On the road in Indiana: Obama Pledges to Sign, Seal and Deliver

INDIANAPOLIS — Monday, St. Clair Street to North Street between Meridian and Pennsylvania streets turned into the largest block party I’ve ever seen.

People of all walks of life filled the American Legion Mall in Downtown Indianapolis, pouring onto the sidewalks and across the street on the steps of churches, businesses and other city buildings. An estimated 20,000 gathered to listen to presidential candidate Barack Obama speak his mind — and see a live performance from the legendary Stevie Wonder.

“If you have Stevie Wonder campaigning with you, you’re going to win,” said Phil Hester, 56, of Indianapolis.

Wonder played three songs, often changing the words to include Obama’s name. The musician said the candidate has inspired him to write music. He encouraged those at the event to participate by singing “Barack Obama” on a solfège scale with him.

Obama, who CNN polls have losing by 4 percentage points to Hillary Clinton in Indiana, asked attendees to vote and encourage friends to vote for him Tuesday. Many supporters cheered Obama’s spirit for hope.

“If black and white and Hispanic and Asian and Native American, if young and old and rich and poor and gay and straight — if all of us remember that we are Americans first, then nothing can stop us,” Obama said. “There’s no challenge we can’t solve, there’s no destiny we cannot fulfill.”

The candidate emphasized his commitment to change by refusing to take campaign donations from lobbyists, and pledging to give Americans a large tax break and veterans greater assistance.

“I was convinced that the American people wanted honesty and truth from their leadership, that they were tired of spin and PR,” Obama said. “And most of all I was convinced that when the American people were unified there was nothing that could stop us.”

Hester thinks the world is ready for a black president in the United States.

“If he doesn’t win, it will look like Americans are prejudice,” Hester said. “Other countries want him to win. They’d vote for him if they could…. Obama is the answer to the American Dream.”