HANAPEPE — Fran Morell and Debbie Portscheller of California changed their plans for the day yesterday.
“We wouldn’t have missed this,” Morell said. “The concierge said the Obama Bridges rally was taking place so we changed our entire plans so we could be here.”
The California ladies were part of some 150 people who visited the Hanapepe Swinging Bridge for the Obama Bridges rally coordinated by Barbara Alexander just two days before the general election Tuesday.
“I brought my Obama shirt from California because I wasn’t sure I could find one here, and I’m not going to spend Tuesday without one,” Portscheller said.
There were no Kaua‘i campaign events scheduled yesterday for Arizona Sen. John McCain, the Republican opponent in the race for president against Democratic Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois.
“I’m glad they had this rally,” said Jeanne Irby of Washington who was part of the crowd along with Dianne Meinke. “We couldn’t make the one they had in Washington, so I’m glad they had this one so we could be a part of it.”
Morell was busy absorbing the excitement of the rally as well, noting that this was the first rally she had ever attended for any candidate.
Peggy Dixon, a Kaua‘i resident, stood out with her Obama Bridges shirt from San Francisco. She was participating along with Caroline Fredricksen of Joe’s on the Green in Po‘ipu.
“We’re having a giant election night party,” Fredricksen said. “Starting from about four, Tuesday, we’ll have the election night coverage on our TV sets. There will also be a live band, good food, a putting contest and bocce ball. We’ll be there until whenever.”
That announcement came as good news to the visitors who now had a destination from where they could track the progress of their candidates.
Alison Dunn, an Obama Bridges volunteer, said the turnout was especially good.
“We had people from all around the country here today. I heard someone say they were from Alaska. There were people from New Zealand who were excited to be part of the festivities,” Dunn said.
She said the New Zealand visitors said they realized they couldn’t vote for Obama, but liked him based on what they seen and read about him.
“They even offered money,” she said. “But we couldn’t take it.”
Joanna Carolan of the Banana Patch Studio which sits adjacent to the Hanapepe Swinging Bridge was thrilled with the turnout.
“I’m glad someone else organized something,” she said while looking over her acquisitions of various Obama T-shirts and a cap. “I get to enjoy this. My husband is on-call. Otherwise, he’d be here, too.”
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com
