Obama stops at the Raleigh Times Bar

ryanteaguebeckwith — Tue, 06 May 2008 18:24:58 -0400

Barack Obama made a last-minute, surprise appearance at a downtown bar this afternoon, ordering a Pabst Blue Ribbon and spending half an hour greeting voters.

"Everyone voted?" he hollered, walking up Martin Street as he headed into the smoking section of the Raleigh Times bar around 5:30 p.m., Barb Barrett reports.

He went inside, ordered a draft and tipped bartender Jay Winfrey $18.

"I think he forgot his change," Winfrey joked.

Obama hoisted his beer, took a sip and asked again if everyone had voted. "You've only got two hours!" he said.

As some two dozen journalists crowded around with cameras and notebooks, Obama chatted up voters at the bar, including a fellow in a suit and carpenters Matt Swean, 25, and Craig Evans, 50.

He greeted the men, asked them what they did for a living.

Swean said later he wasn't planning to vote.

Evans would vote later, he said, but he wouldn't say who for. Asked whether Obama's visit might change his mind, he smiled. "Not really."

More after the jump.

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Obama stops at the Raleigh Times Bar