Standing in the intense cold and wind for hours, thousands lined up outside Hynes Convention Center on Saturday hoping to catch a glimpse of President Barack Obama during his stop at a fundraiser for Gov. Deval Patrick.
Charlie Volkstorf, who was first in line, had been waiting since 4 a.m.
“I haven’t eaten in a day and I’m totally dehydrated but nothing will take me from this spot,” he said.
Volkstorf said he was determined to get into the rally after being rejected last year when Obama spoke at Northeastern University.
“I got there three hours early and I got nowhere,” he said. “I mean the line moved for five minutes and stopped. I heard the first guy in line got there at 6 a.m. so I decided to beat that guy by two hours.”
School of Management freshman Alexis Redman and College of Arts and Sciences sophomore Lincoln Hill arrived at Hynes at 7:15 a.m. to see the president.
“Just to see him would be nice, that’s an experience of a lifetime in itself,” Redman said.
Michelle Jordan, of Dorchester, stood in line wearing a hat that read, “I love Obama” and a pin with the Obama family on it.
“I was at inauguration but I wasn’t close enough so I’m hoping to get closer today and see him and be part of history,” she said. “I’m really excited &- I’m hoping he addresses education. I’m really big on education because I work in the Boston Public Schools.”
Jordan wasn’t the only one donning decorative displays.
Mike Thibodeau and his friend, Alicia, wore shirts that said “Yes, together we can” and “Deval-Obama: No ordinary leaders.”
Thibodeau said the two stayed up the night before making the T-shirts to prepare for the rally.
“It’s a very special experience for us to come and show our support,” he said.
John Niles, a member of Veterans for Peace, held a large flag for the group as he stood with several other protesters near the front entrance of the convention center.
“We are protesting against the fact that president of the U.S is still conducting what we know to be unnecessary, illegal immoral and unattainable wars that are draining our economy of our treasure and young blood,” he said. “These wars are consuming trillions of dollars which then makes everything in care supply &- for what?”
With the thousands waiting outside, event volunteers inside the convention center prepared for the arrival of politicians and attendees.
“We’re here to make sure Gov. Patrick is re-installed in the statehouse for another four years,” a volunteer who wished to remain anonymous said. “That’s all of our goal and the focus of our day today.”
The volunteers attended a training session the night before where they were organized into different groups, the volunteer said.
But also behind the convention center’s doors was the 2010 Boston Comic-Con, where hundreds stood in line to see their favorite graphic novel superheroes.
“I think it’d be awesome to be able to see Obama and say “hi, fix the country’ to him,” said Kayla Fitzgerald from Revere.
“But we’re here for Buffy.”
“Well I’m a huge fan of Obama, and I’m a huge fan of Comic-Con, but I don’t know if they planned that out or not,” added Ian Gothier, another Comic-Con attendee. “I’ve definitely seen some Obama people lining up in the wrong line for Comic-Con. I think that it would be a great photo-op for Obama, a photo with Superman.”
Some in line for the rally were turned away and others were taken into a room inside the venue to watch on a screen.
But according to The Associated Press, about 10,000 people made it inside Hynes to hear the speeches.
The Boston Police Department did not have an official estimate of how many people were outside, BPD officials said.
Staff writer Josh Cain contributed reporting to this article.
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