I just returned from the opening of the Obama Office in Chase City, Va.
Initially, I was confused. There were far too many "older white women" there. And a lot of "white, working class males" as well.
All of which led me to think that I had wandered into the wrong building, "Perhaps this is a McCain office with all the wrong signage", I thought. There were, after all, far too many eager young people, and WAY too much good food - you know, Democratic Stuff.
Then, I ran into the Party Chairs from the surrounding Counties. Unless they have all flipped... I WAS in the right place!
Survey USA just released a new poll which confirms what we already know--North Carolina is in play.
McCain gets 49 percent to Obama's 45 percent ... just barely over the margin of error. Aside from that, there's virtually no good news for McCain here.
The 50 State Strategy is hard at work in Wisconsin. This morning, the front page of our local paper, Wisconsin State Journal, has this story above the fold (click for the webpage story):
Democrats beating GOP in money race
I’ll give you a few fair-use tidbits below the fold.
With the way Obama has expanded the number of states in play, it's natural to wonder--which normally red states would have to be close or even turn blue for this to be an Obama blowout? In looking at what's been happening of late, the answer to that question is becoming more and more obvious--Georgia and Indiana. How's that, you say? Well, both states would normally be an uphill battle for a Democrat in most years. If Hillary were on the ticket, as much as I hate to say it, these two states would be completely out of play. But based on the encouraging numbers out of Georgia and Indiana, as well as demographics, it's more and more obvious--if these states are at all close, we will drown McCain in November.
The purpose of this diary is to 1) dissuade the notion that Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA) is in danger this cycle and 2) to make the case that Erik Fleming in MS-A is a viable candidate against Thad Cochrane.
For those of you that are worried about recent fluctuations in tracking polls, take heart. Polls don't always tell us the complete story of what's going on out there. What you should be looking at is how the battle is being fought. What may be different. Which candidate is taking the battle to the other. Who is playing defense? And most importantly, who is on the offensive?
Today we have this story which is quite meaningful--"Obama makes bid in 7 longtime Republican states." http://rawstory.com/...
Alaska is young. Georgia, North Carolina and Virginia have growing populations and many black voters. Montana has seen recent Democratic inroads, and North Dakota has sent only Democrats to Congress since 1986. Indiana borders Barack Obama's home state.
Here is the 50 state strategy in action as it breaks down on the county level.
Ryan, a young Waukesha organizer for Obama registering voters in record numbers in heavily republican Waukesha CO, WI, the bastion of conservativism, the home county of James Sensenbrenner. I bumped into his group on Saturday in New Berlin on the Farmers Market. He is the type of guy who's inspiring thousands and making republicans sweat precious dollars for every vote they used to getting by default as they start to lose even their most devoted following.
Before you read anything else I have to say tonight, I'd like to invite you to take five minutes to watch a video:
This video says what I can't always find the words for myself: that this campaign is about something much bigger than just me or my opponent. It's about the people we've met and the communities we've visited over these last several months.
The people of Nebraska are the heart and soul of our campaign.
Apparently, John McCain and his campaign team still don't know how to use "the Google". Even if they failed to watch or read the news, "a google" could have shown them all the things wrong with their latest fundraising email:
The Obama Democrats are counting on their wealthy special interest groups, Big Labor Unions and unregulated "527" groups like MoveOn.org to fill their campaign coffers and try to bury our GOP get-out-the-vote efforts in an avalanche of special interest cash.
I guess being Republicans, little things like facts can't get in the way:
Donating is tough, I know. First of all, money is in short supply. And you're never really that certain that what you are giving is making a difference. I mean, $25 to a candidate? What does that buy? A dozen bumper stickers? A second of TV time for an ad?
But there's a race that hasn't gotten the attention it deserves, and it just might be the place where your donation dollar goes a lot farther than it could elsewhere.
Last night, doing fair duty for the local Dems in northwestern Wisconsin, I met the local Obama field officer, Kevin, from the San Antonio, Texas, area. Friendly, enterprising, looking for people to help with the campaign, he is just out of the Army and working hard. I asked if he were an Obama Fellow, and it turned out that he was hired by the campaign after having been a one-man whirlwind for Obama in a neglected, rural part of Texas, during its March primaries.
Many have decided that having seemingly stunk up the joint with sins including his FISA sellout/flinch/blunder real progressives have no more use for Obama. (My own belief is that Obama accommodated Congressmen petrified of the security debate coming in the general election. If that was a tactical error it is one he can correct and will when he is President.) For those who believe his vote was a sin motivated by a lust for office or some other grave character flaw i would remind that even the musk of the skunk has some good uses. It is the base for many great perfumes for instance. So even for those who hate Obama enough to cast a vote for McCain's proxies in the Green or Nader camp you should not give up this great crowd gatherers potential without pause.
How can you put this mans abilities to use for victories you want even if you think him a sell out or a blunderer?
Even in the deepest most dismal and downtrodden corner of Bush Texas hope has taken root again. The latest poll puts
Texas just a pale shade and not the deep red you might expect. Texas is no more than a strong leaner for Bush with Obama within 10 points. Millions of people live in that turning bastion formerly polluted with bush's miasmic philosophy. We have to liberate them from the straglehold of the loons in charge there. And we are!
We may not get the Presidential contest outcome best for Texans this year but it's not far off. The Texans had allredy started tthis tumbleweed revolt and Obama is pouring resources into that misgoverned but soon better place.
For those of you with a deep streak of cynicism about Obama there is still common cause in this effort to change the electorate and the quality of our representatives from the roots up.
If you were around in 2006, you might have seen my Taking Back the House State-by-State series. Well, this year, I've gotten a bit more ambitious. Anyway, take a jump with me, and let's just see...
One of Howard Dean's main goals is the election of more Democrats (he probably wants better Democrats too, but he likely can't say that publicly).
As unhappy as we are with the Dems capitulating on FISA (many of them, I do have to admit, but ENOUGH of them), it's important to remember that NO Republicans voted against this latest outrage by the Bush regime.
