It was quite a show. We don’t try to compete with CNN, and all those other big guys on national politics or on sports, but we felt this was an opportunity to not be missed. For the first time in months, Senator Barack Obama returned to Tampa for a campaign appearance. After the National Democratic Party called on the candidates to avoid the Florida primary, the Obama campaign appeared at the St. Pete Times Forums today to a crowd of over 20,000.

Mayor Iorio was introduced by Frank Sanchez. (Note: don’t forget that these two had competed for Mayor in her first election campaign) Sanchez now has a significant role in the Obama Campaign. (You can see and hear a recent interview that we conducted with Sanchez earlier this year at www.timeouttampa.com) Mayor Iorio announced her endorsement of Obama and acknowledged his ability to communicate. US. Rep. Kathy Castor provided the most enthusiastic introduction as the campaign stuck to the standard stump speech with a call for change and hope. The continual compliments of Hillary Clinton presented by Obama provides a glimpse of that attitude of change. No vicious candidate attacks here. Specific proposals and promises included a $1,000 per family tax cut, universal healthcare by the end of his first term, the end of the Iraq war by the end of 2009, the elimination of income tax on social security recipients earning less than $50,000. While many more issues were discussed, we will provide you with the video stream for those of you who want those details. See the video stream at www.timeouttampa.com

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