Fifteen-year-old Andrew Craig waited for about half an hour to hear Barack Obama's speech and to shake his hand.

Then he waited about 20 minutes more for the Illinois senator to autograph a paperback copy of his memoir, Dreams from My Father.

"I was elated that I got to meet, hopefully, the person who might become president," the Denver teen said after a campaign aide handed back his autographed book.

Now he just has to wait until the 2012 election to vote in a presidential campaign.

"Hopefully, I can vote for him in his second term," Andrew said.

Hope was a recurring theme among those interviewed following Sunday's rally.

Mary Ivanauskas said she likes Obama's stands on issues such as the environment and the war.

"It's hard to single out one issue," she said. "I like the way he talks about things that we have in common with one another."

"I love it. I love him," said Margaret Neal, of Denver. "I think he'll make an excellent presidential candidate, and, if he's elected, I think he'll follow through."