Across the rolling fruited plains dotted with wheat fields and within eyesight of the Rocky Mountains, sits Great Falls, Montana, tucked between several smaller mountain ranges and in the middle of an intercontinental ballistic missile field with 150 Minuteman III nuclear missiles.

Great Falls is the county seat for Cascade County. With a county population of around 80,000, the hardworking folks of the area turn out for celebrities and politicians. Back in 2005, an overflow crowd filled the Four Seasons Arena (capacity 6,500) to hear President George W. Bush discuss something as exciting as Social Security. An overflow crowd was not surprising considering Bush/Cheney carried Cascade County with 57% of the vote in 2004. Country superstars Big & Rich sold out their concert in Great Falls back in July 2005, bringing in over 6,100 fans.

Some could even portray Great Falls, Montana, as the typical place where folks “cling to guns and religion.”

Democratic Presidential Candidate Barack Obama is used to filling arenas across the nation and this has been the norm for the Obama campaign. We’ve seen the photos and the videos of his speeches with crowds in the tens of thousands. His campaign has zeroed in on the fact that he’s bringing people out who normally don’t participate in politics.

The Obama “Arena Rock Concert” did not “sell out” Friday night in Great Falls, Montana. People just did not show up. Obama’s first swing through the “Electric City” only drew 2,000 to 2,400 people.

From the Great Falls Tribune:

Supporters greeted Obama warmly, but the arena was less than half full for the event. City Fire Marshal Doug Bennyhoff estimated the crowd at 2,400 people, or about 37 percent of the arena’s 6,500 capacity. Bennyhoff expressed surprise the crowd was not larger.

From KRTV (Local CBS Affiliate):

Obama told about 2,000 people at a rally in Great Falls on Friday night that Democrats will have their nominee next week, and also made clear that he believes it will be him.

Although Cascade County Montana voted for Bush/Cheney in 2004 and two-thirds of their county commission are Republicans, their state legislative team from the area are almost entirely Democrats. The Obama Campaign has an office in Great Falls and had a few days to gather the troops for the big show. Obama’s folks were helped mightily by the local media, who only get to cover events like this every few years.

But something strange happened to the Obama campaign Friday night – people did not show up – there were plenty of empty seats, which should cause his campaign some concerns about the Montana primary on June 3. Maybe folks were spending a beautiful and sunny Friday evening target practicing or attending church?

But take heed Obama team – Montana probably won’t count for much in November.