by KYW's Brad Segall

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama brought his campaign for change to Montgomery County, Pa. on Friday morning with a rally at Abington High School.

The crowds started lining up at 4am to get a chance to see Obama and hear his message of change. Obama stepped off his campaign plane hours later at Philadelphia International Airport, preparing to talk about his plans to make the lives of working-class families easier.

Jessica from Oreland, Pa. is an Obama supporter who couldn’t wait to see her candidate:

“I admire him deeply. He has a deep need to change this country.  The past eight years have really driven us downward, and I think he’s going to bring us back up.”

The Obama campaign was expecting as many as 5,000 people at the high school stadium. Party leaders say his appearance here indicates how critical a role Montgomery County will play in next month’s election.  Their goal is to sway the undecided voters and put the battleground state of Pennsylvania in Obama's column on election night.

Abington school superintendent Dr. Amy Sichel said on Thursday that the entire high school student body had been invited to the rally:

"To see democracy in action, there could not be a better way for our students to understand the democratic process and how our country works.”

Dr. Sichel says the rally complies with school board policy and that an invitation has also been extended to the McCain campaign to use their facilities.

KYW's Decision '08 Coverage