A few hours before Michelle Obama spoke to a crowd of more than 10,000 people, a rally only blocks away promoted a different point of view.
About 25 people gathered Wednesday on the steps of Gainesville City Hall to support the anti-abortion stances of Sen. John McCain and Gov. Sarah Palin.
The "McCain for Life Rally" was hosted by Gainesville resident Dana Luca in collaboration with UF College Republicans and Yes2Marriage.org.
Luca said she decided to hold the rally when she heard Michelle Obama, wife of Sen. Barack Obama, was coming to Gainesville.
"This is not about hate," Luca said in her speech. "We just want her to know the basic facts of life."
Others at the rally spoke against abortion and advocated the Florida Marriage Protection Amendment, or Amendment 2, which will be on the ballot Nov. 4 and would define marriage as a union between one man and one woman.
Bryan Griffin, chairman of UF College Republicans, spoke in favor of Amendment 2 and conservative values. UF College Republicans stand for equality, he said, but they also stand for the sanctity of marriage and life as "God-given rights."
Ryan Pahota, a UF history junior, said he attended the McCain rally because he wanted to make it known that not everyone agrees with Michelle Obama. Pahota said he supports McCain because he believes in limiting the power of the federal government.
Pahota said he was not going to see Michelle Obama, but he thought it would have been a good opportunity to hear the other side.
"It would be nonsensical to only listen to one side of the argument," he said.
Luca said she thought it was important for people who disagree with Obama to still welcome her.
"No one has to throw eggs," she said. "Everyone in this wonderful thing we call America - everyone has a voice."
