NPR for North Texas
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Dallas Democrats Cheer Obama's Nomination Speech

By Bill Zeeble, KERA reporter

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-751677.mp3

Dallas, TX – Thousands of Barack Obama backers packed dozens of watch parties around North Texas last night to witness history. The Democratic presidential candidate became the first African American to accept the nomination of a major political party. KERA's Bill Zeeble attended the Dallas County Democratic event in the Lakewood Theater.

The 300 or so watching on the big screen seemed as loud and enthusiastically involved in Obama's speech as the 75,000 in Colorado's Mile High Stadium. For weeks, critics had warned Obama needed to deliver specifics, not just oratory. Supporter Andre Ford says he succeeded.

Andre Ford, Obama backer: We know that he wants to make change, but how? How will he change things? Tonight he did that. He told people exactly what I want to do. Jump on the band wagon because the train's leaving the station.

David Richardson hopes Obama hasn't offered voters too much.

David Richardson: He promised a lot of things and four years from now, he probably won't have achieved all of them. That's going to come back to bite him.

That assumes Obama wins this fall. Leora Olorunnisomo, an African American attorney, will work to make that happen.

Leora Olorunnisomo: I never expected it to happen. I never saw him coming. I'm very surprised. But I'm elated.

Now these Democrats, including many who had supported Senator Hillary Clinton, say it's time to guarantee a high turnout for the fall election. Bill Zeeble KERA news.