’t mean we can rest. The American people have to work just as hard as he will to make the country better.”
Susan Martin, a 60-year-old legal assistant who lives in center city, stood on the corner in tears watching the scene. “I am just so relieved,” she said “Nothing’s going to change overnight, but now there’s hope. Is it really possible that we have a really intelligent, positive mayor, we won the World Series, and now Obama will be our president?”.”
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Kia Gregory reports:
It’s pandemonium here on Broad St. in North Philadelphia on the Temple campus. Students are pouring into the streets to celebrate their joy at Sen. Obama’s victory. Young people are cheering. Those driving by are honking their horns and waving Obama signs out car windows.
One student, Temple freshman Ashley Allen, 18, was so excited and curious to see what was going on she came out onto the street wearing red and white pajamas. “I’m so happy to be in the city now,” she said.
Her friend Jordan Lagasse, also 18, said: “It’s history, and I’m glad everyone is reporting it.”
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Brittany Tallarico reports:
Kildare’s bar in Manayunk sold cans of Busch for $1.
When the election was called, everyone cheered and clapped and some started chanting, “Let’s take the Senate.”
Andy Harbaugh, 22, a senior at St. Joseph’s University originally from Florida, said: “I’m a huge Obama fan. It was a big election for Pennsylvania and Florida, but I was more concerned about Florida.”
When McCain came on to concede, everyone listened and booed at the same time.
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Melissa Dribben reports:
Pandemonium is breaking loose here. Hundreds of students thrilled at Sen. Obama’s win are pouring out onto the street with big signs saying, “Yes We Can.”
They are shouting, cheering and jumping up and down. The horns of passing cars are blaring. A van with a sign saying, “Latinos for Obama” passed by with young people cheering out the windows.
Erin Reynolds, 18, a first-time voter and Penn student from Maryland was carrying a life-size cardboard poster of Obama.
She said: “I’m so happy. I think this means that we’re going to get more respect around the world. Hopefully, things will change for the better.”
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Michael Vitez reports:
When CNN declared Obama the president at 11 o’clock, the 150 people at the Camden County Democratic headquarters in Cherry Hill who had been there waiting for the count went into a roar.
Norwood Allen, 65, of Camden, broke into open sobs.
“It’s just a wonderful thing to see things turn around in your lifetime. To see people come together,” Allen said.
Augusta Hughes, 53, of Sicklerville, has an MBA from LaSalle University and had worked in marketing for various pharmaceutical companies in 15 years before losing her job in April. Since then, she has been cleaning houses since while looking for work. Her husband lost his job at a Volvo dealership in Berwyn three weeks ago.
When the declaration came, she danced across the room, jumping, screaming, doing a beautiful interpretation of a Mummers strut. She also cried.
“I’ve been looking for work for six long months. We need change,” she said. “We have to help Barack Obama become the president we need him to be.”
Cheryl Caldrone, 51, from Sicklerville, also broke into tears. “I hope I don’t pass out. I never thought I would see an African American president.”
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The Inauguration: Jan. 20 blog brings you coverage of President-elect Barack Obama's transition into office.
It's written by political journalists from the Philadelphia Inquirer. Send us your comments -- and news tips -- at this address.
Thomas Fitzgerald joined The Philadelphia Inquirer in 2000, and has covered Harrisburg as well as city, state and national politics for the newspaper. He was a “boy on the bus” in the 2004 presidential campaign and during primary contests in 2000 and 1996.
Nathan Gorenstein has covered politics and government in the city, state and nation for the Inquirer. He's worked in the city hall bureau, had a stint on the business desk, and once covered the suburbs. After serving as assistant regional editor, he was named editor of the "Politics" web site.
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