Election 2008

Massive crowd greets Obama
Estimated 100,000 attend rally near Colorado capitol
by Joe Hanel
Herald Denver Bureau

DENVER - One of the largest crowds of the 2008 campaign greeted Barack Obama at Denver's Civic Center Park on a cold, sunny Sunday morning.

Police estimated the crowd at 100,000. People packed into the block-sized park, into side streets and up the steps of the state Capitol.

"Do you ever have small crowds in Denver? Goodness gracious," Obama said as he took the stage.

Obama accepted the Democratic nomination in Denver two months ago before a crowd of about 85,000.

On Sunday, Obama responded to Republican John McCain's criticism of his economic philosophy. Earlier Sunday on "Meet the Press," McCain said Obama's response to a tax question from an Ohio plumber revealed the Democrat's very liberal ideas.

"We just figured it out with 'Joe the Plumber.' Americans just figured it out. He wants to spread the wealth around," McCain said. "He wants to raise taxes in a time of economic difficulties."

Obama defended his tax plan, saying he would not raise taxes on people who make less than $250,000 a year.

"If you make less than a quarter of a million dollars a year - which includes 98 percent of small business owners and 99.9 percent of all plumbers - you won't see your taxes increase one single dime," Obama said.

Then he repeated one of his campaign's main strategies - trying to tie McCain to President Bush.

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