'Anything Possible,' Obama Tells Crowd

Two days away from the White House, Barack Obama joined a vast throng today at a roaring, rollicking pre-inauguration celebration staged before marble monuments to past heroes. "Anything is possible in America," he said. "Despite the enormity of the task that lies ahead—I stand here today as hopeful as ever that the United States of America will endure—that the dream of our founders will live on in our time."

Other highlights from the star-studded concert:

• Bruce Springsteen kicked things off with a rousing performance of his post-9/11 call to arms, "The Rising."
• Mary J Blige sang "Lean on Me."
• Obama was spotted mouthing the words as 89-year-old Pete Seeger sang "This Land Is Your Land."
• Beyonce closed down the show with a soulful rendition of "America the Beautiful."

(More Barack Obama stories.)