Howard Dean’s popularity hasn’t waned in Lawrence since his failed Democratic presidential campaign began more than two years ago.

A total of 895 tickets for his Friday appearance at a public rally for the Democratic Party at Liberty Hall were sold in about 2 1/2 hours Sunday.

When the tickets went on sale at noon, an estimated 100 people were standing in a line that stretched from the front door of Liberty Hall, 642 Mass., around the corner and east on Seventh Street to The Raven Bookstore.

“When I got in to work at 11 (a.m.), there were about 40 people waiting,” Liberty Hall employee Ryan Carroll said.

An additional 100 tickets for the event were held back for Dean’s people, Carroll said.

It was announced just last week that Dean, now chairman of the Democratic National Committee, would attend a private fund-raiser in Lawrence to be followed by the 5 p.m. rally. At 9 a.m. Sunday, Steve Dahlberg and Ann Hamil set up their lawn chairs outside Liberty Hall’s door and became the first two people in line for the Dean tickets.

“I want to hear ‘the scream,'” Dahlberg, of Lawrence, said, referring to Dean’s exuberant speech following his third-place finish in Iowa during the primary and caucus season a year ago. “Seriously, I’m really concerned about what is happening in our country. Every Democrat needs to step up, and I think Dean is the right guy. Anybody who can give a little spine to the country.”

Hamil, also of Lawrence, agreed. “I was very interested in Dean early on,” she said. “You always know where he stands. He’s not a liberal extremist.”

Hamil and Dahlberg drove by Liberty Hall at 8 a.m. and saw that there was nobody in line, so they ate breakfast before returning. Although the rain that fell Saturday was long gone, they were prepared.

A line forms outside Liberty Hall, 642 Mass., where tickets went on sale Sunday for an event featuring Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean. His rally will be at 5 p.m. Friday at Liberty Hall.

“We brought our umbrellas just in case,” Dahlberg said.

Shortly before 10 a.m., Andrew Rosdahl arrived and sat down on the pavement next to Hamil to capture the third place in line. Rosdahl, 23, of Lawrence, said he expected Dean to concentrate on fund-raising and organizing the party.

“He’s pretty fiery, too,” Rosdahl said. “He a populist.”

The private fund-raiser will be at the Lawrence home of John and Nancy Hiebert. Phone reservations for the event are still being accepted by calling 842-4635 or call the state Democratic office in Topeka at (785) 234-0425. Anyone attending will be asked to contribute $100 to the Democratic Party.

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The Hieberts for years have spent time in the fall visiting Burlington, Vt., where they said they became aware of Dean’s interest and involvement in health issues as governor. John Hiebert is a cardiologist, and Nancy Hiebert also has been involved in health issues.

Dean is a medical doctor, as is his wife, Judith Steinberg Dean.

“People had a lot of positive things to say about him and his family,” Nancy Hiebert said.

The Hieberts also were supporters of Dean during the Democratic presidential primary campaign and met him during an appearance in Kansas City, Mo.