Wow, that's a long line.

Hoping to get one last chance to see Barack (as well as an opportunity to finally hear John Kerry and Ted Kennedy, who I hadn't yet seen speaking) I headed over to the World Trade Center with some people in my entryway. Having left nearly two hours before the doors were supposed to open (which was two hours before the event even started), we figured that we would be there in time to get a decent spot.

When we got off the T, we ran into this line, which someone was nice enough to post on DailyKos. The volunteers told us that we only had a bit farther to go. But the line kept going...and going...and going. Apparently around twenty thousand people showed up, making a one mile long line. We ended up being around nearly the nine thousandth in line; we barely made the cut off to get into the room, after waiting in the cold for around three hours.

Cold exhaustion is getting to me, so I'm ready to head to bed before my brain completely shuts down at my computer. However, being one of the few people who noticed the port-a-potty in the adjacent parking lot, I wonder how people were willing to stay in line that long just for a slight glimpse of Obama. It was nearly impossible to see him in that room, but his speech drew the usual roars.

My eyes are starting to shut, so I'll just note that A)there definitely was a big Harvard contingent there that was part of the larger college contingent that dominated the event and B) It's finally super Tuesday. the day has arrived. It's going to be a long but unforgettable event.

Debate Update: Kennedy will debate political midget

Yes folks, Ted Kennedy is actually going to spend 30 minutes of his time debating his Republican challenger Kenneth B. Chase. Is he bored? Has he nothing better to be doing? Perhaps it is just that he hasn't debated an opponent since Mitt Romney ran against him in 1994. I guess he had to do things besides take pictures with supporters and maintain his most liberal senator title.

In all seriousness, I respect Ted for not taking his seat for granted. Debate is deserved by all challengers. I still want to watch my senator wipe the floor with whatever sacrificial offering the MA Republican party has come up with. I mean, come on! Chase lost in 2004 for a seat in the US House of Representatives against Ed Markey by more than 50 points. "I can't imagine that the senator would be afraid of a little old Republican like me." No Ken, I can't either.

UPDATE: I changed the title after Max Mishkin pointed out the error of titling the post "Kennedy will engage in child's play" Many thanks to him.