In Philadelphia, Obama Says He’s Pulling for Phillies

Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama drew hearty cheers at a rally in Philadelphia on Saturday by telling the championship-starved crowd he was supporting the Phillies in the Major League Baseball postseason.

“In the interests of full disclosure, I am a White Sox fan,” Obama said to boos.

“But, let me say that since the White Sox lost, I’ll go ahead and root for the Phillies now,” he said, eliciting loud shouts of approval. A video of his latest campaign promise was posted to YouTube and reported by The700Level.com. (See the clip below.)

Obama’s Chicago White Sox were eliminated from the playoffs by the Tampa Bay Rays but the Phillies are still in the mix.

Philadelphia-area voters must be growing accustomed to sports-related pandering from the presidential campaigns this year.

Obama’s announced his temporary allegiance to Philadelphia’s baseball team just hours before Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, the Republican vice presidential nominee, made an appearance at a Philadelphia Flyers game and was showered with boos (and some cheers).

During previous campaign stops in Philadelphia, Palin was photographed wearing a Phillies cap, Flyers jacket and Eagles football jersey.

Sen. Joe Biden (Del.), Obama’s running mate, is an avowed Philadelphia sports fan but told a New Hampshire crowd he’s pulling for the Boston Red Sox to advance and face his team in the World Series.

Republican presidential nominee John McCain supports his home-state Arizona Diamondbacks but has expressed a soft spot for the Red Sox. Sadly for McCain, the D’Backs didn’t make the playoffs this year.

–Jeffrey Young