Published: April 24, 2008 09:51 am      

Diverse group gathers to hear Obama speak at IUS

Jeffersonville resident Kalvin Cathey visited Indiana University Southeast on Wednesday to listen to a candidate he calls “intelligent, confident and self-assured.”

Cathey, 32, compares presidential hopeful Barack Obama — who was on a campaign stop in New Albany — to John F. and Robert Kennedy.

“I am totally behind Obama,” Cathey said. “He truly is the change in government we need in this generation.”

About 2,500 men and women of diverse ages and races also were behind Obama in the IUS Activities Center.

Obama talked in a “town hall” meeting, where he not only laid out his platform to change the country if elected president, but also gave people a chance to talk and ask questions. Obama is running against Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., for a spot on November’s presidential election ballot.

University of Kentucky student Keith Emmetsberger said “I pretty much agree with anything Obama says.”

“I’m up for something different,” Emmetsberger said. “I’m a big fan of his plan to end the war in Iraq and his dedication to the need to change our dependence on oil.”

Many teenagers, including Jennesy McConnell, 17, Brandi Auberry, 18, and Ashley Eveslage, 17, came to the IUS event. Though 17-year-olds can’t vote in the May 6 Indiana primary, the group of friends said they will all be able to vote in the November election and wanted to start learning more about potential candidates.

McConnell, a resident of Crandall, said she is undecided on which candidate should be the next president. However, she said that Obama’s evident support for better student financial-aid programs was something she especially cares about.

Auberry, who lives in New Salisbury, is also undecided.

“I’m interested in someone bringing our troops home,” Auberry said. “I’m learning about which candidate is more dedicated to that, as well as more money for school and health care.”

Eveslage, a resident of Palmyra, said she appreciated Obama’s clear stance on improving health care and helping people earn better salaries.

“Right now, I’m just going to events and seeing what happens from there,” Eveslage said.

Floyd County Sheriff Darrell Mills said the event went smoothly from a security standpoint.

“Obama’s campaign staff and the Secret Service really helped things go well,” he said. “Any time there’s such a large crowd and a major event, it’s especially important to plan well. There were no real problems with audience members.”