A palpable excitement filled the Claflin University's Tullis Arena Saturday morning as a couple thousand people came out to meet and listen to freshly minted Democratic Party presidential candidate and Illinois Senator Barack Obama.

The Obama drama, as it has affectionately been coined by some media pundits, made its debut in Orangeburg to an enthusiastic crowd donning "Obama '08 for President" buttons and waving red, white and blue "Obama '08" signs.

"We know what the challenges are," Obama said. "The question is: are we going to be able to come together as a people ... to find commonsense practical solutions that are needed to move us forward."

"It is a matter of us having faith and believing in the future ... and to work together as one people," he continued. "People are hungry for something new and something different."

Answering his critics who doubt he can win, Obama left no stone unturned.

"At every juncture in our history, there has been somebody who said we can't," Obama said, through an ever-growing crowd roar. "Some people said we can't do this, we can't do that, so we shouldn't even try. If I have your support, if I have your energy, and involvement and commitment and ideas, then I am here to tell you, Yes, we can!"

Sixth District U.S. Rep. James Clyburn, in introducing Obama, thanked him for giving hope and direction to the Democratic Party and for "giving life" to the sacrifices made by civil rights pioneers Rosa Parks, Septima Clark and Martin Luther King Jr.

"Obama is able to run today because Rosa Parks sat down," Clyburn said. "He is able to run today because Septima Clark stood up."

Clyburn said he had "no idea whether a black person can get elected president" but he did note that "nobody is elected who does not run. So I come here today to say: Run, Barack, run. Run, Barack, run!"

At the conclusion of this statement, Obama came trotting onto the stage to a standing ovation with a sea of red, white and blue Obama '08 signs waving throughout the arena.

As part of his formal speech, Obama recalled his first visit to Claflin about two years ago, on behalf of then-Senate candidate Inez Tenenbaum. But this was his first visit as a presidential candidate, and "it's different now," he said to a chorus of cheers.

"We are here at a time when this country is at a crossroads," Obama said, then proceeded to briefly hit upon four issues:

* Health care. "Our health care system is broken," Obama said. A voice from the stands called out, "You can fix it," to which Obama affirmed, "We are going to fix it."

Obama touched upon the need for all families to have access to health care and for all small businesses to have access to health care. He has frequently touted his support of universalizing the system.

* Education. "We know our children have to compete with the most competitive nations on earth. Too many of our children are losing hope before they even reach high school. We have (the) No Child Left Behind (law) and we have left no money behind."

* Infrastructure development. Obama said as president he would see that broadband connections would be developed, even in rural areas, as it is essential for rural economic growth.

* War in Iraq. "We need to spend money here" on domestic issues, he said.

"We have lost over 3,000 lives for a war that never should have been authorized," he said, to the perhaps the loudest cheer of the day.

Obama said the death of U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer Jason DeFrenn, who was buried Friday in Barnwell, "breaks my heart."

"We need a strong military," said Obama, who praised people who "are willing to serve their country." But he added, "We have to give them a mission that will succeed. We can't put them in the midst of a civil war where people are fighting against themselves and having no willingness to make political accommodations if necessary to bring peace."

Audience members traveled from near and far and some braved below-freezing temperatures for close to two hours waiting in line prior to the opening of the doors of the Jonas T. Kennedy Center.

Florence resident Wilhemina James was among the first in line around 7:45 a.m. in an effort to get a front-row seat.

"Among the candidates that are running on the Democratic ticket, I find Barack Obama refreshing," James said. "His values and what he has been saying is the closest to my values and where I want to see this country go."

James, who said she has campaigned for Bill Clinton and Mario Cuomo in years past and has been involved in the Democratic Party for the past 30 years, said she is hoping that Obama will help bring people together.

The war in Iraq is one issue James says is particularly important.

"We should never have gone," she said. "From the time we went in and to the time today, everything has been a disaster."

When asked about Obama's lack of experience, James said, "If experience is what can get you into office, look at all that experience and how it got us into Iraq."

Candrina Riley of Summerville said "Obama is the right man for the job."

"He is fresh and is not tainted," she said. "I think the youth can identify with him because we need to get our youth more involved in this election."

When asked about thoughts about Obama's challenge to Hillary Clinton, Riley said, "If she is the lady for the job, I think it will be great to have an opportunity to have women in the White House. I think it would be great to have both of them. I think they would work better together."

Claflin University President Dr. Henry Tisdale described the opportunity to host Obama as a "historic day" for the university.

"What this means is that Claflin University is able to host an provide a venue for us to bring a significant personality such as Barack Obama to the Orangeburg community."

Question and answer

In the 20-minute question-and-answer session, Orangeburg resident Delores Frazier inquired about how her aging mother's health care would be provided for, the raising of the nation's minimum wage and Obama's plans to improve education.

"We have forgotten about those people in the trenches," Frazier said about wages. She pleaded with Obama to help bring South Carolina to a leading position in education.

Prior to answering the question, Obama joked with Frazier, who had a little difficulty pronouncing his name.

"They call me 'Alabama' and they call me 'yo mama'," he said, to laughter. "As long as you vote for me, I don't mind what you call me."

In answer to the question, Obama said money is available for health care but it needs to be wisely.

"We don't put enough money into our preventive services" and management of chronic conditions such as diabetes, so more seek expensive emergency care, he said.

"Twenty percent of (chronic care) patients account for 80 percent of the cost" of health care, he said. "If we begin regular treatment it won't cost as much."

Red tape and duplication also drive up the cost of health care. "We are still in the Stone Age" in medical record-keeping technology, he said.

With regard to minimum wage, Obama noted that the wage has not been raised in nine years and has less purchasing power than it did in 1955.

Obama said he hoped by the end of the current Congressional session to have a hike in the minimum wage, thanks partly to a bill introduced by Clyburn.

More than the minimum wage, workers need "an opportunity to have a living wage," Obama said, noting that he would like to see the expansion of tax breaks to low-income workers. "If you work full-time, you should be able to support a family."

With regard to education, Obama said states have to do a better job of funding and the federal government has to see education as a national interest.

America needs to attract jobs that require high skills and pay high wages, Obama said.

"Our economy will only be as strong as each and every child in America have the opportunity to fulfill their potential," he said, adding that it can be done: "We've got models that work."

Obama said it is crucial to provide teachers a competitive salary and to ensure that parents are more involved in their children's lives. "More money won't help do a dime of difference if when your child comes home from school you don't turn off the television set," he said.

Summerville resident and social worker Candrina Riley, addressing the candidate as President Obama, expressed concern about the state's high incidence of HIV/AIDS. Riley was supporting a sign that read "Have Enough? Vote Democrat -- Barack Obama for U.S. President 2008."

Obama cited the need for more resources and education.

"When (students) are succeeding in school they are less likely to engage in risky behavior," Obama said. "I think it is crucial that we adequately fund HIV and AIDS programs and services."

Obama said he would promote alternative fuels and biofuels and not to have to rely on Mideast oil.

"That money, $800 million a day, goes to the most hostile nations on earth," Obama said. "So we are funding both sides of the war on terrorism."

"It does not make any sense for us to depend on Middle Eastern oil," he continued. "We don't have the leadership in Washington that says this is a top priority."

In reminding the crowd that he had a flight to catch and needed to leave Orangeburg for a Senate vote on a resolution to oppose the Iraq war, some began to chant "Barack Obama Run," "Barack Obama run."

In response to the chant, Obama answered another question on the ongoing genocide in the Darfur region of Sudan and the U.S. involvement in helping the situation.

Obama said he would "tighten the noose" on the Sudanese government by freezing accounts so monies could not be exchanged for contraband and to put a no-fly zone over a portion of the country to prevent attacks on U.S interests.

"We have so been so focused on trying to solve all our problems military and unilaterally," he said. "We have to rebuild our international institutions ... recognizing that our success in defeating terror is not simply going to depend on soldiers and bullets. It is going to have to depend on exporting our ideals and our values and edging ourselves to a higher standard."

T&D Staff Writer Gene Zaleski can be reached by e-mail at gzaleski@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-533-5551. Discuss this and other stories online at TheTandD.com.

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