Sen. Kennedy speaks at UTPA; Obama rally set for Friday morning

EDINBURG — Hundreds of students and other Rio Grande Valley residents await the arrival of Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., at a rally for Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama today at the University of Texas-Pan American in Edinburg.

Sen. Obama, D-Ill., will speak at a rally for his presidential campaign Friday at 9:30 a.m. at the University of Texas-Pan American, Mayor Joe Ochoa said.

Obama will give an outdoor address in front of the Chapel on the UTPA campus.

Ochoa made the announcement during an Obama rally Wednesday afternoon at UTPA.

Many of the speakers at the rally emphasized the need to organize Obama's efforts in the Valley by pledging to vote, organizing campaign events and appointing precinct captains — people who spearhead campaign efforts in each voting precinct.

Kennedy took the stage to a standing ovation. He emphasized the importance of Texas' primary on March 4.

"The eyes of the world, my friends, are going to be on Texas," Kennedy said. "You have the opportunity to select not only the Democratic canddiate, but really the next president of the United States."

"No one could have predicted the kind of role Texas is going to have on March 4."

Kennedy emphasized the importance of higher education among young people in South Texas, and added that the federal government could do more to help.

"We do not do enough," he said. "We do not provide the kind of help and assistance at the national level."

Kennedy also criticized President Bush's leadership and called on young people to support Obama.

"We will have a new vision, a new leadership to respond to the challenges we are having here at home and overseas," he said.

State Rep. Eddie Lucio III, D-Brownsville, rallied the crowd in anticipation of Kennedy taking the stage just after 4 p.m. Wednesday. Lucio said he was inspired by Obama's message of change.

"I was motivated," Lucio said. "I was inspired. I wanted to take action for Barack Obama."

Obama volunteers have had trouble stirring up enough excitement to pack the 488-seat Student Union Theater. Inside are a mix of die-hards and undecided students, some of whom said they were dragged here by the Obama evangelists in their social circles.

Aaron Peña III, the son of State Rep. Aaron Peña, D-Edinbrurg, emphasized the importance for Valley residents to support Obama by volunteering time to the campaign.

"We need to take Barack Obama and get him in the presidency," he said.

Peña III's father supports rival presidential candidate Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-New York.

Ochoa has been one of the political faces here endorsing Sen. Obama. While most of the Valley's Democratic political elite are Hillary Clinton supporters, Ochoa said he doesn't "follow the pack" and is inspired by Obama.

"Obama is the face of the nation, which is so diversified," he said.

Kennedy's name stirs some and leaves others cold.

Ochoa shrugged, citing the youngest Kennedy brother's "colorful history."

"The Kennedy name, as is the Clinton name, is well-known in the Valley," Ochoa said.

But 28-year-old Rene Perez said Ted Kennedy is "a Democratic legend. Just his name brings back memories of his brothers," he said.