LEESBURG, Va. - Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama (web|news|bio) returned to Battleground Virginia Wednesday, his eighth trip to the critical swing state since his party's convention.

Paul Darby was one of the Obama faithful who showed up Tuesday to volunteer. He helped set the stage for the man that polls show with a narrow lead in the Commonwealth. "Virginia is pivotal," he said. "It's the chance of a lifetime."

"It's thrilling and actually, I live in Loudoun and I moved here four years ago -- came as a Democrat, kinda felt a little lonely for a while," said one woman who was volunteer. She said she doesn't feel lonely anymore.

On Wednesday, NewsChopper 7 hovered over Ida Lee Park in Leesburg where thousands gathered to listen to the Democratic candidate. The Associated Press estimates 35,000 people showed up for the event.

James Rivera was the very first in line at 7:30 a.m., but Jill Wagner was not far behind, saying she wanted to be their for her kids. "I wanted them to hopefully see our next president."

"I just want to see him," said one attendee. But it's more than that for most; this is a movement they attest, one that can bring what Obama preaches--change.

"I want to see change happen in this country. I want to see a clean sweep of the White House. I want to see our international reputation restored," said one attendee.

And for many, it's about jobs. "I know, I've seen my friends go from master carpenters to raking up yards," said attendee, Willie Brown. "It's history in the making. We're history in the making and we're glad to be part of it." 

Obama took several pokes at a McCain adviser's recent comment that the downstate, more rural parts of the state are the "real Virginia." "Some folks may not think so, but this looks like the real Virginia to me. ... And y'all look like Virginians," said Obama.

Meanwhile, Willie Brown and the rest say Virginia, a red state, may turn blue for the first time in 44 years, which is no easy feat. But if the crowds signify anything, they have the momentum.

After his Virginia visits on Wednesday, Obama will take some days off from campaign to visit his sick grandmother in Hawaii. Madelyn Payne Dunham essentially raised the young Barack Obama, giving him a place to call home while his mother traveled the world. When he needed money for school, she went without new clothes to help pay his tuition.

The 85-year-old former bank executive is said to be "gravely ill" after falling and breaking her hip, and some reports suggest she might not live to see the results of the Nov. 4 election. Whatever happens, she's already lived long enough to see her "Barry" achieve what she'd wanted for him, her brother says.

"I think she thinks she was important in raising a fine young man," Charles Payne, 83, said in a brief telephone interview Tuesday from his Chicago home. "I doubt if it would occur to her that he would go this far this fast. But she's enjoyed watching it."

Obama canceled events in Iowa and Wisconsin on Thursday. His wife Michelle will take his place in Ohio on Friday. Hillary Clinton will keep stumping for him, too.

But will the time away from the campaign trail hurt the candidate in a tight race?

"Voters see him tend to his ailing grandmother -- that's not necessarily, politically, a bad thing," said Politico's Jonathan Martin.

Obama is scheduled to be back on the campaign trail, in full force, Saturday.