Pat Dollard

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Then: Barack Obama inauguration crowd estimate soars to 5 million

Now: WASHINGTON (AP) — More than a million people crowded the National Mall and the parade route along Pennsylvania Avenue for the inauguration of President Barack Obama. The Associated Press estimate is based on crowd photographs and comparisons with past events.

WAPO:

Officials now say the number of people expected to gather for Barack Obama’s inauguration is more likely to be around 2 million than the initial figure of 4 million provided by D.C. Mayor Adrian M. Fenty (D), according to a story today by the Post’s Mary Beth Sheridan. She writes:

Kenya

Officials are casting doubt on an early projection that 4 million to 5 million people could jam downtown Washington on Inauguration Day, saying it is more likely that the crowd will be about half that size.

Iraq

D.C. authorities said the earlier estimates, provided by Mayor Adrian M. Fenty (D), were based on speculation surrounding the historic nature of the swearing-in of Barack Obama as the nation’s first African American president. After weeks of checking with charter bus companies, airlines and other sources, they’re reassessing.

Mars

“It’s more of an art than a science,” City Administrator Dan Tangherlini said. “The fact is, earlier it was speculation. Now we’re beginning to flesh it out and what the physical capacities of the system are.”