Obama predicts a close result

SCRANTON – It took 63 years for a presidential candidate to eat breakfast at the Glider Diner.

U.S. Sen. Barack Obama stopped at the counter at the landmark eatery in the Providence section of Scranton with his ardent Northeast Pennsylvania supporter, U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-Scranton.

Waffles, sausage and orange juice were served to the man campaigning to win the Democratic nomination to face presumptive Republican candidate U.S. Sen. John McCain in November.

While Obama was having breakfast, his opponent – U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton – was a few blocks away at the Scranton Cultural Center. More than 1,000 people came out to show support for the New York senator on the day before the votes are cast in the pivotal Pennsylvania primary.

Obama drew more than 2,000 supporters to a rally Sunday night at the Riverfront Sports Complex, a few hundred feet from the Glider Diner.

“I’m not predicting a win,” Obama said before arriving at the Glider Diner to greet voters. “I’m predicting it’s going to be close and that we are going to do a lot better than people expect.”

Charlie LeStrange, whose father, Chappy, opened the Glider in 1945 with partner Gene Cosgrove Sr., said it was an honor to have Obama eat in his restaurant.

“It really was great,” LeStrange said. “He went table to table and talked to every person in the place.”

While at the diner, Obama listened to a trumpet solo from a high school student. Sandy Berardelli and Barbara St. Ledger have worked together as waitresses at the diner for almost 30 years. Berardelli said the 17-year-old had been waiting outside the diner for several hours before Obama arrived.

“He (Obama) was very genuine and sincere,” Berardelli said after Obama left to campaign elsewhere in Pennsylvania. “He was nice to everybody.”

She said two high school seniors had skipped school to meet Obama and got him to sign passes saying “Excuse Colin!” and “Excuse Joey!”

Berardelli had Obama’s leftovers on the plate and wrapped in cellophane. She said she was taking it home, putting it in the freezer and posting it on eBay.

LeStrange said Casey, a frequent customer at the Glider, picked up the tab. LeStrange is supporting Obama.

“It was a good boost for business,” LeStrange said. “There were about 50 customers here and as many media. Plus Secret Service and Obama campaign people. It was crowded.”

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