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Thousands of people gathered at Austin's Auditorium Shores Friday afternoon for a campaign rally for Illinois Senator and democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama.

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This is the second stop on Obama's three-city tour since announcing his candidacy for president.

The rally began at 2 o'clock on Auditorium Shores.

The gates opened at 12:30.

Turnout was expected to be around 17,000 supporters. The event was originally slated to be held at Gregory Gym on the University of Texas campus, but the overwhelming request for tickets required organizers to move the venue to a place where concerts, rather than political rallies, are held.

KVUE News

Dozens waited in line to enter Auditorium Shores where Barack Obama was scheduled to speak.

Austin, not usually a major city for presidential hopefuls, is Obama's second stop on a three-city tour that includes Los Angeles and Cleveland.

People who talked to KVUE News said they were excited about it for different reasons.

"I think that resonates well with the youth that are almost apathetic towards politics so he's really bringing people back into the mix," said Benjamin Tretter, University Democrats.