Obama upate No. 2: Answering questions at Fitch

AUSTINTOWN — Despite being about 45 minutes late for his appearance at Fitch High School, U.S. Sen. Barack Obama was greeted with a rousing welcome this morning.

Obama was introduced by Gov. Ted Strickland, who called him “bright, young, energetic and intelligent.”

When Obama mentioned that he and Strickland had both celebrated birthdays Monday, the approximately 2,000 people in attendance serenaded the two with a rendition of “Happy Birthday.”

Before Obama arrived, a group of women wearing Service Employee International Union T-shirts danced, waving their hands over their heads and chanting “Oh-ba-ma.”

ABC Television’s Diane Sawyer arrived this morning, along with a crew of at least a dozen, to interview Obama in the Fitch band room after the event.

Obama delivered a speech in which he has outlined his energy proposal. He is currently answering questions from the crowd.

The presumptive Democratic presidential nominee began his “New Energy for America” tour Monday in Lansing, Mich.

For more on this story, see Wednesday’s Vindicator or Vindy.com