Pocono News Section

Obama Delivers Short Address

Obama Delivers Short Address - Monday, March 17, 2008 at 11:58PM EST

Reported by: Joe Holden
Monday, Mar 17, 2008 @11:58pm EST

SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY- Senator Barack Hussein Obama, D-IL, spent eight minutes, four seconds at the microphone. He delivered brief remarks at Monday night's Society of Irish Women dinner in Scranton. Close to 500 people packed the Radisson Hotel at Lackawanna Station ballroom for a St. Patrick's Day meal. During the course of Sen. Obama's comments, there was no mention of his opponent, Senator Hillary Clinton, D-NY.

Sen. Clinton has campaigned vigorously in the Scranton area, making two stops in the last seven days. Her husband, President Bill Clinton, has scheduled stops in Wilkes-Barre and Stroudsburg on Wednesday. Monday marked Sen. Obama's first visit to the area since Pennsylvania was catapulted into the limelight with a hefty number of delegates at stake. Sen. Obama is shown to have a moderate lead over Sen. Clinton, according to political pollsters.

Obama told the green-colored crowd he has Irish in his blood, pointing to roots on his mother's side. He made little mention of planned policy, only briefly referencing a "comprehensive immigration reform package" in the senate.

There's no word if Obama will be returning to the area anytime soon.