US News and WOrld Report:

"HARRISBURG, PA.—Presidential candidate Barack Obama's "Road to Change" bus tour rolled through this city of 47,000 on Sunday evening, drawing 1,500 who had stood in line on a cold Saturday morning for hours to get free tickets. The event followed a stop in State College, Pa., earlier in the day and drew a diverse crowd that often rose to its feet and chanted Obama's name. Both candidates have been crisscrossing the state in advance of the April 22 primary, and Clinton had an event scheduled in Harrisburg for Monday.


Sen. Bob Casey Jr., who announced his endorsement of Obama on Friday, introduced the candidate to supporters at the city's Forum Auditorium. The town hall-style meeting consisted largely of Obama answering questions from the crowd, from attendees young and old, and addressing such issues as healthcare, the war, wage discrimination, energy policy, mental health parity, and substance abuse.

Obama often bantered and joked with the audience and maintained a casual style that seemed to impress many attendees. He thanked the audience for its support during a long presidential race. "There have been babies that have been born and are now walking and talking" since he first announced his candidacy 15 months ago, Obama said jokingly. "I am running because of what Dr. [Martin Luther] King [Jr.] called the fierce urgency of now," he added, dismissing the concerns of those who suggested he not run for president now because he is young enough to wait.

But what the crowd seemed to appreciate most were answers perceived as frank and straightforward that didn't so much tell people what they wanted to hear as they did urge collaboration and participation from ordinary citizens in addressing issues such as wage discrimination and education. ..."