Kennedy: ‘Stand together for Barack Obama’

February 16, 2008 at 5:22p.m.

YOUNGSTOWN — Sen. Edward Kennedy came to Youngstown to campaign for Barack Obama and brought along his memories of his brothers.

“I’m going to ask you to do for Barack Obama what you did for Jack Kennedy and for Bobby Kennedy,” the senator told an enthusiastic crowd today. “Let’s stand together for Barack Obama.”

With that plea, about 400 people in Kilcawley Center at Youngstown State University stood and began chanting, “Yes, we can. Yes, we can.”

Kennedy essentially was a warm-up act for Obama, the Illinois senator who is battling for the Democratic presidential nomination. Obama is to appear Monday at a larger venue at YSU — Beeghly Center, which seats 6,500 for basketball. Doors open at noon with the program to begin at 2 p.m.

Obama supporters seemed motivated after hearing Kennedy’s passionate pleas.

“It got me fired up,” said Tina Calderon, 47, of Boardman.

For the complete story, see Sunday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com.