Obama attends church in Lima, campaigns in Toledo

LIMA and TOLEDO, August 31, 2008 (AP): Barack Obama continued his campaign tour of battleground Ohio with a stop on Sunday in Lima, where he attended services at a Lutheran church.

Obama took communion and shook hands with other worshippers during the 10 a.m. service. His name wasn’t mentioned by Lars Olson, the church’s pastor, although Olson did refer to him as a special guest.

Olson said he was first told of the visit at about 8:30 a.m. Lima police officers received a call at about the same time. After the service, Obama chatted outside with supporters for about 25 minutes.

Obama campaigned in northeast Ohio and spoke at a rally outside Columbus in Dublin on Saturday. With his stop in Lima, he became was the first Democratic presidential candidate in decades to visit Allen County, a longtime Republican stronghold.

``It’s the first time that I know that a Democratic candidate came here,'' said Ruby Sims, 58, a local party activist. ``We always get Republicans.''

Obama traveled to Toledo Sunday afternoon for an economic forum at the main branch of the Toledo-Lucas County Library. On top of the library’s 3^rd story terrace, over 100 reporters—many of whom were “traveling reporters”—and dozens of security officers surrounded the 250 invited guests, in a format best described as a Town Hall Meeting.

Obama’s running mate, Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware, mentioned the Anthony Wayne/Clay High Schools’ football game that went into five overtimes Friday night, saying that a win in Ohio for the Democratic ticket would ensure a victory in the national electoral vote. Anthony Wayne won, 52 to 46. 

Obama and Biden traveled to Michigan for more campaigning Sunday evening and Labor Day. See page 4.