Obama Continues the Tradition of Utilizing Trains In Presidential Politics
Railroads have a rich past in playing a role in presidential politics. This year, candidates have taken numerous bus and plane trips. Now, presidential contender Barack Obama is taking an old-fashioned whistle stop tour while campaigning through Pennsylvania.
The New York Times reports:
”I’m really excited about this,” Obama said. ”This is great! Everybody, get on board now.”
And, with that, the candidate clambered aboard the Georgia 300 train car, pulled the whistle and set off.
Plush and upholstered, the coach is named General Polk and was built by Pullman Standard for the Southern Railway in 1930. It contains a kitchen, two living areas and a small bedroom, and it has been used by other politicians before, including Jimmy Carter, George H.W. Bush, and Bill Clinton, the former president and husband of Obama’s rival.