Dumbarton man helps Barack Obama win over America

Nov 14 2008 by Amanda McKendrick, Lennox Herald (main ed)

BARACK Obama’s successful bid to become America’s first black president was given a helping hand by a pal from Dumbarton.

Dan Casey, who now lives in Chicago, played his part in Obama’s election glory by rallying supporters in Indiana.

The 70-year-old, and his wife Dolores, knocked on hundreds of doors in Michigan City and helped ensure victory in Indiana, which has not voted Democrat for 20 years.

Mr Casey, who emigrated to America in 1959, said: “We first met Obama about two and a half years ago for coffee at a friend’s house. There were only half a dozen of us there. He spoke to us about what his plans were as a US senator and I decided to support him.

“My wife Dolores is Irish and was still an Irish citizen when she met Obama and she decided to become a US citizen because she wanted to vote for him.

“She not only became a US citizen, she became a super citizen. We ended up organising people to work for Obama in Indiana. We knew he was going to win Illinois but Indiana has not voted for a Democrat for 20 years.

“We worked in Michigan City which is a very poor city with a mixture of blacks and whites.

“We went door to door talking to people. We were very pleased that Indiana eventually voted for Obama.”

On election night, Dan, who grew up in Bellsmyre, and Dolores gathered with friends in a restaurant at Grand Park, just yards from where Obama addressed the nation following the momentous result.

“They had a big screen up and we had a few drinks as the results came in,” said Dan, who became an American citizen in 1968.

“Traffic was banned and people were walking down the middle of the street screaming and hugging each other, some were crying.

“I think Obama benefits from how bad Bush is. Obama has brains, he’s got skill and he appeals to a broad base.”

Dan, who owns Chicago firm Sterling Engineering, left Dumbarton when he was 21 but returns annually to visit family.

The life-long Democrat admits to being surprised by the reaction and response to the elections back home.

He added: “It is amazing to me the amount of interest in Scotland for what’s going on in America.

“Dolores’ mum summed it up when she said ‘the whole world is relieved that someone like him has been elected’.”