Barack Obama is coming very close to becoming the Democratic nomination for the 2008 presidential election. With the primaries happening all last week and this week, Obama was on the campaign trail.

This past Monday, Feb. 4, Obama was at the Civic Center in Hartford. Over 17,000 Americans attended the rally, where thousands more waited just to get a glimpse of the hopeful nominee.

"The rally was incredible," said junior Alexandra Prim. "The XL center in Hartford holds about 16,000 people and there were thousands more crammed onto the floor…The lines wrapped around the building and people waited outside for several hours in the snow just to see Obama."

At the rally, Obama was joined by his supporters as well as many important and historically people.

Ted Kennedy and Caroline Kennedy attend the rally and in favor of Obama spoke on behalf of the nominee. The Kennedy's spoke to a highly diverse crowd and people whose ages ranged from young to old.

"There was a diversity you don't often see, black, white young and old, college students and parents with their children and he inspired every single person in the room," said Prof. Christina Talyor, Ph. D.

Prof. Christina Taylor of the psychology department also attended the rally. In an interview with Prof. Taylor, she talked about what a change Obama is to America. She spoke on how charismatic and spiritual he is.

If Obama wins the election, he will be the second president since JFK to be catholic.

On Sunday Feb. 3, at the same time John McCain was here at Sacred Heart, John Kerry was also in Bridgeport. Kerry was at New Hope Missionary Church where he spoke in favor of Obama, and encouraged Americans to vote for this Illinois senator.

During the rally at the Civic center, Obama brought a fresh new outlook for the issues that are here in America.

His outlook on these issues fits both the Republican Party and Democratic Party, and he is willing to work between the party lines.

Obama continued to say that America needs healing, and Prof. Talyor sees that healing power in Obama, along with many other Americans.

The rally's doors opened at 3:30 p.m. on that Sunday, and Prof. Talyor said that most people could not get in till 4 p.m. She also said that she got there at 2 p.m. and there was already a line.

With thousands of Americans there to hear the presidential hopeful speak on his views of issues that are affecting Americans.

Obama discussed his views on the War on Iraq, which he was opposed to in the first place. He wants to end it as soon as possible and have the troops return home.

Obama wants to work on the problem of global warming and finding alternative fuel opinions. He also wants to help the youth of America by raising the minimum wage drastically. Raising minimum wage will help college students pay off those high loans that have to be taken out to attend the college of their choice.

Both Prim and Prof. Taylor along with many others, including Caroline Kennedy, are comparing Obama to this generation's John F. Kennedy.

In the interview with Prof. Taylor, she spoke on how she remembers when Kennedy ran for president and she sees a lot of the qualities that made Americans love Kennedy in Obama.

"People swarmed around him after the speech and he shook hands, autographed, and hugged. People were crying. He truly is a modern John F. Kennedy to so many people. What the country needs the most is hope and a person who is willing to fulfill expectations. He is that person to so many and the emotions of the general public are so strongly in favor of him because of this," said Prim.