A new New York Times/CBS News poll shows the Republicans' convention bounce has receded, and more people name Senator Obama as the candidate most likely to bring about change in Washington, more likely to share their values, and most likely to improve our nation's relations with foreign countries.
(Can we say a collective "I told you so"?)
Enjoy on your own: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/19/us/politics/19pollcnd.html?adxnnl=1&fta=y&adxnnlx=1221908420-6aZBOvBMDj2EOEqTEzx4Zw
"Honor comes from honesty." Huffington Post blogger analyzes a winning strategy, artfully articulated by Senator Claire McCaskill. A skillful dismantling of McCain's attack ads on ABC's This Week.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/joseph-romm/obama-nails-the-winning-m_b_126479.html
Lyndia Saad reports for Gallup.com:
PRINCETON, NJ -- Gallup Poll Daily tracking from Aug. 30 through Sept. 1, finds Barack Obama leading the race for president with his highest share of support to date. Fully half of national registered voters now favor Obama for president, while 42% back John McCain.
Prior to now, no more than 49% of registered voters supported Obama for president in Gallup Poll Daily tracking. Still, Obama's eight percentage point lead over McCain in the new poll falls one point shy of the lead he attained in late July after returning from a well-publicized trip to Europe and parts of the Middle East. At that time, Obama led by nine points, 49% to 40%.
McCain's 42% support is well below his 48% top support level, recorded in late April/early May. It is just slightly better than the 40% he received at several points in July, and the 41% favoring him just last week while the Democratic National Convention was underway. (To view the complete trend since March 7, 2008, click here.)
At 8%, the percentage of undecided voters is slightly lower than the 9% to 11% figures seen for most of August, and this is the lowest this figure has been since early June. This, in part, reflects movement of voters toward Obama over the course of the Democratic National Convention, a lead which has been sustained in subsequent days.
The field period for today's results includes Monday (Labor Day), when the scaled down Republican National Convention received limited media attention while most news coverage either focused on the hurricane hitting parts of the Gulf Coast or Monday's surprise announcement that the 17-year-old daughter of the soon to be Republican vice presidential candidate, Sarah Palin, is pregnant. The Republicans hope to start up a more traditional convention schedule today in St. Paul, with the goal of capturing the same kind of media and public attention the Democrats did last week in Denver. -- Lydia Saad
http://www.gallup.com/poll/109960/Gallup-Daily-Obama-Hits-50-First-Time.aspx
NBC news has just confirmed that Alaska Governor Sarah Palin will be John McCain's running mate. A 44 yr. old former beauty queen, first term governor, only a year and a half into her term, facing a state investigation, is a surprising choice.
There goes their inexperience argument against Obama.
I told my husband this morning, "If he picks a woman, it means he's scared."
Oh, . . . and her husband, Todd Palin, works for BP oil. (Gotta love it!)
One could make a good argument that the road to this historic convention started, in earnest, with Senator Obama's outstanding victory in the South Carolina Democratic Primary. As a state, we should be proud to have recognized the unique combination of a candidate possessing an extaordinary vision of leadership and a country's overwhelming hunger for the opportunity to change.
Be sure to follow our local delegation from Lexington County and the 2nd Congressional District, and all their convention news, at www.scdpdashboard. Lexington County is proud to be represented by Kathy Hensley, Wilbur Lee Jeffcoat, Liz Brown, Inez Tenebaum, and Bridget Tripp. Anton Gunn, Deborah Breedlove, and Tieashia Odom complete the 2nd district's contingent of delegates. Columbia's own Anton Gunn is even featured in this week's issue of Time magazine. Check it out at http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1834670,00.html.
Way to go South Carolina! Let's lead the way to the White House!
"Who– and What -- Revived our Interest in Politics?" is topic of the August 20th meeting of the Wine & Unwind lecture series. Carol K. Fowler, chairperson of the South Carolina Democratic Party, active in politics for over 20 years, is a super delegate to this year's national convention. She will comment on and lead audience discussion about the phenomena of revived interest in regional, statewide and national politics. Norman Jackson, Richland County Council member, will introduce her. "Wine and Unwind" is a lecture series which offers information and discussion on timely, intriguing or controversial topics 10 times each year. Events begin with wine and light appetizers, followed by the presentation. For more information, call 779-1971. WHEN: 5:30 – 7:00 pm on Wednesday, August 20, 2008. WHERE: The Activity Center at Maxcy Gregg Park (Capital Senior Center)1650 Park Circle, Columbia COST: Admission is free - but you must be 21 or older.
Greg Hambrick reports in the Charleston City Paper:
Senator Barack Obama’s Campaign announced today that Trav Robertson will be the state director for the campaign in South Carolina. Robertson, a veteran organizer with experience at the national, state, and local levels, will oversee field, political and communications staff throughout the state. In addition, the Obama campaign announced today that Clay Middleton will serve as political director in South Carolina.“I’m ready to get to work building a great team in South Carolina to put Barack Obama in the White House,” Robertson said. “Obama supporters in South Carolina are ready to roll up their sleeves and begin the sprint to November because they know America cannot afford another four years of George Bush’s failed economic policies that John McCain is offering. With the right organization we will be ready for the tough fight ahead so we can elect Barack Obama and bring the change South Carolina’s families deserve.”“Trav and Clay bring the expertise of state and national campaigns, in addition to years of organizing experience,” Obama campaign manager David Plouffe said. “They will bring an unprecedented general election campaign organization to all corners of South Carolina that will involve volunteers and supporters to be a part of changing the way Washington works. We are inviting South Carolinians to join Trav and Clay in the effort to work for every vote in the Palmetto State between now and November.”Trav Robertson is a South Carolina native who resides in Columbia. Before joining Obama for America, Robertson served as Iowa Regional Field Director and South Carolina Field Coordinator for Gov. Bill Richardson’s presidential campaign. Robertson has served as a campaign advisor and director for a number of local, state and congressional campaigns in South Carolina. He has a B.A. from the University of South Carolina.Clay N. Middleton is a Charleston native. In 2008, he ran for the SC House of Representative narrowly losing in the runoff. He is a graduate of The Citadel and an Iraq War Veteran. During his tour of duty Clay earned the Bronze Star Medal. Middleton has also worked as a Regional Field Organizer for the SC Democratic Party in a partnership with the DNC. Before joining Obama for America, he was the Lowcountry Coordinator for Congressman James E. Clyburn House Majority Whip and he remains a Captain in the SC Army National Guard.
Senator Barack Obama’s Campaign announced today that Trav Robertson will be the state director for the campaign in South Carolina. Robertson, a veteran organizer with experience at the national, state, and local levels, will oversee field, political and communications staff throughout the state. In addition, the Obama campaign announced today that Clay Middleton will serve as political director in South Carolina.
“I’m ready to get to work building a great team in South Carolina to put Barack Obama in the White House,” Robertson said. “Obama supporters in South Carolina are ready to roll up their sleeves and begin the sprint to November because they know America cannot afford another four years of George Bush’s failed economic policies that John McCain is offering. With the right organization we will be ready for the tough fight ahead so we can elect Barack Obama and bring the change South Carolina’s families deserve.”
“Trav and Clay bring the expertise of state and national campaigns, in addition to years of organizing experience,” Obama campaign manager David Plouffe said. “They will bring an unprecedented general election campaign organization to all corners of South Carolina that will involve volunteers and supporters to be a part of changing the way Washington works. We are inviting South Carolinians to join Trav and Clay in the effort to work for every vote in the Palmetto State between now and November.”
Trav Robertson is a South Carolina native who resides in Columbia. Before joining Obama for America, Robertson served as Iowa Regional Field Director and South Carolina Field Coordinator for Gov. Bill Richardson’s presidential campaign. Robertson has served as a campaign advisor and director for a number of local, state and congressional campaigns in South Carolina. He has a B.A. from the University of South Carolina.
Clay N. Middleton is a Charleston native. In 2008, he ran for the SC House of Representative narrowly losing in the runoff. He is a graduate of The Citadel and an Iraq War Veteran. During his tour of duty Clay earned the Bronze Star Medal. Middleton has also worked as a Regional Field Organizer for the SC Democratic Party in a partnership with the DNC. Before joining Obama for America, he was the Lowcountry Coordinator for Congressman James E. Clyburn House Majority Whip and he remains a Captain in the SC Army National Guard.
By Greg Hambrick | Posted in News, News (Election '08), The Back Channel, Uncategorized
Source link: http://news.ccpblogs.com/2008/08/14/local-clay-middleton-an-obama-sc-campaign-leader/
If you've donated to Senator Obama's campaign, consider yourself in good company. Patriotic, flag-waving, self-sacrificing to duty and honor, company, in fact. According to the non-partisan Center for Responsive Politics, analysis of records required by law, reveal that political campaign donations from U.S. troops deployed abroad, favor Obama six to one over McCain.
http://www.opensecrets.org/news/2008/08/troops-deployed-abroad-give-61.html
The Huffington Post's Bil Browning says he's comfortable "sticking his neck out" and predicting that Senator Obama will name Indiana Senator Evan Bayh as his Vice Presidential running mate on Wednesday. Browning details the reasons informing his prediction, which include both the Olympic schedule and an "off the calendar" campaign event on Wednesday to which he was invited, but given no details about, while the Senator is in Indiana.
Read the full post here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bil-browning/obama-will-name-bayh-his_b_116752.html
Just found this great new item in the Obama store. A South Carolina shaped, enameled lapel pin featuring the Obama Campaign Logo. Surely destined to become the must-have fashion accessory for fall. Get yours before they're gone, wear it with pride, and let's show everyone what good judgement and discernment in taste look like!!
http://store.barackobama.com/product_p/lp00010.htm
Welcome Lexington County Obama supporters! Please join, and invite your family, friends, and neighbors. This group will be a great place for all of us to interact, grow our numbers, and post information on any local events as we get ready for the fall. Please check in often, send out invitations, make a donation if you can, and add your blog entries. Let's make Lexington County an integral part of this November's historic election!
http://my.barackobama.com/page/group/LexingtonCountySouthCarolinaforObama
Thanks to MYBO blogger "nonprophet" for finding this gem! My Monday just started with a smile.
Zogby polling lists SC as purple on its electoral map. http://www.zogby.com/50state/
Thanks go out to Lisa in Buffalo for pointing me to an interesting DailyKos.com blogger, a reformed Republican activist now supporting Senator Obama. He gives a very useful six step instructional on how to talk to your Republican family, friends, and neighbors about why they should vote for Obama come November. For any of us living in the "Red States," these points should be committed to memory. (For a link to the full text, see below the excerpt.)
From THEDAILYKOS.COM's (Press to Digitate's diary):
In general, Republican voters dont have the same priorities as Democrats. The reasons YOU support Sen. Obama are most likely NOT the factors on which your Republican associates will make their voting decisions. Dont assume that your 'hot button' issues are necessarily even important to them, nor belittle the priorities they bring to the voting booth.
First, to most Republicans, the cornerstone Democratic issues of "Health Care", "Education", and "Jobs" just dont even register in the top five issues on which they will base their vote. Arguing that Obama will best handle such subjects wont win their vote even if they believe you that he is best on these issues. Moreover, Republicans will generally have less confidence in the government to deliver health care, and more confidence in private schools to deliver education than you will. Dont argue these issues, arguments just harden attitudes; save your breath - just dont go there. You want their actual VOTE, not their nodding agreement on some arcane philosophical issue.
Second, resist the urge to "Bush Bash". While many (even Most) Republicans are no longer enamored with the President, that doesnt mean they are sympathetic with everyone wanting to dump on him, either. They may feel President Bush to have been well intentioned, though blundering; they may have felt events got out of his control, they may even blame the Democratic Congress for his apparent failings. Again, DONT GO THERE. Its not a fight worth having. You dont win VOTES by fighting with people, you win by leading them to the better alternative - from their vantage point, not yours. George W. Bush is not on this ballot, and neither is his Vice President running to succeed him. That "Bush Third Term" drivel just wont cut it in winning Republican votes. Fortunately, with Obama as our candidate, we can make a better, more substantive case than that.
Third, the only really serious, pervasively damaging charge the GOP will make against Obama is the tried-and-true tactic of painting him as a traditional "tax-and-spend-liberal-democrat, squishy-on-national-defense", in the mold of John Kerry, Michael Dukakis, Walter Mondale, etc. To most Republicans, that's the killer - if they believe it. All other charges and acusations, no matter how scurrilous, are secondary and incidental to that one. If they buy the 'tax-and-spend-liberal' label, they'll believe all the muddier garbage gossip; if they reject that charge as bogus, they'll most likely reject any other labels that may be pinned on him as 'not credible' either. EVEN IF you, in your heart-of-hearts believe we need more taxes and spending, and you pray to your humanistic wiccan goddess every night (j/k) that Obama will bring these things, for the sake of the Polar Bears, keep those wishes to yourself!!! To obtain an Obama VOTE, you are appealing to your Republican friend's existing sensibilities, rather than trying to change them.
You may not agree with the following policy conclusions which led me to cross over for the first time in my life, and vote for Sen. Obama in Virginia's open primary, but THEY DID. And these same issues will resonate with other Republicans in voting booths across the country this fall...
1. TAXES. As a member of the Illinois State Senate, Sen. Obama was cosponsor of a bill which ultimately passed, creating the largest tax cut in state history. Since the start of his presidential campaign, he has consistently favored a broad-based middle class tax cut. By contrast, Sen. McCain "voted against tax cuts before he voted for them", and has no real credibility on this issue among conservatives. McCain was very critical of the Bush tax cuts, which most Republicans believe gave us years of prosperity - until very recently. Obama can thus be taken more seriously than McCain as a President who will cut taxes, rather than raise them.
2. SPENDING. Most Republicans' biggest gripe with their own party - by far - is its failure to control the bureaucracy and reign in runaway federal spending and deficits. It is useful to mention that while the last five (5) Republican Presidents promised fiscal responsibility and balanced budgets, all of them grew discretionary civilian spending by tremendous amounts, and ran up ever larger deficits. Meanwhile, only Pres. Bill Clinton balanced the federal budget, and produced four years of surpluses, with the same forecast long into the indefinite future. A big problem with the federal budget is that almost nobody knows where all the money is going; its easy to add earmarks and pork barrel spending and special interest giveaways when the people back home cant tell the difference. Sen. Barack Obama's major legislative accomplishment in the Senate, the The Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 has been to bring transparency to federal spending. Send your Republican friends to http://www.federalspending.gov which his legislation created, a veritable "Google of the Federal Budget", where anyone can research every dollar to see where their tax money is actually going. The whole Federal Rathole is now online, for the first time ever, inviting scrutiny from whoever has the patience to slog through it all. You dont have to be a CPA to realize that this does more in the long run to control wasteful federal spending than all the speeches Bush, Bush, Reagan, Ford, and Nixon ever gave on the subject, put together.
3. BIG GOVERNMENT. In his North Carolina victory speech, among other things, Sen. Obama uttered the words "We dont need Big Government". Whether you agree with that or not, remind your Republican friends that Pres. Bill Clinton's National Performance Review reduced the federal civilian workforce by 250,000 positions (ones they will consider, rightly or wrongly, to be useless tax-sucking bureaucrats). This makes the last Democratic administration the only presidency since Eisenhower's to leave office with a smaller federal workforce that he started with - again, Bush, Bush, Reagan, Ford, and Nixon notwithstanding. But, the real stones Obama brings to the table on this issue are his formative years on the south side of Chicago, doing meaningful community social work through voluntary, faith-based, non-governmental community organizations, rather than government bureaucracies. Yes, We CAN - rehabilitate the homeless, educate the illiterate, provide day care for single moms, dry out alcoholics, and clean junkies off the dope without buidling perpetual bureaucracies - Obama himself has proven that, through social entrepreneurship. By contrast, John McCain has never drawn a day's pay that didnt come from the public trough, courtesy of your tax dollars (getting fabulously rich by marrying an heiress or taking money under the table from special interests he did favors for doesnt count as 'earning money in the productive sector').
4. PERSONAL LIBERTY. Barry Goldwater must be rolling over in his grave over what debasements of the U.S. Constitution the Bush Administration has gotten itself into, and which the man who took his seat in the U.S. Senate, John McCain now ardently defends. Warrantless domestic wiretapping, warrantless searches and seizures, arresting U.S. citizens without probable cause, holding them without trial, etc., etc....No REAL conservative believes these things are legitimate perrogatives of the federal government. There are innumerable horror stories you can research and recount of how the GOP has sat idly by while our cherished Constitutional protections have been ignored, abrogated, and turned into a joke. The last thing real conservatives want is the Orwellian Police State we're presently heading for. Grassroots Republicans dont necessarily trust the feds any more than you do. Thats a case you can make - and make stick - with them.
5. NATIONAL SECURITY. To the rejoinder, "yes, but its worked, we havent been attacked since 9/11", you must add: "BUT, we havent foreclosed the threat by taking out al Queada, either". The National Security argument is like the Tax-and-Spend one, it doesnt matter where you stand on "bombing al Queada back to the stone age" - the fact remains that your Republican friends will vote for the candidate they perceive to be most in tune with that idea, period. McCain vocally disagrees with the successful CIA program to take out al Queada leadership when located in northwest Pakistan, without alerting the local tribal authorities and Pakistani Intelligence, who have always warned off our targets in the past. Sen. Obama, by contrast, opposes giving al Queada sanctuary in Pakistan, and ardently supports this initiative. When McCain attacked Obama as niave for "wanting to bomb an ally", the very next day the CIA took out the #3 leader in al Queada with just such a raid, with a missile fired from a Predator drone. Coddling Pakistan's corrupt dictator for these eight years hasnt made us safer, and John McCain's simplistic continuation of this weak policy is just being Soft on Terrorism, no way around it. Also, its worth noting that whatever other implications it may have for John McCain's Character, Psyche, or Mental Makeup, having a plane shot out from under you and spending six years behind bars does not automatically qualify anyone as a "national security expert"; that notion is just ludicrous on the face of it.
6. OPPORTUNITY. While John McCain's four-star Admiral father ensured him a prized appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, his performance - 894th out of 899 cadets in his class - does not attest to diligent effort, whereas Barack Obama (from a broken home, on food stamps) won competitive academic scholarships to Harvard, which he proved himself worthy of by graduating Magna Cum Laude ("With Highest Honors"). Its been a long time since any politicians of either party could talk convincingly about "The American Dream", but Barack Obama can, because he lived it. Without handouts, family patronage, or inheritence, he pulled himself up by his bootstraps from the Chicago ghetto through his own hard work, enterprise, and initiative to become President of the Harvard Law Review, one of the most prestigious scholarly legal journals in the country. Which President is more likely to make a difference in the lives of people, and motivate them with initiative to best achieve their individual God-given potential?
Those are the issues that real, hard-core Republicans think about when they vote for a president. Talk TO them - not past them with vague, touchy-feely bleeding heart nonsense they wont understand or agree with - and you might very likely ring up another VOTE for Barack Obama this fall. Getting your friends VOTE is all that matters, not winning their hearts to any grander philosophical cause; that just wont happen, so forget it. Make common cause between your GOP acquaintences and Sen. Obama, even if its on points you, yourself, disagree with. THAT'S HOW YOU WILL WIN THIS ELECTION FOR OBAMA.
Once you wash that "tax-and-spend liberal, squishy-on-national-security" label away, none of the other, lesser acusations the Karl Roves and Rush Limbaughs of this world can make against Obama will stick, either. All other things thus being equal, the younger, more intelligent, more dynamic, less "Washington Establishment", less 'tainted-by-special-interest-money' candidate should prevail. Even among Republicans...
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/5/18/03541/2524
HuffingtonPost.com reports:
WASHINGTON — Barack Obama is traveling to the aptly named town of Independence to give speech about patriotism.
The Democratic presidential candidate's campaign says he will talk about "what patriotism means to him and what it requires of all Americans who loves this country and want to see it do better."
The speech in Missouri Monday comes in the run-up to the July 4 holiday and as Obama seeks to reassure voters about his commitment to the country as well as to counter questions about his patriotism. He's recently started wearing a flag pin on his lapel.
Obama faced questions about and criticism of his patriotism during the Democratic nomination fight.
THE SPEECH IS NOW TAKING PLACE. Watch live on the Obama HQ blog, or at www.cnn.com/live
Apparently, Kirbyjon Caldwell, the Methodist pastor who officiated at the marriage of Jenna Bush and Henry Hagar has apparently launched a webpage and online petition defending Senator Obama against Dr. James Dobson's recent attacks. The site does a nice job of referencing Dobson's remarks against the actual statements of Senator Obama. And when he says "James Dobson doesn't speak" for him, he counters with several biblical passages that do.
http://jamesdobsondoesntspeakforme.com/
Well folks, you knew it was coming. Joe Conason of RealClearPolitics.com reports on two books due out in August, ready to stoke the fires of fear, from some of the same people who managed to swiftboat Kerry with "Unfit for Command."
Better to know what we're up against, and be prepared. Be very prepared.
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2008/06/inventing_a_countryclub_muslim.html
In 2004.
It's been really hard to listen to all the harsh criticisms coming from Republicans, and some Democrats, over the last few days about Senator Obama's decision to opt out of public financing. The truth is his campaign is publically financed, just in a different way. And pardon my naked ambition, but I WANT THIS MAN TO WIN. There's nothing illegal or unethical about him doing his own fundraising. That's why he's allowed to "opt out." It's an "option." It's a legal choice. Just because no one else ever has, only speaks to how different his campaign is.
I realize most of the fuss has been about the change in his position, but what he said was that if he became the nominee, he "would aggressively pursue an agreement" to preserve public financing with the Republican nominee. He did not promise to commit political suicide to keep from changing his mind.
And speaking of changing his mind, here's Senator McCain in 2004 on the positives of internet campaign contributions:
http://www.motherjones.com/mojoblog/archives/2008/06/8763_mccain_hypocris.html
With Bob Barr in the race, Senator Obama and Senator McCain are in a statistical dead heat according to the most recent polling data. The demographics of this large Southern state may present the perfect storm for turning a red state blue! Read for yourself:
http://www.insideradvantagegeorgia.com/restricted/2008/June%202008/6-19-08/Poll_Position_Georgia61919643.php
New poll results released yesterday from Quinnipiac University have Senator Obama leading in three important swing states, Florida, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. Details and some internal data can be seen here.
http://www.quinnipiac.edu/x2882.xml?ReleaseID=1187
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