DETROIT (AP) -- Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama took the stage at Joe Louis Arena on Monday night to thunderous applause and chants of ``Yes, we can!''
About 10 minutes into his introductory ``thank yous,'' hundreds of people still stood and cheered the Illinois senator.
Obama urged people in attendance to register to vote and become volunteers, saying ``this is a grass roots political movement that we're building.''
Obama thanked ex-Vice President Al Gore for his continued fight toward renewable energy. He also praised Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm for ``carrying this ship of state through some rocky times.''
Introducing Obama, Gore said the U.S. needs change now more than ever after eight years of the Bush administration. ``After 8 years of the worst, most serious policy mistakes in the history of our nation, we need change,'' Gore said.
Listen to Gore's speech:
Speaking before Gore and Obama, Granholm said Obama would help Michigan go from leading the nation in unemployment to leading the way to a new era of clean energy and fuel-efficient transportation.
``We'll have a new president in the White House, a president who'll be Michigan's partner, a president who'll fight for us,'' Granholm said. ``We in Michigan, we will build and sell the 100 mile-per-gallon vehicle. ... We have the skill, we have the will, and we'll have a president who's committed to a national energy policy to create those jobs here.''
Listen to Granholm's speech:
An hour before the 8:30 p.m. start of the rally, thousands of people already had found their seats in the home of the NHL Stanley Cup champion Red Wings.
Portions of past Obama speeches played on the four big scoreboard screens to thunderous applause, reminiscent of crowds that screamed the Red Wings to victory throughout the playoffs.
Listen to Obama's speech:
Aaron Mestel, 36, of Ann Arbor said he arrived about 5:30 p.m. and that the chance to hear Obama speak was worth the three hour wait.
``The other candidates all have said the same thing for so long,'' Mestel said. ``It's good to see that someone can actually make a difference. He's an exciting candidate and it's nice.''
Cynthia Kelly, 39, weaved through the rows of seats with her 9-year-old daughter and 8-year-old son in tow. ``This is a blessing,'' she said of Obama's rise and his first visit to Detroit since last July when he and other Democratic candidates participated in a debate at the NAACP convention in nearby Cobo Center. ``I'm honored to bring my kids to see him so they can our experience our new president.''
Outside Joe Louis Arena, street merchants were busy selling Obama T-shirts, including one for $10 that has the candidate's face on the front and the words, ``Change we can believe in.'' The back says, ``Yes we can.''
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