Bill Clinton at Democratic Rally in Tempe, Arizona

Thursday November 2, 2006- Thursday was no ordinary day for students in Tempe at Arizona State University as about 5000 students excitedly awaited and packed Hayden Lawn to rally for the Democratic Party and o hear former President Bill Clinton speak.

The crowd began to gather around the perimeter of Hayden Lawn at the center of campus around 3:00 pm, as a fence was set up around the perimeter of the lawn itself. However, at one point students pushed the fence apart and they all rushed to be closer to the stage. At that point there was no stopping the students, as excitement was in the air. 

All around people had camera phones, digital cameras, video cameras ready to record a historic day for the campus. Nobody seemed to care how warm it was, or that they were all packed in closely like sardines in a can. Everyone was discussing how excited they were to hear former President Clinton speak, as students phoned friends and family who were not present to inform them as to where they were and what was happening. Through the crowd Democratic Party volunteers in red shirts managed their way through the crowd to sign up students to assist in making calls to get out the vote, as music blared from the speakers adding to the atmosphere of excitement that penetrated the air. 

Finally, the first candidates took the stage. First to speak was Meg Burton Cahill who told the crowd that better speakers would take stage, and the crowd went wild. After, hearing from former ASU alum and House candidate Ed Ablesser, House Candidate David Schapira and others Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon took the mike. Gordon spoke to the rowdy crowd as they waited for Clinton’s, Senate candidate Jim Pederson, Congressional candidate Harry Mitchell’s arrival who was delayed, as Gordon informed the crowd. Once Pederson and Mitchell arrived they kept their speeches short to allow for the main event.