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Obama "breaking away" in Indiana

Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama decided to bask in the glow of this weekend's Little 500 bicycle race at Indiana University in Bloomington, Ind.

The Associated Press reported that Obama, the junior U.S. senator from Illinois, "waded into Bill Armstrong Stadium on Friday and was greeted by a colorful array of spandex and a raucous student body. The race announcer credited him with bringing the good weather."

Obama climbed to the receiving stand and waved, but he made no remarks, AP reported. He then walked along the edge of the track as students and race participants strained to shake his hand or take his picture. Obama then watched the 32-team, 100-lap women's race.

The Little 500 continues today with the men's race, which was immortalized in the 1979 film "Breaking Away." For those of you who haven't seen the film, do so. It's a classic coming-of-age movie involving four Bloomington friends who wind up racing the Little 500 as the "Cutters," named after the people who worked at limestone quarries surrounding the southern Indiana city.

The Bloomington area also is known as being the home of the Hilly Hundred, one of the Midwest's best bicycle events.

Labels: Indiana, movies, politics

Roger 0 comments 2:14 AM