Packed House
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Before Barack Obama took the stage Monday morning people stood in line for several hours hoping to get glimpse of the Illinois senator. The line started at 4:30 a.m. Monday morning and by the time the doors opened at nine the excitement had resonated around half of Billings West High School.

More than 3,000 people stood in a line that stretched around part of Billings West High School to see one man, Barack Obama. "We came here around 9 a.m. and it was a long line that means people are excited for elections and they want to participate," said Obama speech attendee Emmanuel Romulus.

But on this day people say the struggle isn't waiting for a good seat in the gym; it's finding a close place to park. "There is no parking, it’s bad enough with school kids, but when you have 3,000 other people show up its going to be tough to get parking around here," said Obama speech attended Sue Hannah.

Parking was such an issue at West High School, people were forced park there cars in the Hobby Lobby parking lot and walk the couple blocks, but they say that won't deter them from seeing Senator Obama. Police Chief Rich St. John says the morning commute went well. He says traffic wasn't bad and local business owners were very patient letting speech goers use their lots for overflow parking. "If we can get people to move along we can, but we want to have this thing come off without a big disturbance over parking specifically," said St. John. The chief says the only trouble the department ran into was vehicles parked in fire lanes, trouble that now has a handful of drivers looking at a $100 dollar ticket.

Chief St. John says several officers were also positioned around the high school making sure traffic was smooth in and out of campus.

Town Hall Meeting
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Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama packed the gymnasium of West High Monday with about three thousand supporters, volunteers and students.

In a town hall meeting that lasted just over an hour the democratic front runner touched on all of the kitchen table issues affecting Americans including the war in Iraq, better benefits for veterans, health care, the housing market, global warming, alternative sources of energy, the cost of higher education, wages and a need for basic change in Washington.

The Illinois Senator said, "everywhere I go people are standing up, they're saying we're tired of business as usual in Washington. We are going to vote. We're going to make ourselves heard. We're going to bring about change in America." During his appearance he mentioned his opponent, Hillary Clinton only once, complimenting her on her fight for the nomination. Instead, much of his time was spent focused on republican presumptive nominee John McCain.

"You can vote for John McCain and nothing will change. We'll keep fighting a war in Iraq that hasn't made us safer. We'll keep talking tough in Washington while countries like Iran ignore our tough talk. Or, we can turn the page. We can restore the tradition of tough, disciplined and principled and direct diplomacy that we've always used to protect the American people and advance American interests. That's what Kennedy did, that's what Reagan did and that's what I'll do as president of the United States of America."

Senator Obama took questions from an audience that voiced concerns about the high cost of insurance and college; asked for more money for public education and increased help for Native Americans.

He concluded his appearance with a promise to listen to the American people and to spend each and every day working for their interests.

One-on-One
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Between his Townhall meeting at Billings West High School and a rally at Crow Agency, we had a chance to interview Democratic Presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama one-on-one.

Here are a few of the questions KULR-8's Kathy Weber was able to ask. When asked of his impression of Big Sky Country, Obama said he loved it here, found the people to be warm and welcoming and he enjoyed the beauty of the landscape.

Kathy Weber: "Wyoming Governor, Dave Freudenthal, who has endorsed you has said you understood issues facing the West before the West had this role in the primary election. What Western issues do you vow to carry with you on this journey?"

Obama replied, " There are a couple priorities number one, how we use our natural resources, the west is extraordinary in part because of the land and we've got to figure out how we create sustainable development here. We want to make sure there is economic development and we are using those resources whether it's timber or mining but we also have to make sure it's sustainable so that we're passing on the natural beauty and grandeur of the landscape."

Kathy: "Immigration has not typically been a top policy priority for Montanans but recently in Yellowstone County there were some arrests made at a local refinery for workers illegally in the country. What is your immigration policy?"

Obama: "I've been active on working on comprehensive immigration reform since I've gotten onto the Senate. I think we have to have stronger border security, surveillance; we've got to have better border patrol. But we also have to crack down on employers who are hiring undocumented workers because they don't want to pay U.S. workers fair wages. That is something we've got to pay a lot of attention to. Once we've done those things and people feel secure we've done everything we can to keep undocumented workers from coming here. We also have to think about how do we surface those who are already here many of whom have put down roots here, Making sure they pay a fine, learn English, but give them an opportunity over the long run to be a part of the American community."

When asked if he would return to Montana for the June 3rd primary Obama said, "Hopefully."

Crowd Reactions
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When it was all said and done Monday, Senator Barack Obama brought the crowd to a fever pitch many times.

Kenny Brown, Billings, said the senator's plan to improve veteran's health care and end the War in Iraq impressed him, as his two daughters are with the U.S. Armed Forces. "I don't think Iraq is one of the issues I'm willing to sacrifice my children for, or any one else's children for right now," said Brown.

Senator Obama's message of creating an open and transparent White House impressed Montana State Representative Kendall Van Dyk. "To bring more transparency to the process after eight years of secrecy it's so refreshing," said Van Dyk.

His plan for education reform, including restructuring the No Child Left Behind Act of the Bush Administration, also brought the crowd out of their seats.

Clinton Supporters
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Hillary Clinton supporters aren't giving up on their ca ndidate just yet. Yellowstone County Commissioner Bill Kennedy has publicly thrown his support behind Senator Clinton's bid for the White House. He said it's important for Democrats to focus on party unity while looking toward November.

"I think when it comes down to is that people want to see a change in the White House," he said. "As these two candidates go forward and as the pick is made, the Democratic party comes together."

Republicans Response
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Montana Republicans said Senator Obama is wrong for the Treasure State. GOP leaders said the senator's position on developing coal resources; gun rights and healthcare costs affecting small businesses are at odds with Montana voters.

Republicans said Obama is a gifted speaker, but his positions on several key issues, like gun control and a possible coal tax, don't mesh with the best interests of Montanans. "No amount of rhetoric and flowery language can cover up the fact that he's just plain wrong for Montana on a lot of issues that we care about," said Montana GOP Chairman Erik Iverson in a telephone press conference out of Helena.

Iverson also said Montanans should keep an eye out for a visit by presumptive Republican candidate John McCain in the coming months.

Obama visits Crow Country
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Senator Obama was born to a teenage mother and his father left them when he was two, but on Monday he found a new family in Crow Agency. He was adopted by the Black Eagle family before taking the stage. He was also given a Crow name that means "one who helps people throughout the land."

Obama may be a part of the family, but he's a little rusty on the local dialect. He struggled to pronounce the name of the tribe, Apsáalooke then asked the crowd for forgiveness. "I was just adopted into the tribe," Obama said. "I'm still working on pronunciations."

When it got down to business, Obama said he'll watch out for the family. "That means providing quality affordable healthcare and world class education on reservations all across America," he said. "We will never be able to undo the wrongs that were committed to Native Americans, but what we can do is make sure we have a president who's committed to doing what's right with Native American's being a full partner. Respecting you. Honoring you. Working with you. That's the commitment I'm making to you and since now I'm a member of the family, you know that I won't break my commitment to my own brothers and my own sisters."

Tribal officials cancelled school and closed tribal offices to allow people to attend the event. Its estimated about 3,000 people were at the rally.