Berlin crowd cheers Obama

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., waves as he arrives at the Victory Column in Berlin, Thursday, July 24, 2008. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., waves as he arrives at the Victory Column in Berlin, Thursday, July 24, 2008. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Photo: Jae C. Hong, AP Photo: Jae C. Hong, AP Image 1 of / 9 Caption Close Berlin crowd cheers Obama 1 / 9 Back to Gallery

Sen. Barack Obama, standing before a cheering crowd of more than 200,000 in Berlin - many waving American flags - Thursday delivered an historic political address to a worldwide audience, telling Europeans that "there is no challenge too great for a world that stands as one " against terrorism and for peace.

In a speech that echoed famed addresses by both John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan - two American presidents who delivered landmark addresses in Berlin - the Democratic presidential contender urged Americans and their European allies, who together defeated communism, to "defeat terror and dry up the well of extremism that supports it."

"The walls between old allies on either side of the Atlantic cannot stand," the Illinois Senator said. "The walls between the countries with the most and those with the least cannot stand. The walls between races and tribes, natives and immigrants, Christian and Muslim and Jew cannot stand," he said.

"History reminds us that walls can be torn down, but the task is never easy," said Obama.

"True partnership and true progress requires constant work and sustained sacrifice...they require allies who will listen to each other, learn from each other, and most of all trust each other," he said to cheers.

Though Illinois Senator's address succeeded in delivering unprecedented international attention to his campaign in the midst of 2008 presidential contest, he told the Berlin audience that "I speak to you not as a candidate for president, but as a citizen - a proud citizen of the United States - and fellow citizen of the world."

He acknowledged to cheers that "I don't look like the Americans who have previously spoken in this great city," noting his mother "was born in the heartland of America, but my father grew up herding goats in Kenya," a note that was met with cheers from the crowd.

Obama's address noted both past American differences and its common ground with Europe - even as he acknowledged his country's strengths and mistakes.

"I know my country has not perfected itself," he said. "At times, we've struggled to keep the promise of liberty and equality (alive)...we've made our share of mistakes." But he said, "I also know how much I love America... I know for more than two centuries, we have strived ... to form a more perfect union."

Obama's address in Berlin held both delicate challenges and potential pitfalls for the candidate. By speaking directly to a huge audience in the heart of what former Bush defense secretary Donald Rumsfeld once dismissed as "old Europe," many said Obama had the opportunity to repair bonds and restore some of the good will that critics say was squandered after 9/11 by the Bush Administration as well as to outline a call for "change" to a worldwide audience.

And on the day of its delivery, Sen. John McCain's camp suggested the Illinois Senator appears to think he's already U.S. president, seizing on a report in the Atlantic Monthly that said he's already forming a transition team for the White House.

Republicans particularly jumped on the report, asking small groups of aides to "begin thinking through the process. Before they've even crossed the 50-yard line, the Obama campaign is already dancing in the end zone with a new White House transition team," said McCain spokesman Brian Rogers. "The American people are more concerned with Barack Obama's poor judgment and readiness to lead than his inaugural ball."

Prior to the address, Obama senior strategist Robert Gibbs released a statement underscoring Obama's outreach to European leaders, saying the candidate had "a warm and productive conversation" with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

"They covered a wide range of foreign policy issues, including Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, the Middle East peace process, Russia, and NATO. Senator Obama offered an overview of his trip and key impressions from discussions with leaders in the region, focusing, in particular, on the urgency of stopping Iran's pursuit of nuclear weapons," he said. "They also discussed climate change and broader economic challenges.''

Obama's Berlin address came as a new NBC Wall Street Journal poll showed strong evidence that Americans are looking for a new direction for the country; 74 percent of voters now believe that the country is on the wrong track, the lowest number ever recorded in the poll. The last time so many Americans held negative views about their country's direction was in 1992, when Democratic former Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton beat incumbent President George H.W. Bush in what was viewed as a pivotal "change" election.

But although Obama has held a 5 to 6 point national lead in many national polls, the latest polls show McCain has made some significant gains in key battleground states like Colorado, especially with regard to his national security and foreign policy credentials.

The Obama speech generated extraordinary attention in Europe regarding the appearance of a U.S. presidential candidate. Reporters on the scene said hundreds lined the streets in Berlin just to catch a glimpse of the candidate outside his hotel, Obama tee shirts sprung up around the city, a festive carnival atmosphere enveloped the city and thousands gathered hours before the speech to get a good spot.