"That Feeling you get in His Presence . . ."

Supporters began lining up outside the Comcast Center in the frosty pre-dawn hours. Doors opened at 9:30 a.m., but Obama didn't take the stage until 1 p.m. In the interim, the giddy crowd, which including retirees, college students and families with babies in tow, danced to Motown tunes and hip-hop hits.

"He's electrifying," said Tamil Lloyd, 30, of Capital Heights, who stood in her front row seat for Obama's entire speech. "I heard him speak at Prince George's Community College last fall and afterward, I thought, 'How could anyone not vote for him?'"

Lloyd, who arrived with her mother-in-law and sister-in-law at the arena at 7:30 a.m. - five hours before Obama took the stage - said the family was still working on her converting her husband, a Clinton devotee.

"Oh, he's going to vote for him," she said. "His mother said so."

Linda Hollidge, 61, of Round Hill, Va., admitted she attended the rally to see if Obama would live up to his hype.

"I wanted to see if I got that feeling they say you get in his presence," she said. "Our country hasn't felt it in a hell of a long time." . . .!"

Obama gets rock-star welcome in Baltimore, at UM, Kelly Brewington and Tom Pelton. Baltimore Sun February 12, 2008.