I just got back from Broad Street, and I have never, ever seen anything like this. After an utterly insane bar where the only way to keep standing was because there was no way to fall over (too many people), my friends and I started walking up Broad Street starting at Pine. We only got two blocks, to Locust, before you couldn't walk any further. For those of you not from Philly, that is four blocks from City Hall:
Humanity was in all directions. Hundreds of people were above us, standing on newsstands, lampposts, subway entrances and window ledges. People were setting off fireworks, hugging and high-fiving anyone in sight, and futilely trying to send text messages (it took me five tries just to send one). We walked around City Hall, and it went on in every direction. Twenty-six blocks later, horns were still honking. Hundreds of thousands of people. Larger than any gathering I have ever attended, including any and all protests.
And people were happy. Different races, different genders, different ages--everyone has smiling and hugging and cheering and slapping hands. And more than a few people started chanting "O-bam-a" right along with "Let's Go Phill-ies." Time and time again I heard "let's do this again on Tuesday."
And so, the largest city in a swing state in the entire nation went nuts. Our first win since 1983! Some called it the Curse Of Willy Penn, but maybe it was the Curse Of Reagan. We--the largest city in a swing state--hadn't won a title since his approval ratings recovered in late 1983. But we won tonight.
My head is spinning. Let's do it again on Tuesday.
|
STATE BLOGS
