Downtown Wilkes Barre office for Obama opens up

Scranton might be Hillary country, but from the looks and sounds of 41 S. Main St. on Sunday, Wilkes-Barre is Obama country.

Green was the color of the day as green “O’Bama” posters covered the windows, while U.S. Sen. Barack Obama’s supporters registered people to vote, passed out buttons, stickers and balloons to the children lined up for the St. Patrick’s Day parade just feet from the campaign office door.

Freshmen U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy, D-Bucks County, fired up an already enthusiastic group of Democratic presidential candidate Obama supporters Sunday before the Wilkes-Barre St. Patrick’s Day Parade as he spoke during the campaign office’s grand opening celebration.

Standing atop a heavy-duty blue rectangle cooler, Murphy addressed the packed audience of at least 100 people as he spoke about why Obama is the best candidate to be America’s next president.

Murphy would know. He is an Iraq War veteran who served in Iraq often patrolling an area in Baghdad known as “Ambush Alley.”

“As a former captain in the 82nd Airborne Division, I know that he has what it takes to be our commander-in-chief. As a congressman, I know he has the legislative chops to make the positive change that we need in our country, both at home and abroad,” said Murphy, a ’96 King’s graduate.

Murphy publicly endorsed Obama last August. At the time, more elder congressmen told Murphy he was committing political suicide by supporting such a then-unknown candidate.

“I said I know my country and I want to stand up for my country,” said Murphy, noting what response he gave to the Democratic elders.

Although it might seem like U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., is a sure win in NEPA, Murphy encouraged Obama’s volunteers not to give up. Murphy told supporters that although Obama has been criticized for being too young for president, the Illinois senator is actually older than John F. Kennedy and Bill Clinton were when they were elected.

He told them of how when he ran for the 8th Congressional District, no one thought he could beat a well-established Republican candidate.

But he did win despite being outspent by almost $3 million. Murphy won by 1,518 votes out of 250,000 ballots cast.

Murphy reminded the crowd that late last year most people did not give Obama a chance of winning Iowa. But Obama came in first place in Iowa and Clinton, who was favored to win that state, came in third.

Murphy, the brother of Wilkes-Barre city administrator J.J. Murphy, was strolling along the parade route later Sunday afternoon before heading to the Barnes & Noble Bookstore on Public Square to autograph copies of his book. Murphy wrote, “Taking the Hill: from Philly to Baghdad to United States Congress,” based on journals he kept while serving in Iraq.

Supporters chanted, “Be a part of something great – Obama ’08” as the parade made its way past the campaign headquarters.

Obama volunteer Mark Vukovich of Wyoming said he is dedicated to supporting Obama’s campaign because he can tell Obama has the intelligence, charisma and values to lead the country.

“This campaign for Obama has passion. That’s what drives them. That’s what separates this campaign from every other presidential campaign this year. I’ve worked on presidential campaigns in the past, and I’ve never seen passion like I seen it here,” Vukovich said.

Some Clinton supporters were also in Wilkes-Barre Sunday passing out posters and stickers. One vendor even sold shirts declaring “Hillary Rocks,”

Clinton’s campaign staff said they hope to have a campaign office open in Wilkes-Barre within two weeks.

Clinton returned to the area for the second time in less than a week when she participated in Scranton’s St. Patrick’s Day parade Saturday.