HIGHLAND | A sea of hands shot in the air Friday night as Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama asked how many residents already had cast their votes.
The U.S. senator from Illinois, along with state and local Democratic politicians, urged residents to take advantage of early voting.
"Let's go ahead and get this thing done here in Indiana," Obama called.
MORE: See photos from Friday's rally for Barack Obama in Highland.
Early voting has been a hot-button issue for the last month in Lake County. The Lake County elections board's approval of additional early voting centers in Gary, Hammond and East Chicago had ignited a court battle by Republicans, who argued multiple voting centers increased the likelihood of vote fraud.
U.S. Rep. Pete Visclosky, who was among the politicians welcoming and introducing Obama on Friday in Wicker Park, said his "fervent hope" was that no one would wait until Tuesday to vote.
About 40,000 people attended Obama's rally Friday night in Wicker Park, according to the North Township trustee's office. A packed line of supporters weaved through the park, with many toting Obama paraphernalia and mini American flags.
Obama played off the Halloween holiday during his 30-minute speech.
"John McCain didn't have any trouble (deciding what costume to wear)," Obama said. "Just like every year, he's going as George W. Bush."
Obama struck out at the Republican congressman from Arizona during his speech. He said the nation couldn't afford another eight years of the same.
McCain-Palin 2008 Indiana Co-Chairman Luke Messer responded earlier Friday to Obama's visit to Lake County via a written statement.
"It is fitting that Barack Obama chose Halloween for his latest visit to Indiana, because he masquerades as a moderate when in reality he is the most liberal presidential candidate in modern history," Messer said. "He masks his plan to 'spread the wealth around' with massive tax increases by calling it a 'tax credit,' all the while proposing a trillion dollars in spending on new government programs."
Obama said Friday night that, if elected, he will go "line by line" through the federal budget to delete programs that aren't needed and ensure the programs that are vital are funded and working properly.
He urged withdrawal from Iraq, a creation and retention of jobs in the United States and tax cuts for "95 percent of Americans who work every day."
However, Obama said, "The change we need won't come from government alone."
He urged residents to have accountability.
"I can put more money in education, but I can't be the parent turning off the TV and saying, 'Do your homework,'" he added.
Obama said his campaign promises won't come easily or quickly, but he asked supporters to believe.
Four days until the election, he repeated throughout his speech. Four days.
