GARY | U.S. Sen. Barack Obama spoke to enthusiastic crowds at Roosevelt High School for about an hour Thursday, highlighting opposition to the war in Iraq and the need to strengthen educational programs.

"This is the closest I've been to home in five days," the Democratic senator from Chicago said. "I was thinking about making a break for it. I'm tempted, but we've got some work to do right here."

His speech before a capacity crowd of 2,500 in the Bo Mallard Gymnasium was interrupted more than half a dozen times by spontaneous chants of "Obama!" and "We want change!"

Gary Mayor Rudy Clay addressed the crowd saying Gary's votes will push Obama to victory.

"The United States of America can not be what it ought to be unless Gary, Indiana is what it ought to be," Clay said. "It's been 40 years since a presidential candidate graced our city. Thank God for this moment."

The Rev. Issac Culver, pastor of Jerusalem Missionary Baptist Church in Gary, provided the invocation for the event.

"Bless Sen. Obama, bless his family, bless his campaign and bless all those who are involved," Culver said.

Among the area politicians attending the event were Indiana Rep. Charlie Brown, G-Gary; Lake County Recorder Mike Brown; Lake County Surveyor George Van Til; Lake County Clerk Tom Philpot; Lake Superior Court Judge Julie Cantrell; Hammond City Councilman Anthony Hicks; Indiana Sen. Earline Rogers, D-Gary; Indiana Sen. Mara Candelaria-Reardon, D-Munster and Lake County Commissioner Roosevelt Allen.

"This is a historic moment for us," Allen said. "This is the first time since 1968 that the campaign is proceeding to this extent without having a nominee."

Candelaria-Reardon said she faced similar opposition in her run for office as Obama, with people telling her, she, "just didn't have the experience, it just wasn't my turn."

She said she believes Obama will go on to victory like she did.

Gwendolyn Evans of Chicago teaches at West Side High School and said the Obama campaign is important because it is getting young people excited about being involved in the process.

"He's run a great campaign," Evans said after a two-hour wait in the cold, wet line. "It's been positive. He's going to be the next president."

Three Gary high school students were among those in line waiting to hear the Illinois senator speak. The girls said they are excited about voting for the first time after registering to vote at their schools.

Talia Morton said she is undecided about her vote.

"We just want to hear Barack Obama speak before we decide who to vote for," said Morton, a senior at Lew Wallace High School.

"I never really paid attention to politics until now," said Bianca Humphrey, a senior at West Side High School. "If Barack Obama is truthful in what he says, it can actually bring change for us."

Sherry Ivory of Gary waited outside the school with her daughter and granddaughter Thursday morning, saying she was excited to have three generations attending the historic event.

"Nothing like this has happened since Bobby Kennedy was here and it's worth the wait," Ivory said. "We feel important and the candidate is important."

Pat Crittendon drove to Gary from Kokomo early Thursday for the speech, saying she's excited to hear Obama speak and does not believe the race is over as some pundits have reported.

"With this superdelegate thing, it really worries me and I don't believe the will of the people is always done," Crittendon said.

Tickets, which were free, are required for entry to the event and were exhausted within three hours of becoming available earlier this week.

Obama's opponent, U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton, filled the 5,000-seat Hammond Civic Center for a public speech March 28. The Bo Mallard Gymnasium at Roosevelt is about half the size of the Hammond Civic Center.

Clinton is scheduled to visit Valparaiso Saturday.