Senator Obama does not have frequent media availabilities with his traveling press corps, so sometimes intrepid reporters have to find a way to get close enough to throw a question to the senator at events. That’s what the New York Times’ Jeff Zeleny did Tuesday in Greenwood, South Carolina. Zeleny and several other reporters stood near the ropeline, where Obama greeted voters following his rally.

Zeleny, who has intermittently covered Obama since 2004, lobbed a question as Obama signed autographs for supporters. “Are you allowing President Clinton to get into your head?”

Obama grinned. “I am trying to make sure that his statements by him are answered. Don’t you think that’s important?” He turned back to sign more Obama signs. Zeleny followed up. “Don’t try cheap stunts like that - come on, Jeff. You’re better than that,” Obama replied.

Zeleny responded that it was his job to ask him questions and noted we haven’t had an opportunity to do so in awhile. Obama continued shaking hands with voters.  He came back over to the group of reporters and TV cameras and said, “I will [answer] your question, though. You allowed to talk off the record for a second?” The TV cameras filmed and Zeleny gestured to all the cameras. “It’s hard to do. But I’ll talk, at some point I’ll [answer] your question.”

Obama greeted another voter and then turned back. “But my suspicion is I think the other side must be rattled if they’re continually saying false things about us.” Obama then disappeared behind a curtain.

Watch some of the exchange here:

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Barack Obama returned to Greenwood, South Carolina, today to hold a rally. But this isn’t just any town in South Carolina – it’s the home of Edith Childs. Childs has been a staple in Obama’s stump speech all across Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, and beyond. Obama often uses his Greenwood tale to rally voters into believing that one voice can make a difference.

Obama’s kicker can run anywhere from five to more than ten minutes, depending on the level of detail he includes. Usually the senator recounts making a promise to a local Greenwood city council member to come visit her town in exchange for her endorsement. As he describes it, he gets into Greenville late after a long day of campaigning. A staffer taps his shoulder to tell him he has to be ready to go by six am because they have to go to Greenville. He wakes up and is more tired than he was when he went to bed. He reads a bad story about himself in the New York Times. It’s raining. His umbrella breaks. He gets wet. They drive and drive and drive to get to Greenwood - which, according to the senator, might just be in the middle of nowhere. Once he gets there, there are only 20 people who showed up - and they all look rained on and not too happy to see him. As he’s shaking hands, he sees a little, older lady wearing a church hat. “Fired up!” she yells. “Ready to go!” Obama is startled. The chant continues. Obama feels upstaged. She continues chanting and the others join in. Suddenly he starts to feel “fired up and ready to go.” Obama and his staff continue to use the phrase. People pick up on it and make T-shirts and signs. The Wall Street Journal writes a story on Childs. Oprah got “fired up” in South Carolina. It’s a phenomenon.

Obama’s traveling press has heard this story several times a day for months now (and can and sometimes do recite it along with him), so most of us were looking forward to this trip to Greenwood and a chance to meet Childs in person. It lived up to our expectations.

Childs, donned in a purple dress, hat and matching purse, watched Obama’s speech in a reserved seat in the gymnasium on the campus of Greenwood’s Lander University, politely clapping at applause lines. As the senator began the story, she stood just off stage, laughing. Senator Obama called her on stage, and, well, take a look:

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Following the event, Childs was swarmed by the press corps. She was asked about her thoughts on race, religion, and even Hillary Clinton. She also corrected a couple of factual mistakes in Obama’s story. There were, in fact, 38 people who turned out to see him - not 20. And, more importantly, she is not in her 60s as Obama describes her. She’s only 59. “But that’s OK. Men can’t tell age, OK? So that’s OK - just like they can’t tell weight!”