Published: March 28, 2008 11:20 pm            

Johnstowners jump at chance to see Obama

You can count Victoria King among those who were not surprised that tickets to Barack Obama’s Johnstown appearance were scarfed up within a few hours.

“We’ve been so busy,” said King, a Johnstown resident who volunteers at Obama’s downtown office. “It has been nonstop.”

Those who visited the 508 Main St. storefront Friday looking for a chance to see Obama’s speech were disappointed. Today’s event is free, but tickets will be required for admittance.

Allison Price, a spokeswoman for the Democratic presidential hopeful, cited “overwhelming demand” for Johnstown tickets and said a waiting list was established.

“We are thrilled so many people are interested in hearing about Sen. Obama’s vision to bring real change to Washington,” Price said.

She added that tickets for Obama’s appearances Friday in Pittsburgh and Greensburg “went quickly as well.”

The campaign did not say how many tickets were distributed for today’s event at Greater Johnstown High School’s gym.

Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign attracted more than 1,500 people to former President Bill Clinton’s March 12 appearance at the school.

Obama is expected to hold a “town hall meeting” and take questions from the audience.

Volunteers such as King have been impressed by what they’ve heard from Obama on the campaign trail.

“He has a spirit about him that’s honest, that’s clear, that’s true,” King said. “It’s different from the old political machine we’re used to.”

Johnstown resident David Jurcic compared Obama with former President John F. Kennedy. That has motivated Jurcic, who owns Mr. Simon’s Barbershop, to volunteer his time at the campaign office.

“America’s going to be a much better place once he wins the presidency,” Jurcic said.

The Obama camp has run voter-registration drives locally, and the Clinton campaign has done the same.

Today at 11 a.m., Clinton supporters will officially open her downtown Johnstown office at 421 Main St. State Rep. Ed Wojnaroski, D-Johnstown, is among those scheduled to speak.

        

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