Tens of thousands line up to see Barack Obama in Portland

Published 4:43 pm Sunday, May 18, 2008

PORTLAND, Ore. — Tens of thousands of people lined up on a sunny Sunday for a chance to see Sen. Barack Obama on his final day of campaigning in Oregon before the state’s primary.

Lines to enter Waterfront Park stretched for at least ten blocks, and organizers were prepared for crowds that could top 50,000.

Such an audience would exceed the number who flocked to the park in August 2004 to hear Sen. John Kerry when he was running against President Bush.

Some Obama supporters say they wanted to see history in the making.

Obama was scheduled to speak at 2:30 p.m. before heading to Pendleton.