People eager to see a sitting president speak in their own backyard are lining up outside Alumni Arena at the University at Buffalo for tickets to see President Barack Obama on Thursday. Single tickets will be distributed on a first come, first served basis starting at 5 p.m. Tuesday. It remains unclear exactly how many tickets will be handed out.
"It's a historical event. Not a lot of people can say they got to be in the same room as a sitting president," said Jordan Camarre of Lockport, who has been waiting in line since 1:30 a.m.
Liz Barnes got in line at 7 a.m. She says Obama's presidency is an important lesson for her young daughter.
"I voted for him in 2008. I voted for him again in 2012. I think what he's done as our president representing a minority population has been awesome. I'm am so grateful to be part of the history that voted for him and show my little girl that anybody can be president," Barnes said.
Mark Cunningham has also been in line since 7 a.m. He says he is excited to see a president he considers to be a dynamic speaker.
"I voted for him twice. I approve of his policies. I'm very glad he got elected this term. I think he's a very literate, well-spoken man and he's got a good brain, and that's why I want to see him," Cunningham said.
President Obama is scheduled to speak at UB 11:15 a.m. Thursday. Doors open at 9 a.m and security will be tight. No other stops have been announced by the White House.
UB says around 8,500 faculty members, staff and students registered online for tickets. The winners were notified by e-mail Tuesday.
Lines were forming from 7 p.m. Monday evening Syracuse’s Henninger High School where President Obama will speak. They camped out in front of a sign taped up reading 'President Obama tickets line starts here.'
Umbrellas and other makeshift sources of shade replaced blankets and pillows as the sun began to beat down. By 10 a.m. Tuesday that lined snaked along the parking lot and off school grounds.
Bob Buchanan is a retired city worker. His daughter got in line for him at 11 p.m. Monday night. He showed up early Tuesday morning after finishing dialysis.
"I think it’s kind of exciting to have these guys out here showing some enthusiasm," said Buchanan.
Buchanan talked about what he would say in the unlikely chance he got to meet Mr. Obama. He’d tell the president to get more young people to work.
"You got a lot of kids out here that need jobs that don’t have any kind of direction. This would be a great way to give them something to do, a way to make money for them," said Buchanan.
Buchanan suggests infrastructure projects as a source of jobs.
Wristbands were distributed shortly before noon to those who had showed up early enough to get a coveted ticket.
Similar scenes are likely in Binghamton where the President is scheduled to hold a Town Hall-style meeting on the UBinghamton Vestal campus on Friday at around 12:45 p.m.
WBFO will have complete coverage of President Obama's visit the day of the event.
