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'They're starting to seriously worry': Concerngrowing about low turnout at Obamainauguration

Hotel rooms remain unbooked ahead of January 21 inauguration ceremonyOrganizers expecting much lower turnout than 2009 ceremony, when nearly 2million people flocked to the National Mall

By Daily Mail Reporter and Associated Press

PUBLISHED: 12:34 EST, 6 January 2013 | UPDATED: 12:34 EST, 6 January 2013

Crowds may have flocked to the National Mall to see President Obama make history in 2009, but the teambehind the president's 2013 inauguration bash later this month are bracing themselves for a ton of emptyseats.

The ceremony that Washington will stage in a few weeks won't be the historic affair it was in 2009, whennearly 2 million people flocked to the Capitol o watch Obama take the oath of office.

This time, District of Columbia officials expect between 600,000 and 800,000 people for Obama's publicswearing-in on the steps of the Capitol on Monday, January 21.

're starting to seriously worry': Concern growing about low turnout ... http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2258011/Theyre-starting

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Staging area: D.C. officials are expecting between 600,000 and 800,000 people forObama's public swearing-in on the steps of the Capitol on Monday, January 21

Two weeks before the big day, plenty of hotel rooms still haven't been booked. Four years ago, some hotelssold out months in advance.

There will be just two official inaugural balls this year, both at the Washington Convention Center, rather than10 official balls at multiple locations around town.

The pair of celebrations are the lowest number since 1953, according to the New York Post.

A political insider told the paper: 'Some on the presidential inaugural committee are starting to seriously worry.'

His inaugural committee has also scaled the celebration back to three days of festivities, instead of four.

Some changes are on account of the slowly recovering economy and a desire by planners to ease the securityburden on law enforcement.

Swearing in: First Lady Michelle Obama holds the Bible as President Obama takes the

oath of office in this 2009 photo


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Turnout: The 2012 inauguration is not expected to draw the same crowd that flocked to

the event in 2009, pictured

But they also reflect a realization that the thrill for Obama's second inauguration burns a little weaker.

'There certainly will not be the sort of exultation you saw four years ago,' said Mike Cornfield, a GeorgeWashington University political science professor.

One reason why, Cornfield said, is it simply lacks the dramatic transfer of power from one president to thenext.

Sealed with a kiss: President Obama kisses his wife Michelle after he is sworn in as the44th president of the United States during the 2009 ceremony

'This is not a change that commands people's interest automatically,' Cornfield said. 'It's a confirmation of


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power.'

Even Obama acknowledges he's already, shall we say, a little washed-up the second time around.

'I think that a lot of folks feel that, "Well, he's now president. He's a little grayer. He's a little older. It's not quiteas new as it was,"' the president often told supporters while campaigning for re-election.

There will be a parade, but it's expected to be smaller too; about 130 groups and 15,000 people marcheddown Pennsylvania Avenue to the White House in 2009.

Obama will be sworn in first on January 20, the date set by the Constitution, but it will be done in private sincethe day falls on a Sunday.

His public swearing-in the next day also falls on the federal holiday honoring civil rights leader Martin LutherKing Jr., branding the occasion with another layer of historical significance, especially for African-Americans.

Lessened interest in the second inauguration of a two-term president such as Obama could be a naturalfunction of America's political process, said Daniel Klinghard, associate professor of political science at theCollege of the Holy Cross.

'When it's your first [inauguration], you're new and people are only seeing the potential in you,' Klinghard said.'By the time the second one rolls around they're used to your voice, they're used to you saying certain kinds of

things.'One group for whom the Obama thrill remains strong is African-Americans, who overwhelmingly wanted him tohave four more years in the White House.

More than nine in 10 blacks voted to re-elect Obama, according to surveys of voters as they left their pollingplaces in November.

Victory: Obama, pictured with the first family on Election night, will be inaugurated for

his second term privately on January 20, with a public ceremony to follow the next day

Hilary O. Shelton, director of the NAACP's Washington office, said he has fielded hundreds of telephone callsand emails since the November 6 election from chapter officials in South Carolina, Florida, New York, Maine,California and Washington state, all wanting tickets for their members.

Chapters from Richmond, Virginia, and Jackson, Mississippi, among others, are bringing groups to


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Washington for the festivities, he said.

'There's still a great deal of excitement within the African-American community about the second term of thefirst African-American president of the United States,' Shelton said.

Victoria Wimberley, owner of an Atlanta-based event planning business, brought four busloads of people toWashington for the 2009 inauguration.

She's coming again, though with two fewer buses, which she blamed on the high price for accommodations

and not any lack of excitement for Obama.

Superfan: Victoria Wimberley, who will be attending President Barack Obama'sinauguration for the second time, looks over some of the memorabilia in her home in

Decatur, Georgia


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Selling: A vendor hawks Obama merchandise in Washington, DC, ahead of his

inauguration

Wimberley said she feels 'the same level of joy, happiness, excitement and celebration' for Obama's secondswearing-in among the people she comes into contact with. 'Because now he can really go to work,' she said,explaining her view that another term should free him to govern without fear of any political repercussions.

Some of those who wanted a seat on one of Wimberley's buses weren't as sure Obama would win in

November as they were that he would win in 2008.

As a result, they held off on booking hotel rooms.

Then came Thanksgiving, preparing for Christmas and concerns about whether Obama and congressionalRepublicans would strike a deal to stop mandatory tax increases and spending cuts known as the 'fiscal cliff'from taking effect with the new year.

Fitful negotiations went down to the wire, with Congress sending Obama a bill late on New Year's Day.

When people did get around to pricing hotel rooms 'they just couldn't afford them,' Wimberley said. Manyhotels are charging hundreds of dollars a night for a room and requiring guests to stay at least three nights orfour nights.

Cost has been 'the major conversation for lots and lots and lots of people,' Wimberley said.

Read more:

Not in a giving mood for O - m.NYPOST.com

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Comments (105)

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That day will be like a bad dream. Not going to watch a minute of it.

- Floridian , USA, United States, 07/1/2013 03:10

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Who'd waste their time watching this phony get sworn in?

- wirelessmom , Wildwood, United States, 07/1/2013 03:09

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Bribe low infomation voters with their own tax dollars. throw in some wine if they stay til the end.

- vmwonders , petal, United States, 07/1/2013 03:08


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Thankfully, I have a job and honestly, I wouldn't waste my time.

- marie , disneyland, United States, 07/1/2013 03:05


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obviously i voted for obama and im almost certain that im more educated, sophisticated and worldly and income generating thanmost of you commenting without gov't help. bias idiots!

- politicalgal29 , The Big Apple, U.S., 07/1/2013 03:00


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With all of the screaming about the Debt, the President cut the amount of Inaugural Balls down to 2 from 9. Less Parties, FewerPeople in town. Not like in the Reagan days of 8 Inaugural Balls and a Gala with Frank Sinatra. It's still 2 weeks before the HighRollers know their schedule but I'm sure the town will Fill up. Last time his win was Epic, this one I can enjoy in the comfort of myhome - He Won, what more could I ask for? Have a Nice Day!

- enlightenedgirl , believe, 07/1/2013 02:47


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I voted for Obama this time, thinking he deserved to be rewarded for keeping his promise not to push the gun-control issue. I hadhoped the Right to Keep and Bear Arms might enjoy bi-partisan support. I thought the NRA's pre-election rhetoric was hysterical andunfounded. I won't discuss the way I now feel.

- fsilber , Memphis, 07/1/2013 02:47


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Last time 10 million went to the inauguration, 5 people actually missed work....

- Sayer , Dejuva, Djibouti, 07/1/2013 02:46


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THE PARTY IS OVER, FROM THE PEOPLE OF THE USA TO him.

- Tuppence , Saint Petersburg Florida, United States, 07/1/2013 02:46


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You know all the folks i talk to on a daily basis and i don't get how this yahoo got elected again, no one is willing to admit to voting forthis numb skull, and yes taxes are going up for everyone of us. If you work for a living and are not part of the entitlement society, hisfavorite folks. So you bho lovers can thank him for that.

- freydog1 , Lodi, United States, 07/1/2013 02:41


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Find this story at www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2258011/Theyre-starting-seriously-worry-Concern-growing-low-turnout-Obama-inauguration.html

Published by Associated Newspapers Ltd

Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group

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they're starting to seriously worry' concern growing about low

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