Election 2008: What’s At Stake?

It was hot. And sticky. And - did I say hot yet? - during Obama’s campaign stop in Columbus. But on a day that begged for a good thunderstorm to break the meteorological tension, Ohio’s senior citizens looked like they were holding up lots better than the reporters and photographers who were recording them for posterity. Warm temps make for testy tempers - there were a couple verbal squabbles between Obama’s organizers and the press corps, one leading to a half-hearted threat to call over a secret service agent when an AP photographer refused to step off his chair.

And even before that, an adorable bomb-sniffing dog checked out the facility and gave my flash recorder and idiot-proof point ‘n’ shoot camera a once-over before we were allowed to ascend to the inner sanctum where the senator would be speaking.

“What a lot of fuss,” one male resident said as he strolled inside through the gauntlet of sweaty reporters. “A lot of fuss.” But most seniors I saw there were excited and smiling, even though just 15 residents of the Oakleaf Village were chosen to listen to the senator’s campaign speech about social security and economics.

One woman who was not selected to sit in was watching the spectacle from a couch in Oakleaf Village’s reception area. She said she was very excited that the next president was coming to visit her retirement home, and talked about her dream of unity in the United States. Then she held my hand and told me about her even more exciting news: that she, at the age of 87 and after her husband of six decades passed away, was in love once again. His name was Roger, he was a good man, and he would get to see Obama that afternoon.

The two stories seemed to to be of a piece for her: Obama and new love. New chances and a fresh start.

She wasn’t the only one who felt smitten that day.

Pastor Leon Troy, 82, said that he had officially stepped down from the pulpit twelve years ago - but Obama’s candidacy pulled him to his feet once again.

“I’m very excited,” Troy said. “He sees everybody. He’s going to energize America.”

The minister looked around at the gray-haired crowd, and posed a challenge to the candidate, who had spent a lot of time reassuring the audience that his government would take care of them.

“How can we always see people as a cost, rather than an investment?” Troy asked. “I see this group of people here as an investment … I see everybody at the table.”

Obama rose to the challenge, at least oratorically, telling Troy and the others that he wanted to create a senior corps alongside of the Peace Corps.

“The problem now is that we have a lot of people who are 72, 73, working at McDonald’s because they need supplemental income,” the candidate said.

I caught another glimpse of the buzz and hope generated by the Obama campaign just outside Oakleaf Village. Four people waited patiently on the lush green grass to cheer on the candidate’s motorcade. Two were immigrants from Africa, proudly wearing Obama t-shirts, pins and red, yellow, green and black necklaces. One was a white woman who called herself a recovering Republican. And one was an engineer from India.

I asked them about their hopes for a new administration. Unity, they said without hesitation. A chance to bridge the gulf of political parties and countries, a way into a global future.

Undone by the heat, we packed up our gear and left. The four were still on the grass, chatting amiably together while waiting for Obama.