And The Crowd Went Wild

ROCHESTER -- Barack Obama beat back a small but vocal group of anti-abortion hecklers tonight at a packed rally here, parlaying the incident into his call for people of opposing views to talk to each other.

"Abortion is an abomination!" the group chanted from the balcony of the Rochester Opera House, barely three minutes into Obama's remarks.

He started off, "We appreciate your point, we'd be happy to talk to you afterwards."

But as his supporters started chanting his name, he stayed on message. "Now, now, this is an example of nobody hearing each other."

"I appreciate their point of view, but this isn't gonna solve anything."

As police led the hecklers out of the hall, Obama restored order. "Ok, the excitement is over .... Or rather, it's just beginning."

And the crowd went wild ...

[JOHN MERCURIO]