Presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) spoke to a wildly responsive crowd of hundreds at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium Friday afternoon.

The well-dressed crowd gave their first round of applause before anyone came onstage. They clapped and cheered when a video about Obama’s work flashed the line “Alone among the major candidates he opposed the war.”

Over 40 women sat on bleachers behind Obama’s podium. They ranged from the owner of a hat store in Pacific Heights to the Los Angeles City Controller. Five of the women spoke on Obama’s behalf before he took the stage.

“He’s here to transform the country and fundamentally change politics,” said Stephanie Chan, the 20-year-old who founded Students for Obama.

Kim Mack, an Obama campaigner, spoke with a quavering voice about her son who is serving as a medic in Iraq.

“He will never send our children into an unjust war,” said Mack of Obama.

Obama bounded onto the stage and hugged each of the supporters sitting in the front row of the bleachers before beginning his speech with a joke about living with three Women for Obama who don’t always applaud him: his wife and two young daughters.

“Sometimes I do get applause when I remember to rinse out the dishes and put them in the dishwasher,” said Obama.

The senator expressed a desire to change the influence of lobbyists on politicians. He explained that he was doing his campaign without taking any money from lobbyists, and that he intended to work across party lines.

Obama also touched on each big topic: energy use, ending the war in Iraq, making health care universal, and improving America’s image abroad.

“I will not be a perfect president, but I will always tell the truth,” said Obama, “and I will ask you to be involved in your own democracy again.”

Obama received two standing ovations in the middle of his speech. The crowd chanted his name, and many audience members described him as genuine.

“I decided on the spot, spontaneously, to endorse him,” said Los Angeles City Controller Laura Chick.

“I’ve been riding the fence, and I think he got me today,” said Rehba Haynes, who compared Obama to the late civil rights leader Malcolm X.

“He said a few things that reminded me of Malcolm,” she added.

After his speech Obama descended from the stage and waded through the crowd to shake hands with audience members. A wall of camera phones and digital cameras snapped at him.

About 50 volunteers worked the event according to Sherry Cassedy, the volunteer coordinator. Women for Obama planned the event while coordinating with Obama’s staff, and began making arrangements about four months ago.

“It was a great event, and leave it to women to do it right,” said Obama afterwards.