Sen. Barack Obama waves as he campaigns with actor Robert DeNiro at rally in East Rutherford, N.J., Monday, Feb. 4, 2008. (AP Photo/Mike Derer)
by John McCormick
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – With the team’s home stadium nearby, Sen. Barack Obama today compared himself to the New York Giants in last night’s Super Bowl.
“Sometimes the underdog pulls it out. You can’t always believe the pundits and prognosticators,” Obama told those inside the IZOD Center at the Meadowlands during what was one of his flatter recent appearances.
It was a line Obama’s top strategist, David Axelrod, had already tried out on a few reporters early this morning before the campaign plane took off from Chicago’s Midway Airport.
In the audience here were former New Jersey Sen. Bill Bradley, who has endorsed Obama, and movie star Robert De Niro, a new endorser and someone the candidate said was of special interest to his Secret Service entourage.
“Those guys never smile. They’re always cool,” Obama told a crowd his campaign said totaled about 4,500. “But I noticed when De Niro walks in, they’re all like elbowing each other…They were excited.”
Speaking to the audience before Obama entered the room, De Niro said he is not used to giving political speeches.
“I’ve never made a speech like this at a political event before,” he said, interrupted by applause. “So, what am I doing here? I’m here because finally one person has inspired me. One person has given me hope. One person has made me believe that we can make a change.”
Obama also mentioned last night’s game when he introduced Sen. Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts, who is spending the day campaigning at Obama’s side in New Jersey, Connecticut and Massachusetts.
“I have said repeatedly that this campaign is about bringing people together,” said Obama, who had been pulling for the Patriots. “And for me to be able to bring a Patriots fan to the Meadowlands, the day after the Super Bowl, is like bringing the lion and the lamb together. We bridge all gaps and all divisions in this country.”
The Liberal Lion seemed to be enjoying himself on the campaign trail. “Are you glad to see me?” Kennedy asked, as he started his Obama introduction.
“I have some good news for you. You want to hear it?” Kennedy continued. “One year from today, George Bush will not be president of the United States.”
Joined by Caroline Kennedy, the daughter of President John F. Kennedy, the elder statesman of the Democrat Party told those gathered in the huge arena that many would be watching how New Jersey votes on Super Tuesday.
“The eyes of the nation are going to be on New Jersey and a few other states,” he said, after calling Tuesday “perhaps one of the most important moments of your life.”
Obama, who feeds off an audience’s energy, seemed less fiery than normal. It may have had something to do with how the arena was configured, with him looking into rows of empty seats so that the cameras were positioned to show a crowd.
Or, perhaps the rigors of the campaigning before Super Tuesday are finally getting to him.
In a taped CBS interview broadcast this morning, Obama seemed a touch confused about his age.
“I’m older than I look. It’s these big ears,” he said, according to a transcript of the interview yesterday. “I’m 40…I’ll be…I’m 46. I’ll be 47 in August by the time I’m sworn in. So, older than Bill Clinton was when he was first elected.”
