Coming to you live from ODU with Michelle Obama...

The crowds are starting to pile in at the Batten Arts and Letters Building at Old Dominion University to see Michelle Obama talk with military families.

We're supposed to kick off in a bit but apparently the wife of the presumptive Democratic nominee Barack Obama is reading with kids at nearby elementary school. Michelle Obama read with the kids and then played a game where the kids competed to spell the word "helpful."

Following on with the release this morning of a string of local active duty and retired military members serving as an advisory panel for Obama's campaign - it's becoming clear that Republican John McCain is going to have to invest time and money in Hampton Roads.

McCain has local clout because of his time as a naval airman, his family history of military service and friendship with U.S. Sen. John Warner. But as you know the service members aren't all immediately members of the GOP. If Obama can woo some local families and turn out urban voters in large numbers he's going to at least force the GOP to work for it in Hampton Roads.

Well see how many folks break out the checkbooks tonight at the fundraiser. But already they're some local Democrats in the house. Del. Lionell Spruill, D-Chesapeake, is here - you might recall Spruill is a Hillary Clinton superdelegate who introduced Bill Clinton when he spoke here in the run up to the primary. Awkward. Also here is challenger Glenn Nye who is pushing U.S. Rep. Thelma Drake, 2-Norfolk, for her seat which includes Virgina Beach, the Eastern Shore and part of Hampton. 

Comments

[eileen]

What a disgusting and racist thing to call Senator Obama! I'm very disappointed in you, JTB.

[J. Tyler Ballance]

Old Dominion finally is getting a football team again! Finally ODU will become a "real" University and there will again be the worlds most wonderful sport played at Foreman Field.

ODU last had a football team when it was the Norfolk Division of William and Mary.

I don't know why they are hosting Mrs. Obama at ODU. Almost nobody who goes there is going to vote for here husband, Curious George. She is not running for anything, so what is the point in having her speak at ODU? If Mr. Obama wants to ask Virginians to vote for him (and they won't) the very least he could do is to come to Norfolk, in person, and make his own case.

Now, back to the important news...ODU is finally getting football!!! According to the website, the Monarchs will start play in 2009. Get your season tickets now. Believe it or not, much of the best seats at Foreman Field are already sold! This is going to be a great football team and a huge boost to the spirits of the citizens who live in the Hampton Roads area.

It would be great to resurrect the tradition of the Thanksgiving Day football games, like the ones that used to fill Foreman Field between Maury and Granby.