Mike Jones's Blog

Veteran's essay earns face time with Obama

MIKE JONES |||||| UNITED WE CAN ! * 2012 * |||||| — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 22:12:56 EDT

When John Volkmar wrote his 100-word essay on Barack Obama's Web site a few weeks ago, he figured that would be the end of it.

Then, Wednesday, the former Army major got a call from the Obama campaign saying he had been selected as one of 10 people to go backstage and meet the presidential hopeful before his nomination speech at Invesco Field Aug. 28.

"I'm a little overwhelmed," Volkmar said today when the campaign made the official annoucement.

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Pelosi calls Lieberman 'irresponsible'

MIKE JONES |||||| UNITED WE CAN ! * 2012 * |||||| — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 22:09:22 EDT

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi criticized U.S. Sen. Joseph Lieberman for campaigning against Barack Obama, calling Lieberman's characterizations of the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee "totally irresponsible."

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Jennifer Lehr: Supers: Get over yourselves!

MIKE JONES |||||| UNITED WE CAN ! * 2012 * |||||| — Fri, 23 May 2008 13:00:50 EDT

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Obama, Clinton Campaigns Deny Discussions to End Race

MIKE JONES |||||| UNITED WE CAN ! * 2012 * |||||| — Fri, 23 May 2008 12:58:59 EDT

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Obama campaign to host Family Fun Days

MIKE JONES |||||| UNITED WE CAN ! * 2012 * |||||| — Fri, 23 May 2008 12:56:53 EDT

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Obama gains delegates, moves closer to nomination

MIKE JONES |||||| UNITED WE CAN ! * 2012 * |||||| — Fri, 23 May 2008 12:54:29 EDT

Barack Obama inched closer to securing the Democratic presidential nomination on Friday, picking up four delegates, including a California congressman who switched his allegiance from Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Obama "has proven himself to be a thoughtful, knowledgeable, and inspirational leader and will take America in a new direction, which we desperately need," said Rep. Dennis Cardoza, who became the 14th superdelegate to switch from Clinton to Obama.

Obama has 1,969 delegates in the Associated Press tally, out of the 2,026 he needs to become the first black to win a major party presidential nomination. Clinton has 1,779.

Two of John Edwards' New Hampshire delegates, State Sen. Peter Burling and high school teacher Deborah Nelson, held a news conference to announce they were backing Obama.

In a phone interview, Burling told the AP that he and Nelson believe either Obama or Clinton would make a superb president, but it came down to "who can win and who could make a better president."

"We chose Obama because he so clearly understands the American yearning for change," Burling said. "He understands it, he embraces it, and I think he has the leadership to deliver it."

Burling said he, too, was influenced by the fact that Obama is so close to capturing the nomination.

"If it were Senator Clinton who in my mind had the edge at this moment, she would be getting exactly this kind of endorsement," Burling said.

Nelson said she has been impressed with Obama's hardworking field staff and the huge numbers of ordinary people who are supporting him, although she doesn't feel his health care plan goes far enough.

Edwards, a former senator from North Carolina, had won a total of 19 delegates before dropping out of the race in January. Following Edwards' endorsement of Obama last week, 11 of them have told the AP they will back Obama.

In addition to Cardoza, Rep. Jim Costa, D-Calif., announced his support for Obama.

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Kentucky Update:Obama's Kentucky campaign not giving up on the Bluegrass

MIKE JONES |||||| UNITED WE CAN ! * 2012 * |||||| — Tue, 20 May 2008 18:00:37 EDT

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Early results from KY, OR Dem primary polls

MIKE JONES |||||| UNITED WE CAN ! * 2012 * |||||| — Tue, 20 May 2008 17:45:07 EDT

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SurveyUSA North Carolina poll

MIKE JONES |||||| UNITED WE CAN ! * 2012 * |||||| — Tue, 20 May 2008 17:37:57 EDT

McCain 51%

Obama 43%

McCain 43%

Hillary 49%

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Florida update: Parking Problems Expected With Big Obama Crowd

MIKE JONES |||||| UNITED WE CAN ! * 2012 * |||||| — Tue, 20 May 2008 16:52:44 EDT

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KY UPDATE: Michelle Obama said she's proud of her husband

MIKE JONES |||||| UNITED WE CAN ! * 2012 * |||||| — Tue, 20 May 2008 16:49:00 EDT

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KY: Polling places report a few snags; turnout could be 30%

MIKE JONES |||||| UNITED WE CAN ! * 2012 * |||||| — Tue, 20 May 2008 16:40:24 EDT

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Obama Responds To McCain, Blasts His Phony "Toughness" As "Extraordinarily Naive"

MIKE JONES |||||| UNITED WE CAN ! * 2012 * |||||| — Tue, 20 May 2008 16:31:50 EDT

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Union still spending on Clinton's behalf

MIKE JONES |||||| UNITED WE CAN ! * 2012 * |||||| — Tue, 20 May 2008 16:22:08 EDT

Campaign records show that supporting Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton has forced a U.S. major labor union to take out a $1 million loan.

The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, AFSCME, spent some $2 million backing Clinton, whom the union endorsed, and then took out a $1 million bank loan in February to replenish its political war chest.

"When we endorse a candidate, we back it up with everything we've got," said AFSCME President Gerald McEntee.

The Washington Times said McEntee is a longtime ally of both Sen. Clinton, D-N.Y., and former President Bill Clinton – and that has raised questions among union officials as to the wisdom of sticking with her until the presumed bitter end.

AFSCME spent $200,00 on a negative mailer about Barrack Obama during some of the early primaries. The national union also has continued to stump for Clinton in Tuesday's Oregon primary despite requests from state union leaders to back off.

Oregon AFSCME officials said in a letter to state members that the spending on Clinton's behalf was "disrespectful" and "probably meaningless," The Times said.

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Sen. Edward Kennedy diagnosed with malignant brain tumor

MIKE JONES |||||| UNITED WE CAN ! * 2012 * |||||| — Tue, 20 May 2008 16:04:12 EDT

Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.), the lion of Senate liberals, has been diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor, doctors announced today.

In a statement, doctors at Massachusetts General Hospital said the 76-year-old senator, who has served in the Senate since 1962, has suffered no additional seizures since a weekend incident that landed him in the hospital.

"Over the course of the last several days, we've done a series of tests on Sen. Kennedy to determine the cause of his seizure," said Dr. Lee Schwamm, vice chairman of the hospital's department of neurology, and Dr. Larry Ronan, Kennedy's primary care physician.

"He has had no further seizures, remains in good overall condition, and is up and walking around the hospital."

The doctors said that "preliminary results from a biopsy of the brain identified the cause of the seizure as a malignant glioma in the left parietal lobe." Noting that "the usual course of treatment includes combinations of various forms of radiation and chemotherapy," the doctors said decisions about his care will be finalized after further testing.

"Sen. Kennedy will remain at Massachusetts General Hospital for the next couple of days according to routine protocol," said the statement. "He remains in good spirits and full of energy."

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada read the press release to Democratic senators during their weekly luncheon today. Sen. Ben Nelson of Nebraska described the reaction as stunned silence. Sen. Patrick J. Leahy of Vermont said later, "I'm having a hard time remembering a day in my 34 years here that I felt this badly."

Afterward, Reid told reporters that the Senate stands "as a body and certainly as a Democratic family" in sending prayers.

"My heart dropped when I heard the news," said Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.). Noting that he has "great physicians, a loving and beautiful wife in Vicki, and the indomitable Kennedy spirit," Feinstein said, "I look forward to the day when Sen. Kennedy is back on the Senate floor, giving one of his famous stem-winder speeches. I hope that day will be soon."

The news was also announced at the weekly Republican luncheon, where Sen John W. Warner of Virginia said senators immediately bowed their heads and said a prayer.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco), spoke to reporters briefly, saying that news of Kennedy's illness was met with sadness throughout the country. "Sen. Kennedy has been a fighter all his life," she said, noting that she'd learned the news from his son, Rep. Patrick Kennedy of Rhode Island. "I know that his fighting spirit will hold him in good stead now."

Illinois Sen. Barack Obama called the news "heartbreaking." Kennedy, in endorsing Obama on Jan. 28, hailed Obama's "courage" in opposing the war in Iraq from the beginning and Obama's outreach to a new generation. Kennedy has stumped vigorously for Obama, and the candidate recalled on MSNBC that the 76-year-old senator was invigorated by being in the political arena.

"When he gets on the stage -- he's got that bad back and other ailments -- but when he gets on the stage, it's magic," Obama said. "That voice comes out from deep inside him. You can feel history coursing through him."

New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, Obama's rival for the Democratic nomination, issued a statement calling Kennedy "one of the greatest legislators in Senate history."

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), in a statement, said he hopes Kennedy will make a full recovery. "I have described Ted Kennedy as the last lion in the Senate, and I have held that view because he remains the single most effective member of the Senate," he said.

At the White House, President Bush issued a statement saying, "Laura and I are concerned to learn of our friend Sen. Kennedy's diagnosis." Calling Kennedy a man "of tremendous courage, remarkable strength and powerful spirit," Bush said their prayers are with the family.

Kennedy was first elected to the Senate to finish the term of his brother, John F. Kennedy, who had become president in 1961. He was re-elected in 1964 and for seven more terms. "Teddy" became an uber-uncle to the children of his slain brothers -- President Kennedy, who was assassinated in 1963, and Robert F. Kennedy, assassinated when he was running for president in 1968.

A staunch champion for education and healthcare, Kennedy's personal troubles -- a car accident on Chappaquiddick Island in which a young woman, Mary Jo Kopechne drowned -- marred his reputation. And a run for the Democratic nomination against incumbent Democrat Jimmy Carter in 1980 made the Massachusetts senator infamous for not having a ready answer to newsman Roger Mudd's question about why he was running for president.

But in the last 20 years, Kennedy has reached across the aisle to partner with Republicans such as Arizona's John McCain on issues such as immigration.

"Ted Kennedy is a passionate advocate for equality and has worked to lift up all of America's families throughout his distinguished career in public service," said Sen. Patty Murray (D.-Wash). Calling Kennedy "a personal mentor to me and a tremendous partner on issues from education to workers' rights to healthcare," Murray said that Kennedy "approaches every obstacle with tremendous courage, poise and resolve. And I know his tremendous heart and spirit will prevail now."

Sen. John F. Kerry, the Democrats' 2004 standard bearer, told senators at the luncheon that he had been in touch with his Massachusetts colleague and that Kennedy remained optimistic.

"Ted Kennedy and the Kennedy family have faced adversity more times . . . with more courage and more grace than most families have to," Kerry told reporters. "Every one of us knows what a big heart this fellow has. He's helped millions and millions of people -- from the biggest of legislation on the floor to the most personal."

"This guy is one unbelievable fighter," said Kerry, who saw the senior senator over the weekend and reported that he is asking questions about his treatment options. "We're pulling for our pal," said Kerry. "He is determined to fight this."

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Obama pledges new era for federal-Indian relations

MIKE JONES |||||| UNITED WE CAN ! * 2012 * |||||| — Tue, 20 May 2008 15:58:35 EDT

MATTHEW BROWN Associated Press Writer CROW AGENCY

Pledging to usher in a new era of honest federal dealings with Indian tribes, Democratic presidential front-runner Barack Obama on Monday made an unprecedented stop in Montana Indian country for a rally at the Crow reservation. Obama told several thousand American Indian supporters that he would honor long-ignored treaty obligations and revamp health care and education on reservations across the United States. Such services have long suffered due to inadequate funding and the much criticized oversight of the Bureau of Indian Affairs. "Few have been ignored by Washington for as long as Native Americans, the first Americans," Obama said. "That will change when I am president of the United States." Obama said treaty commitments with Indian nations were "paramount to law" and could not be ignored when Washington makes funding decisions affecting Indian country. He characterized the Bureau of Indian Affairs as a bureaucracy out of touch with those it serves, and said the agency needs to be shaken up so it will perform better. "You guys pay taxes too. You deserve to get decent services from Washington," he told the crowd in Crow Agency. Earlier, in a private ceremony, the candidate was adopted into the Black Eagle family of the tribe under the name Awe Kooda Bilaxpak Kuuxshish, or "One Who Helps People Throughout the Land." Crow Vice Chairman Cedric Black Eagle said a purification ceremony was performed in which the candidate faced east — the source of new life — and was prayed over by his adopted father, Hartford Black Eagle. Tribal representatives from across Montana said it was the first time such a high-profile candidate had appeared on one of the state's reservations. The closest precedent, they said, was a visit to the Crow reservation by first lady Lady Bird Johnson in the 1960s. "Here's a gentleman who could be president of the United States who is putting his hand out to us," said Roger Running Crane, vice chairman of the Blackfeet Tribe of northwest Montana. "It's great to see someone take an interest and see what is really happening with Indians today." By reaching out to Indians, Obama was playing to a traditional Democratic constituency, but one with limited influence at the ballot box, said Montana State University-Billings political analyst Craig Wilson. He said Native Americans represent about 6.5 percent of Montana's population, one of the highest percentages in the nation. "It's good politics, certainly for a Democrat," Wilson said. "Will it matter in terms of the election? No." During a prior stop in Billings Monday morning, Obama looked past the state's June 3 primary to focus on an anticipated November battle against Republican John McCain. He said electing the Arizona senator would amount to a third term for supporters of President Bush. And he Took aim at the Republican party's close ties to lobbyists. By contrast, he said, an Obama presidency would be modeled on the high standard of open government demonstrated in Montana, where Gov. Brian Schweitzer has pledged to allow public access to all of his meetings. "I want to carry those same Montana values, those Montana values of openness and transparency, with me to the White House," Obama said. He also made a stop Monday night at Montana Stat e University in Bozeman, where he spoke to a crowd of about 7,000. Obama stuck to common themes in his campaign, such as national security and weaning the country from its reliance on foreign oil. "On June 3, we're going to bring this nomination to a close right here in Montana," he said. As Obama stands on the verge of emerging the victor from a protracted primary battle with Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, a Clinton spokeswoman insisted it was "premature" to call the race over. "We are campaigning in Montana with the idea that this is historic for Montana and every vote should count," said t h e s p o ke swoma n , Ka t e Downen. "He still doesn't have the number of delegates he needs to claim victory." Montana Republicans said an Obama win would be bad for the region's lucrative coal industry, on which they claim he would impose new taxes. Obama's remarks in Billings hit on the potential for other energy sources — such as solar, wind and biofuels — but not coal. State Republican Chairman Erik Iverson said Obama also was out of step with Montana on gun issues and proposals to suspend the gas tax, which Obama opposes. "He's just plain wrong for Montana on a lot of issues that we care about," Iverson said.

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Iowa Democratic Party: Chairman stands with Iowa Democrats, endorses Obama

MIKE JONES |||||| UNITED WE CAN ! * 2012 * |||||| — Tue, 20 May 2008 15:54:22 EDT

Iowa Democratic Party Chairman Scott Brennan released the following statement after hosting a morning press conference in Des Moines announcing his endorsement of Senator Barack Obama:

“Today, I stand with many Iowa Democrats by announcing my support for Senator Barack Obama. I’m endorsing Barack Obama today because he is positioned to pick up a majority of pledged delegates later tonight. I have said all along, that pledged delegates should be the marker, and today I am proud to stand with the majority of Iowa Democrats and a nearing majority of national delegates.

The level of enthusiasm for Democratic candidates this year is unlike anything I have seen in Iowa politics. In January, we saw 240,000 people turn out to caucus for Democrats here in Iowa, virtually doubling the turnout from 2004. Iowa Democrats are going to work hard to turn Iowa blue, and we are armed with 60,000 new Democrats, and an 85,000 voter registration advantage over Republicans.

Senator Obama is going to help Iowa Democrats win up and down the ticket in November. He is bringing new people into the political process at historic levels and helping us to build the future of the Iowa Democratic Party.

Iowa is where it all began for Senator Obama. I am pleased to welcome him back to the state today and I am proud to stand with Iowa Democrats by endorsing Senator Barack Obama.”

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Obama calls for Vets Affairs e-mail probe

MIKE JONES |||||| UNITED WE CAN ! * 2012 * |||||| — Fri, 16 May 2008 22:53:46 EDT

Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., Friday called for an investigation into reports that U.S. officials tried to discourage post-traumatic stress disorder diagnoses.

Obama, the front-runner for the Democratic presidential nomination, wrote to Secretary of Veterans Affairs James Peake, urging him to look into a Washington Post report that Norma Perez -- a psychologist at the Department of Veterans Affairs' Olin E. Teague Veterans' Center in Temple, Texas -- urged staff members to consider a diagnosis of adjustment disorder rather than post-traumatic stress disorder for patients there.

The report was based largely on an e-mail obtained by a veterans' advocacy group.

Given that we are having more and more compensation seeking veterans, I'd like to suggest that you refrain from giving a diagnosis of PTSD straight out, the Post quotes the March 20 e-mail as saying.

Veterans diagnosed with PTSD can be eligible for compensation of up to $2,527 per month. Bush administration officials said there was no effort to underdiagnose post-traumatic stress disorder to save money.

Peake issued a statement denouncing Perez's e-mail as inappropriate and maintained that it doesn't reflect Veteran's Administration policy. The e-mail has been repudiated at the highest level of our healthcare organization, he told the Post.

In his letter to Peake, Obama said an investigation should determine whether Perez sent the e-mail at the urging of her superiors, and whether staff members at the Teague Center followed her suggestion.

He also said investigators should determine whether officials at other veterans centers have given some similar admonitions.

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WATCH OUT !

MIKE JONES |||||| UNITED WE CAN ! * 2012 * |||||| — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 17:17:16 EDT

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ATTENTION:

ALL OBAMA SUPPORTERS WATCH OUT FOR TROLLS & SPAMMERS

HIGH ACTIVITY OF TROLLS CAN BE EXPECTED DUE TO RECENT, CURRENT & FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS

DEVELOPING.....

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Sen. Chris Dodd endorses Obama

MIKE JONES |||||| UNITED WE CAN ! * 2012 * |||||| — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 12:55:10 EST

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Former Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Chris Dodd on Tuesday endorsed Sen. Barack Obama for president, calling on fellow Democrats "to come together."

At a campaign event in Cleveland, Ohio, Dodd warned that a divisive campaign could damage the party.

Obama is in a heated battle for the Democratic presidential nomination with Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York. Obama leads Clinton in the race for delegates 1,327 to 1,255.

Obama and Clinton will next compete March 4 in primaries in Ohio, Texas, Vermont and Rhode Island.

Obama has won 11 contests in a row since Super Tuesday on February 5. Supporters of Clinton -- including former President Clinton -- has said she must do well in Texas and Ohio if she is to soldier on for the nomination.

A former adviser for Dodd said the timing of the senator's endorsement "works pretty well" given that foreign policy has become a key issue of the campaign.

Watch Dodd explain why he supports Obama »

"With Clinton on the attack, a recognized leader on foreign and military affairs is vouching for Obama's readiness," the Dodd adviser said.

Dodd is a senior member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations and chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs.

The Connecticut lawmaker dropped out of the race for the Democratic nomination following a poor showing in the Iowa caucuses in January.

In an e-mail to supporters Tuesday morning, Dodd wrote, "While both of our party's remaining candidates are extremely talented and would make an excellent commander in chief, I am throwing my support to the candidate who I believe will open the most eyes to our shared Democratic vision.

"I'm deeply proud to be the first 2008 Democratic presidential candidate to endorse Barack Obama," he added. "He is ready to be president. And I am ready to support him -- to work with him and for him and help elect him our 44th president."

FROM: cnn.com

Newest Ohio Primary Poll To Be Released Today

MIKE JONES |||||| UNITED WE CAN ! * 2012 * |||||| — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 12:45:24 EST

SurveyUSA’s Ohio clients — WCMH-TV Columbus, WCPO-TV Cincinnati, WKYC-TV Cleveland and WHIO-TV Dayton – will release today results of SurveyUSA’s newest Democratic Primary poll from the Buckeye State, just hours before the two candidates face-off in Cleveland.

FROM: surveyusa.com

Change to Win to Endorse Obama

MIKE JONES |||||| UNITED WE CAN ! * 2012 * |||||| — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 12:09:46 EST

The new Change to Win labor federation will give its first presidential endorsement to Democratic Sen. Barack Obama, a union official told The Associated Press on Thursday. The endorsement comes after a teleconference between Change to Win's leaders and the heads of the seven unions that make up the 6-million member federation. The official spoke on conditions of anonymity because an official announcement had not been made yet. Four of Change to Win's unions had already endorsed Obama, with the Teamsters endorsing Obama on Wednesday. UNITE HERE, the Service Employee International Union and the United Food and Commercial Workers also have endorsed Obama. The Change to Win endorsement gives Obama a boost in the upcoming March 4 primaries in Texas and Ohio, as well as in Pennsylvania on April 22. There were 830,000 union workers in Pennsylvania and 730,000 in Ohio in 2007, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, some of the largest numbers of unionized workers in the nation. It was not immediately known what the endorsement means for the United Farm Workers, who endorsed Obama's opponent, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton. It is also unclear what it means for the federation's two uncommitted unions, the Laborers' International Union and the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners. The Carpenters and Joiners union had originally endorsed John Edwards, who has since dropped out of the race. The unions in the Change to Win federation broke from the AFL-CIO in 2005 over internal disagreements on how best to build organized labor's membership and political clout. The AFL-CIO has not endorsed any candidate in the Democratic primary, although it has allowed its 56-member unions to make individual endorsements. The AFL-CIO's executive council will meet in San Diego March 3-5, and a decision could be announced. FROM: TIME

Huckabee supporter votes Hillary to 'knock Obama out' in WI

MIKE JONES |||||| UNITED WE CAN ! * 2012 * |||||| — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 12:38:18 EST

Mike Burlingame, a 48-year-old corrections officer, is a Mike Huckabee supporter who voted for Hillary Clinton at Lincoln Elementary School in Cudahy.

Here's his reasoning: He really doesn't want Barack Obama. He thinks his vote would be wasted on Huckabee, so he's crossing over and voting for Clinton though he plans to vote for McCain in November.

Bottom line: "I want to knock Obama out."

Burlingame said the last Republican he voted for in a presidential race was Ronald Reagan.

FROM: jsonline.com

who is stonger in November ? its OBAMA

Obama's labor endorsements may be eroding Clinton's base

MIKE JONES |||||| UNITED WE CAN ! * 2012 * |||||| — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 13:32:07 EST

By BRIAN TUMULTY
Gannett News Service

WASHINGTON - Tuesday's Wisconsin primary is shaping up to be a critical test whether Hillary Rodham Clinton can hold onto her base of support among low-wage and blue-collar workers despite the growing number of labor unions endorsing Barack Obama.

The Service Employees International Union - which represents 150,000 health care workers, janitors, security guards and municipal employees in the upcoming primary states of Wisconsin, Texas, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island - announced Friday it will campaign for Obama.

For Clinton, who has stressed that Obama's health care plan does not require universal coverage as hers does, it's a major setback because the service employees union has been one of the most vocal advocacy groups for universal coverage.

"It speaks to the constituency that Obama needs, which is low income immigrant, Latino workers," said Jefferson Cowie, an associate professor of labor history at Cornell University.

Both candidates are honing their messages to appeal to blue-collar workers.

Obama - who has done well among higher income voters, blacks and young adults - delivered what his campaign described as a major economic address Wednesday at a General Motors factory in Janesville, Wis.

Clinton, whose voter base has been people over age 50, rural whites and voters with incomes under $50,000, spent the most of the week campaigning in Texas and Ohio. Her first stop in Ohio was a factory in Youngstown. On Friday, she visited a Lockheed Martin plant in Akron. And earlier in the week, she visited a factory in Maryland that makes transmissions for hybrid vehicles.

Andy Stern, president of the service employees union, told reporters in a conference call that he thinks there's very little difference between Clinton and Obama on issues important to organized labor.

"This is really not about specific positions alone," Stern said. "It's about the right person at the right time. And we think this is a moment where there is an opportunity for fundamental change in this country."

On Thursday, the United Food and Commercial Workers union representing supermarket and food processing employees also endorsed Obama.

"I think her firewall is beginning to break down," said James Thurber, director of American University's Center for Congressional and Presidential Studies.

Thurber pointed to the recent endorsement of Obama by the activist group MoveOn.org and by Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass.

"It really solidified the left of the party and said this is the guy we want," he said.

Clinton continues to have the longstanding backing of nearly a dozen national labor unions representing building trades and construction workers, machinists and public employees, but her recent string of presidential primary losses has made it imperative that she register blowout victories in the upcoming primaries to whittle down the lead Obama has in pledged delegates to the Democratic National Convention.

While John Edwards remained in the race, many labor unions were deeply split among the three candidates, with Clinton and Edwards capturing most of the endorsements that were made and many unions choosing to stay on the sidelines.

The two recent endorsements give Obama the support of three of the seven unions in the Change to Win labor federation. The third - UNITE HERE - represents workers in textile factories, laundries, restaurants and hotels.

However, a fourth member of Change to Win - the United Farm Workers - endorsed Clinton last month and helped her win the California primary on Super Tuesday.

Wisconsin and the March 4 primary states of Ohio and Rhode Island all have a greater concentration of unionized workers than the national average.

Change to Win plans to decide next week whether to have its unions back Obama as a group.

FROM: centralohio.com

OBAMA BEATS HILLARY IN WEB TRAFFIC

MIKE JONES |||||| UNITED WE CAN ! * 2012 * |||||| — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 13:22:38 EST

Barack Obama brought in 2.2 million uniques in January; Hillary Clinton had 1.1 million.

FROM: webpronews.com

YES WE CAN !!!

Officials move to steal election from Obama

MIKE JONES |||||| UNITED WE CAN ! * 2012 * |||||| — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 12:38:04 EST

George Curry/NNPA Columnist

After complaining in 2000 about George W. Bush being selected instead of being elected president, Democratic Party insiders are being equally duplicitous by maneuvering to steal the Democratic nomination from Barak Obama even as he continues to run up impressive wins over Hillary Clinton as he did over the weekend and on Tuesday.

In a brazen attempt to hand the election to Clinton, who is proving every day that she would be a weak alternative to Republican John McCain in the general election, Democratic Party leaders are hinting that despite their earlier decision to punish any state that violated their edict not move up their primary or caucus to a date earlier than Feb. 5 in order to compete with first-in-the-nation attention showered on Iowa and New Hampshire, they are on the verge of seating delegates from Florida and Michigan.

Both states defied the Party's directive and held elections prior to Feb. 5. Adhering to the rules, Obama dutifully did not campaign in either state and his name was not even on the ballot in Michigan. Yet, Clinton, who conducted a stealth campaign in both states while pretending to comply with the rules, is now arguing that a combined 350 or so delegates from Florida and Michigan should be seated at the convention next August in Denver. It's another example of the anything- goes politics that Obama denounces at every campaign stop.

Even with Obama's name missing from the ballot, 40 percent of those going to the polls in Michigan supported a slate of uncommitted delegates instead of voting for the New York senator.

In addition to Hillary Clinton, some key elected officials in Florida and Michigan already pledged to her, are making the specious argument that delegates from their state should be counted.

Michigan Democratic Sen. Carl Levin, for example, asserts that 600,000 Democrats participated in the primary and that it "would not be fair to throw out the results of the election." What is unfair is that Party leaders in Michigan decided not to play by the rules and now want to be rewarded for violating them.

Demonstrating a clear lack of character, Clinton is eager to claim delegates she would not have won in a head-to-head contest against Obama.

I understand that voters in Florida don't want to be disenfranchised. But they shouldn't be empowered at the expense of Barack Obama or the democratic process. Therefore, the only fair way to satisfy the interests of both the voters who were betrayed by their leaders and basic fairness is to allow Florida and Michigan to hold a second primary or caucus. Then, everyone can play by the same rules and voters can have their voices heard. But there is already grumbling that this proposition is too expensive. We're willing to spend millions to ensure fair elections in Iraq yet are unwilling to make that same financial or ethical commitment to citizens of Michigan and Florida.

The second attempt to derail Obama comes in the form of super delegates, usually party insiders accorded special privileges by virtue of their status. It is becoming increasingly clear that by June 7, the last day of voting, neither Obama nor Clinton will have the 2,025 delegates needed to clinch the nomination. Therefore, attention is shifting to the 796 super delegates that may determine the Party's eventual nominee.

In a year that Democratic voters have gone to the polls in record numbers, including many for the first time, it would be the ultimate insult to allow Party insiders decide who will carry the Democratic banner in November.

Super delegates are members of Congress, governors, state party chairs, DNC members and other VIPs. Naturally, if the nomination turns on the wishes of machine politicians, Clinton will have the advantage. Most were part of the political apparatus that got Bill Clinton elected twice and are therefore considerably more inclined to support Hillary. Of the declared super delegates, Hillary Clinton holds a 270-170 edge. That includes the vote of her husband, who gets a vote as "distinguished party leader."

Conservative George Will, noting the internal bickering among Republicans, said in a recent column: "The surest way to unify the Republican Party, however, is for Democrats to nominate Hillary Clinton. Barack Obama, the foundation of whose candidacy is his early opposition to the war in Iraq, would be a more interesting contrast to the candidate who is trying to become the oldest person ever elected to a first presidential term and who almost promises a war with Iran."

If Obama wins a majority of Democratic delegates from regular voters and Party insiders ignore their wishes and install Hillary Clinton as the nominee, many frustrated voters will stay at home in November. Not me. Too many people have sacrificed their lives so that I could exercise my right to vote. I will vote, but it definitely won't be for Clinton.

George E. Curry, former editor-in-chief of Emerge magazine and the NNPA News Service, is a keynote speaker, moderator, and media coach. He can be reached through his Web site, www.georgecurry.com.

FROM: districtchronicles.com

Obama supporter: Bill Clinton 'hit me in the face'

MIKE JONES |||||| UNITED WE CAN ! * 2012 * |||||| — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 10:24:22 EST

LINK

(VIDEO INCLUDED)

Heavy Snow, Freezing Rain Across WI

MIKE JONES |||||| UNITED WE CAN ! * 2012 * |||||| — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 10:18:10 EST

Associated Press
Katie DeLong

MILWAUKEE - Mother Nature smacked winter-weary Wisconsin with another storm Sunday, dumping freezing rain and snow across the southern two-thirds of the state.

The storm tracked on a diagonal from the southwestern section of the state to the northeast. Areas on either side of that diagonal received some seven to 10 inches of snow, according to the National Weather Service.

Eight to 12 inches fell across a narrow band of the state spanning Adams, Grant, Juneau, Monroe and Richland counties.

Some southern areas received freezing rain that left streets, sidewalks and trees coated with a sheen of ice. That led to scattered power outages as falling branches snapped power lines, and also created treacherous driving conditions.

The state Department of Transportation declared sections of nearly three dozen major highways and interstates snow-covered and slippery by mid-afternoon. The slick conditions caused cars across the state to slide into ditches, leading to minor injuries and property damage but no reported fatalities, said Donna Gilson, spokeswoman for Wisconsin Emergency Management.

"It's been amazingly quiet. People seemed to have taken the warnings to heart to stay at home and not venture out unless they needed to," Gilson said. "And it was a Sunday. That contributed to keeping it a quiet day, more quiet than anyone expected."

The conditions forced closures of shopping malls, libraries and churches. Democratic presidential candidates Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama postponed or canceled campaign stops in DePere, Kaukauna, Madison and Wausau.

The city of Milwaukee fielded hundreds of calls throughout the day of flooding and standing water, the city's Department of Public Works said. Crews used vacuums and front-end loaders to clear sewer grates and asked residents to keep sewer grates clear.

State emergency officials closed a stretch of Highway 32 in Kenosha early Sunday morning due to flooding. It was expected to remain closed at least through Monday morning.

The storm knocked out power for some 3,500 residents around south-central Wisconsin, including about 1,400 customers in Poynette. Almost all had power restored within a couple of hours, said Steve Schultz, an Alliant Energy spokesman.

Steve Kraus, a spokesman for Madison Gas & Electric, said there were reports of downed power lines in Madison, but no big outages.

The National Weather Service canceled most winter storm warnings about 8 p.m. but still cautioned that some areas could get another inch of snow overnight accompanied by gusts up to 30 mph.

Bob McMahon, a meteorologist with the weather service, said these types of storm systems tend to draw colder air into the region, meaning the upcoming week would be chilly.

"It's only going to be in the single digits or teens above zero for most of the state (Monday)," he said. "Tuesday and Wednesday it'll warm up, and then it'll actually get back into the lower to mid 20s for Thursday and Friday."

A blizzard warning had been in effect Sunday for more than a dozen counties, including Brown, La Crosse, Marathon, Richland and Vernon counties.

The weather service also issued a flood warning for urban areas and small streams in Kenosha, Milwaukee, Racine, Walworth and Waukesha counties that lasted through the early afternoon.

FROM: todaystmj4.com

Obama to appear in Youngstown today

MIKE JONES |||||| UNITED WE CAN ! * 2012 * |||||| — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 10:02:57 EST

Sen. Barack Obama is to make a campaign stop at 2 p.m. today in Youngstown.

The Democratic presidential candidate's rally -- at the Beeghly Center at Youngstown State University -- is free and open to the public and is dubbed Keeping America's Promise.

The Beeghly Center is at 224 Spring St.

Doors open at noon.

For security reasons, bags are not allowed into the rally. Obama's campaign also asked that attendees limit the number of personal belongings that they bring to the rally.

Prior to the rally, Obama was scheduled to tour RTI International Metals Inc. in Niles.

FROM: ohio.com

Ohio GOP leaders rooting for Clinton

MIKE JONES |||||| UNITED WE CAN ! * 2012 * |||||| — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 19:16:06 EST

One of the worst-kept secrets of the Ohio presidential primary is that Republican Party leaders have a candidate they are rooting for on the Democratic side.

Her name is Hillary Rodham Clinton; they believe if she wins the Ohio primary and goes on to become the Democratic nominee, she will be the one who unites their party and gives them their best chance of keeping the White House this fall.

It is a belief the Clinton campaign says is wrong; and they will campaign across the state for the next two weeks making the argument their battle-tested, experienced candidate is the only one who can go toe-to-toe with John McCain, the presumptive GOP nominee this fall.

She’ll need to do some convincing, fast.

For Clinton, Ohio’s March 4 primary is looking more and more critical.

With his sweep of the “Potomac Primaries” last week, Barack Obama has won eight primaries and caucuses in a row. Clinton enters the sprint for the two big March 4 states — Ohio and Texas — ahead in the polls, but she desperately needs wins in both states.

A Survey USA Poll released Tuesday showed Clinton with 56 percent support in Ohio, compared to 39 percent for Obama.

‘High negatives’ To hear Republicans tell it, they’re rooting for Clinton.

“There is no doubt about it,” said John Becker, a Clermont County Republican who represents much of southern Ohio on the Ohio Republican Party Central Committee. “There is nobody who can consolidate and energize the Republican Party like Hillary Clinton. It will get the people out and the money will flow.”

Part of it is that Clinton has what pollsters call “high negatives.”

A USA Today poll this month showed as many Americans had an unfavorable view of Clinton — 49 percent — as a favorable view (48 percent). The same poll showed Barack Obama’s unfavorable rating at 34 percent and his favorable rating at 58 percent. The Feb. 8-10 poll of 1,016 adults nationwide has a margin of error of 3 percentage points.

There are many reasons for Clinton’s high unfavorable rating — years of attacks by high-profile Republicans, her voting record in the Senate, her vote in 2002 authorizing President Bush to go to war in Iraq — but, in the end, there are many who simply don’t like her.

“She acts like she is owed it,” said Julia Ward Perdue, of East Walnut Hills, a long-time party Democratic activist who said she will vote for Obama. “It’s arrogance, like we owe it to her to elect her president.”

Becker, who supports Mike Huckabee for the GOP nomination, said although he believes Clinton could energize GOP voters, he’d rather see Obama win on the Democratic side, “because I want the Clintons to be gone.”

“That’s how much I dislike them,” Becker said. “And there are a lot of Republicans who feel the same.”

State Rep. Kevin DeWine, R-Fairborn, soon to become Ohio Republican Party chairman, made no bones about who he wants to win Ohio when he went head-to-head last month with Ohio Democratic Party Chairman Chris Redfern at a Clermont County Chamber of Commerce luncheon.

TV news anchor Jack Atherton, the moderator of the debate, asked the Democrat Redfern whom he favored for the Democratic nomination — Clinton or Obama.

Redfern demurred, saying he would remain neutral. But DeWine piped up immediately.

“I’m endorsing Hillary,” DeWine said, setting off laughter in the largely-Republican chamber crowd.

DeWine went on to say he believed Clinton was the Democrat with “high negatives” the GOP nominee could exploit and the candidate who would motivate the Republican base.‘It’s all been said’

There is some polling evidence that suggests Republicans like DeWine and Becker might be right.

An Associated Press-Ipsos Poll released Monday showed Obama led McCain with 48 percent to 42 percent nationally, while a McCain-Clinton match-up suggested a virtual dead heat — 46 percent for Clinton, 45 percent for McCain. The poll surveyed 1,029 people nationwide between Feb. 7 and 10, with a margin of error of plus or minus 4.3 percentage points.

Hamilton County Commissioner David Pepper, a Clinton supporter, said polling showed Clinton clearly would be competitive in a head-to-head matchup with McCain.

“Republicans have been throwing everything they can at Hillary Clinton for years now,” Pepper said. “I don’t know what more they can say that is going to drive more people away from her. It’s all been said. You either like her or you don’t.” But Obama, Pepper said, has yet to be a target of the Republican “attack machine.”

Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland, another high-profile Clinton supporter, agreed.

“There will be venom directed at whoever the Democratic candidate is,” Strickland said. “John Kerry, a war hero who was portrayed as someone who somehow didn’t bleed enough to earn his medals. I mean, give me a break.

“Presidential politics is always a hard-fought contest in Ohio, and I believe Hillary Clinton is the most-vetted candidate perhaps ever to seek the presidency.”

FROM : newarkadvocate.com

why do they like her ? we all know the reason

Kennedy comes to Cleveland for Obama

MIKE JONES |||||| UNITED WE CAN ! * 2012 * |||||| — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 18:40:53 EST

More than 300 people packed into the Fairhill Center in Cleveland Saturday to hear longtime Democratic U.S. Sen. Edward Kennedy stump for presidential hopeful Barack Obama in next month's primary election.

"Just remember this," Kennedy told to a roaring crowd. "March 4 is the day. Ohio is the state. And Barack Obama is our candidate."

Both candidates and their representatives focused their attention on Ohio in recent days. That state will be a key battleground in the weeks leading up to the primary.

Kennedy also campaigned for Obama in Akron and Youngstown Saturday, while supporters of Hillary Rodham Clinton focused their attention to other parts of the state after the New York senator spent Friday campaigning in Northeast Ohio.

Members of the Service Employees International Union, which originally endorsed John Edwards, sat behind Kennedy during the rally as he briefly told the audience about the Illinois senator's plans to help bring jobs to the region, create affordable health care, end the war in Iraq and improve the economy.

"He's been a voice that I think has reminded us all that America has a conscience," Kennedy said to the audience.

Some voters who attended the rally said they are ready to see a change.

"Having been born and raised in Cleveland, I'm aware of the exodus that has taken place over the past few decades," said Felicia Webster Barnette, 42, who now lives in Atlanta. "The people need the strength of a leader who can help and unite and I believe that person is Barack Obama."

Darnell Brewer, 31, of Cleveland, said he likes Obama's health care plan and vision to improve the economy.

"There is a mix of people who support him," Brewer said. "It is very intergenerational and he is bringing people together."

Most counts show that neither Obama nor Clinton will have enough delegates to win the party's nomination without the help of "super delegates" -- public officials and others who can commit their support to a candidate.

Kennedy said he did not plan to meet or court any super delegates while in Ohio.

"The eyes of the world are gonna be on Ohio on March 4," Kennedy said. "It may very well make the decision as to who the Democratic nominee and who the next president is going to be."

On Saturday, Obama picked up newspaper endorsements in states that will be holding primary elections in coming weeks. The Houston Chronicle and Milwaukee Journal Sentinel endorsed Obama in the Democratic primary and U.S. Sen. John McCain on the Republican ticket. The Plain Dealer has also endorsed Obama and McCain.

Clinton addressed a packed gymnasium of supporters Friday at Brush High School in in Lyndhurst. Her daughter Chelsea, visited Cleveland State University last week and talked with students about her mother's campaign.

FROM: cleveland.com

Obama wears bracelet given to him by mother of solider killed

MIKE JONES |||||| UNITED WE CAN ! * 2012 * |||||| — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 18:31:15 EST

LINK

Richardson: Superdelegates Should Reflect the Will of the People

MIKE JONES |||||| UNITED WE CAN ! * 2012 * |||||| — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 15:59:17 EST

“I just think there are too many superdelegates and I don’t think party bosses and elected officials should have the say they’re given today,” said Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico, a failed candidate for the Democratic nomination this year and a uncommitted superdelegate. He said he gets calls every day seeking an endorsement from Mr. Obama and Mrs. Clinton or their representatives.

Mr. Richardson said he did not know how or when he would make up his mind, though he said he believed the votes of the superdelegates should reflect the will of the people. Somehow.

“Right now, I have the luxury of growing a beard, dealing with the Legislature and riding my horse,” the governor said. “I don’t have to cater to those who want me to endorse now.”
From: nytimes.com via THE FIELD

Obama holds a statistically significant lead over Hillary Clinton in Gallup Poll Daily tracking

MIKE JONES |||||| UNITED WE CAN ! * 2012 * |||||| — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 15:55:43 EST

LINK

MUST SEE VIDEOS !!!

MIKE JONES |||||| UNITED WE CAN ! * 2012 * |||||| — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 15:40:35 EST

MUST SEE VIDEOS !!

No You Can't !!

LINK

John.He.Is

LINK

LOL !

YES WE CAN !!!

LINK

YES WE CAN !!!

Barack Obama bringing campaign to Dallas-Fort Worth

MIKE JONES |||||| UNITED WE CAN ! * 2012 * |||||| — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 14:00:50 EST

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama will appear in the Dallas-Fort Worth area on Wednesday, his campaign staff said Saturday.

The campaign did not release details on where the junior U.S. senator from Illinois would be speaking, saying they would do so soon.

Mr. Obama is also scheduled to appear in Houston and San Antonio on Tuesday ahead of a debate with New York Sen. Hillary Clinton on Thursday in Austin.

"Sen. Obama is committed to campaigning in communities across Texas and will ask the people of Texas to stand for change with him," Adrian Saenz, the Obama campaign's Texas state director, said in a prepared statement Saturday.

FROM: dallasnews.com

Clinton Campaign: Super Delegates Will Decide Nomination

MIKE JONES |||||| UNITED WE CAN ! * 2012 * |||||| — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 12:54:12 EST

Harold Ickes, a former top aide to president Clinton now in charge of delegate counting for Sen. Hillary Clinton's campaign, insisted today that neither Clinton nor Sen. Barack Obama can secure the Democratic nomination with just pledged delegates, the ones elected by voters through state primaries and caucuses. Ickes, a veteran of convention fights, referred to super delegates, the elected officials and Democratic National Committee members who make up 40 percent of the number of delegates needed to win the nomination as "automatic delegates."

"The central fact notwithstanding all the controversy ginned up by the Obama campaign around automatic delegates, both will need them to nail down the nomination," Ickes told reporters on a conference call today.

Ickes called it a "mathematical impossibility" to win without super delegates.

"This nomination process is long from over," Ickes said, predicting that after Puerto Rico votes June 7, the two will be "neck and neck."

"Quite shortly after that, she's going to wrap up the nomination," Ickes predicted.

Translated: A knock-down, drag out fight over super delegates. With the nomination and the presidency at stake, and top Democrats in conflict about the role of super delegates and whether to seat the Michigan and Florida delegations, don't expect Ickes' other prediction -- that this can be settled without a bitter convention fight -- to hold true. Ickes made it very clear that Clinton will fight this out by every means at her disposal.

FROM: sfgate.com

Shooting shows why Obama strikes a chord

MIKE JONES |||||| UNITED WE CAN ! * 2012 * |||||| — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 12:10:43 EST

By Sun-Times columnist Mary Mitchell

If you're wondering why Sen. Barack Obama's message of hope has resonated with so many voters across the country, consider the shooting rampage at Northern Illinois University.

Despite a decade of school shootings, we are never prepared for the horror of someone opening fire on innocent people, then taking his or her own life.

On Thursday, five people were killed and more than 20 others were injured when a man who was described by school administrators as a former top student returned to the campus and began randomly shooting students in a lecture hall.

The shooter has been identified as Steven Phillip Kazmierczak, a 27-year-old graduate student at the U. of I.

Like many of you, I watched the televised reports on the violence feeling completely helpless, and wondering how such a horrible thing could have happened in a place where people should feel safe.

How is it that we live in a country where a young man can get his hands on four weapons, including a shotgun?

Why are people walking around armed to the teeth?

The only reason I can think of is that too many people have lost hope.

The pain of hopelessness

We are living at a time when depression seems to be as common as a cold or flu. Yet what is depression but an impenetrable cloud of hopelessness?

Hopelessness is behind the violence that erupts on street corners and behind closed doors in middle-class homes where women have killed their children and tried to take their own lives.

And it is hopelessness that condemns innocent children like Demond Reed to an early death at the hands of an abuser, and lures young men and women to throw away their futures for a drug addiction that leads to wasted lives.

If these hopeless people were easier to spot, we could devise better ways to protect ourselves. But they are not.

According to university officials, Kazmierczak's behavior while a student at NIU raised no "red flags," and he was "revered" by faculty and other students.

Yet something drove this seemingly normal graduate student to drive three hours on Valentine's Day to carry out a deadly plan that he obviously thought out in advance.

Late Friday afternoon, we had heard a lot of details about the terrifying few minutes that resulted in such large-scale carnage, but we still didn't know the motive for the shooter's rampage.

Kazmierczak didn't leave a suicide note, nor had anyone who knew the shooter personally offered a hint as to what set him off. But apparently Kazmierczak had recently gone off medications and had been acting "erratically," according to police officers.

But while law enforcement can respond to these tragic shootings, and claim that there was nothing they could have done differently that would have prevented the tragedy, it doesn't leave us with much hope.

After the endless interviews with eye-witnesses, the candlelight vigils and the heartfelt condolences from elected officials, the public is still left to bear the weight of this terrible crime.

Because without hope, nothing changes.

A gift the country needs

Last April, 23-year-old Seung-Hui Cho killed 33 people and injured 30 others on the Virginia Tech campus before killing himself. That mass shooting -- considered the worst in America's history -- may have spurred officials on other campuses to beef up security, but these officials are apparently no match for lone gunmen who have access to college campuses.

Since Virginia Tech, many parents of college-aged students have had to turn to their faith.

On the stump, however, Obama has had to defend his faith, and jokes about his critics calling him a "hopemonger." But Obama's ability to inspire people -- in urban areas as well as in rural towns -- is a gift the country needs.

Young people are killing each other in the ghettos as well as in our nation's universities. So it's not just drug wars or street gangs driving the violence.

But while young people are dying as martyrs, adults with the power to make a difference are still arguing over the merits of gun control.

Obama is surging ahead because a lot of people are tired of believing they are powerless to heal an ailing nation.

FROM: suntimes.com

NEW OBAMA AD IN WI

MIKE JONES |||||| UNITED WE CAN ! * 2012 * |||||| — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 11:39:35 EST

CHECK IT OUT !

VIDEO

Obama Counters Clinton's Negative Ad

MIKE JONES |||||| UNITED WE CAN ! * 2012 * |||||| — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 11:29:13 EST

With three days left until the Wisconsin primary, Barack Obama continues to campaign through out the state with stops in Wausau, Eau Claire, and Milwaukee today. In the last 24 hours, Obama has stepped up his rhetoric against Hillary Clinton, calling her criticisms of him silly and dismissing her claims that he won’t debate her.

“She's got an ad running right now saying, 'well, Barack Obama won't debate.' We've had 18 debates! 18 debates. I’ve got two more scheduled next week!,” Obama told a crowd in Green Bay last night.

“But that's what happens when you’ve been in Washington a long time, your attitude becomes, ‘I'll just say whatever might work to win an election’.”

Obama's campaign released a new ad to counter the Clinton ad in Wisconsin.

"After 18 debates, with two more coming, Hillary says Barack Obama is ducking debates? It's the same old politics," an announcer says in the ad.

Both Obama and Clinton will be in Milwaukee this evening, where they are scheduled to speak at the Founders Day Gala. The two candidates have not appeared in the same city since the Jefferson-Jackson Dinner in Richmond, Virginia last Saturday.

While Clinton has spent most of her time in Texas and Ohio, Obama has been focusing on Wisconsin. Most of his campaign stops have been at Wisconsin colleges and universities, where he continues to court young voters. Obama is aware of his appeal with young voters and recognizes their effect on his campaign.

“I can't tell you how many parents tell me that they changed their minds because their daughter or their son talked to them,” Obama said yesterday in Milwaukee.

Obama is also going after the blue-collar vote, a demographic that he generally has not preformed well with. He visited a General Motors plant in Janesville earlier this week and hosted a roundtable meeting at Northcentral Technical College in Wausau this morning. Obama spoke to students and faculty about the importance of workers acquiring skills and training to compete in the economy.

FROM: cbsnews.com

Senator Barack Obama Organizers Open TX Head Quarters

MIKE JONES |||||| UNITED WE CAN ! * 2012 * |||||| — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 11:17:20 EST

Senator Barack Obama's campaign organizers were busy preparing poltiical materials in downtown Brownsville, for the grand opening ot it's headquarters, on Saturday. Congressman Xavier Becerra and State Representative Eddie Lucio III will be on hand at Saturday's celebration.

Organizers says they've decided to open up headquarters here to lure Latino and young voters to the polls. Obama is expected to be in the Valley in the upcoming weeks, but no date is confirmed.

WATCH THE VIDEO !!!

FROM: kveo.com

Obama has won the endorsement of the largest newspaper in Wisconsin

MIKE JONES |||||| UNITED WE CAN ! * 2012 * |||||| — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 10:59:14 EST

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has endorsed OBAMA

Circulation

230,220 Daily
400,317 Sunday

LINK

Harlem Mystery: Did Rangel's District Go for Barack Obama?

MIKE JONES |||||| UNITED WE CAN ! * 2012 * |||||| — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 10:49:19 EST

New York Congressman Charlie Rangel was an early and essential backer of Hillary Clinton's campaign for president.

The support of the senior House Democrat was required if the senator from New York was to be able to run nationally with the assurance that her home turf was "locked up." And Rangel, as the dean of state's Democratic House delegation, and a dominant player in the politics of Harlem, helped to do just that.

Along with the support of Georgia Congressman John Lewis, Rangel's backing also gave Clinton credibility in the African-American community beyond New York. But, now, Lewis is wavering in his support for Clinton -- suggesting to the New York Times that, after his Atlanta-area congressional district voted overwhelmingly for Barack Obama, he is likely to cast his superdelegate vote at the Democratic National Convention for the surging senator from Illinois.

When word came that Lewis and other African-American House members were starting to talk about "keeping faith" with their constituents and voting for the candidate who could be the first African-American nominee for president, I immediately checked the results from Rangel's congressional district.

According to figures reported after the February 5 New York primary, Rangel's Harlem-based 15th district voted rather comfortably for Clinton. The unofficial count with 100 percent of the votes supposedly tabulated was:

Clinton -- 55,359 votes, 53 percent

Obama -- 47,514 votes, 45 percent

That was close enough to create a 3-3 delegate split. But it was a clear Clinton win, and thus there would be no pressure on Rangel to vote the will of a congressional district that backed Obama.

Or so it seemed.

Now comes Saturday's New York Times Metro Section report headlined: "Unofficial Tallies in City Understated Obama Vote."

According to the paper:

"Black voters are heavily represented in the 94th Election District in Harlem's 70th Assembly District. Yet according to the unofficial results from the New York Democratic primary last week, not a single vote in the district was cast for Senator Barack Obama.

That anomaly was not unique. In fact, a review by The New York Times of the unofficial results reported on primary night found about 80 election districts among the city's 6,106 where Mr. Obama supposedly did not receive even one vote, including cases where he ran a respectable race in a nearby district.

City election officials this week said that their formal review of the results, which will not be completed for weeks, had confirmed some major discrepancies between the vote totals reported publicly -- and unofficially -- on primary night and the actual tally on hundreds of voting machines across the city.:

The Times adds this relevant information: "The 94th Election District in Harlem, for instance, sits within the Congressional district represented by Charles B. Rangel, an original supporter of Mrs. Clinton."

No one is suggesting that Rangel did anything wrong, nor should they. There are many explanations for why vote counts are off, and there are many players in the process -- and Rangel is one of the more honorable of the lot.

What New Yorkers should be asking for, however, is a complete review of the results in New York City, with a heavy focus not just on the 80 election district where Obama supposedly received no votes but also on those where it appears that his vote was far below the level of support that he received in surrounding districts -- and that might reasonably be expected.

At issue may be a few more pledged delegates for Obama -- no small matter in a close race for the nomination -- and the broader question of how superdelegates who want to respect the sentiments of their constituents, a group that could include Rangel and several other House members from New York, cast their votes at this summer's convention.

FROM: thenation.com

Barack Obama Coming to Ohio University in Athens

MIKE JONES |||||| UNITED WE CAN ! * 2012 * |||||| — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 10:43:07 EST

This morning WSAZ confirmed that presidential candidate, Barack Obama will soon open up a campaign office in Portsmouth, Ohio.

A senior staffer with Governor Ted Strickland's office tells WSAZ that members of the secret service are in town. They are scouting out a site at Ohio University in Athens for a Barack Obama campaign visit. This visit is expected to happen in the next 4 or 5 days

FROM: wsaz.com

Clinton, Obama Face-Off at Badger State Dinner

MIKE JONES |||||| UNITED WE CAN ! * 2012 * |||||| — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 10:32:27 EST

Both scheduled to speak at the state Democratic party’s Founders Day Gala in Milwaukee — the one true side-by-side test before Tuesday’s primary.

LIVE ON C-SPAN FROM 8 P.M. ET

FROM: The Page

Hillary superdelegate in Iowa throws support to Barack Obama

MIKE JONES |||||| UNITED WE CAN ! * 2012 * |||||| — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 10:06:44 EST

Barack Obama picked off a superdelegate previously committed to Hillary Clinton Friday in another setback for her campaign.

Sarah Swisher, a Service Employees International Union member from Iowa, switched after the union endorsed Obama.

Georgia Congressman David Scott also embraced Obama, and Rep. John Lewis was reported to be wavering amid heavy arm-twisting.

"There's a lot of stuff going beneath the surface, you know, stuff like, 'We'll get you if you don't support us,'" said a Georgia source close to the Congressional Black Caucus. Lewis and Scott campaigned for Clinton before last week's Georgia primary on Super Tuesday. Obama beat her by a 3-to-1 margin in the state.

"You've got to represent the wishes of your constituency," Scott said of his reversal. Lewis' position was less clear. On Thursday he told The New York Times, "Something is happening in America and people are prepared and ready to make that great leap."

Some party sources, however, said Lewis has not decided to bolt.

A Clinton backer with ties to the Congressional Black Caucus said the Georgia lawmakers don't have the cover of Charles Rangel, whose Manhattan district voted for Clinton. "Those people in the South, where Obama is getting 80% of the vote, are under tremendous pressure," the source said.

FROM: nydailynews.com

Houston Chronicle Endorses Obama

MIKE JONES |||||| UNITED WE CAN ! * 2012 * |||||| — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 09:49:08 EST

LINK

Houston Chronicle is the largest daily newspaper in Texas

Circulation
503,114 Daily
677,425 Sunday

Its web site averages 25 million hits per month

LINK

Dispute continues in Michigan over holding a Democratic caucus

MIKE JONES |||||| UNITED WE CAN ! * 2012 * |||||| — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 08:44:45 EST

LINK

Italian leader copies OBAMA !

MIKE JONES |||||| UNITED WE CAN ! * 2012 * |||||| — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 08:36:58 EST

Walter Veltroni, who has compared himself to Barack Obama and has borrowed the U.S. presidential hopeful's "Yes, we can" slogan

FROM: guardian.co.uk

Bill Clinton Says Obama Not Part of 1990s

MIKE JONES |||||| UNITED WE CAN ! * 2012 * |||||| — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 08:27:22 EST

ABC News’ Sarah Amos reports that former President Bill Clinton — despite myriad promises he would stop assailing his wife’s opponent given how it has backfired on her — upped his harsh attacks today in Tyler, Texas.

“There are two competing moods in America today,” Clinton said. “People who want something fresh and new — and they find it inspiring that we might elect a president who literally was not part of any of the good things that happened or any of the bad things that were stopped before. The explicit argument of the campaign against Hillary is that ‘No one who was involved in the 1990s or this decade can possibly be an effective president because they had fights. We’re not going to have any of those anymore.’ Well, if you believe that, I got some land I wanna sell you.”

[…]

Obama campaign spox Bill Burton tells ABC News in response, “It appears that the man who once told us ‘Don’t stop thinking about tomorrow’ has changed his tune and is now singing ‘Yesterday’ everywhere he goes.”
FROM: outsidethebeltway.com

Report: Obama votes understated in primary

MIKE JONES |||||| UNITED WE CAN ! * 2012 * |||||| — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 08:15:39 EST

Officials in New York City say discrepancies in the results of the Democratic primary election understated the vote for presidential hopeful Barack Obama.

City election officials have confirmed discrepancies between vote totals reported on primary night and the actual tally recorded on hundreds of voting machines in the city, The New York Times reported Saturday.

For example, Obama initially was reported as receiving no votes in the heavily black 94th Election District in Harlem's 70th Assembly District, the Times reported, noting a recount now shows Obama with 136 votes and rival Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton with 261 votes.

Nearly 80 districts in the city showed Obama with no votes, said city election officials who estimate it will take weeks to finish a formal review of the voting.

Obama and Clinton's campaign agree that mistakes, rather than corruption, likely caused tired vote inspectors to get some results wrong, the Times reported, noting even an additional couple of hundred votes in New York might help Obama gain a few more delegates to the nominating convention in Denver this summer.

FROM: upi.com

Clinton strong in Penn. poll, but backers worry

MIKE JONES |||||| UNITED WE CAN ! * 2012 * |||||| — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 15:37:03 EST

Once considered the inevitable Democratic nominee for president, Hillary Rodham Clinton has lost eight times since coast-to-coast contests Feb. 5 that left her campaign treasury depleted.

As a result, nervous backers, including Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, have wondered aloud in recent days whether Clinton's campaign has been too slow to organize for Pennsylvania's potentially crucial April 22 primary — not to mention contests in Ohio and Texas, which vote March 4.

Clinton campaign officials and fundraisers are offering reassurance, pointing out that there is more than enough time to begin opening field offices and ramping up staff for Pennsylvania.

Indeed, rival Barack Obama has not spent significant money in the state yet, either.

David Dunphy, a neutral Democratic consultant, said campaign efforts here would be wasted now because Pennsylvania is the only major contest after March 4.

"Both candidates will be living in the state — we'll be swamped," Dunphy said. "It turns into Iowa."

Mark Aronchick, a Philadelphia lawyer who is a national cochair of Clinton's finance committee, said the campaign would have "ample resources" for Pennsylvania. "Whatever it takes," he said.

On Wednesday, Rendell complained in a New York Times interview that Clinton operatives had told him there was no money for a direct-mail advertisement he had proposed. "It sure didn't look like they had a game plan for after Super Tuesday," Rendell was quoted as saying.

But Thursday the governor backpedaled from those comments. "They had plenty of money, they just chose to use it on something else," Rendell said in a brief interview. "And that's their choice, not mine."

He said the Clinton campaign would be in good shape for April 22.

"Remember, there are nine weeks to go, so there's plenty of time to get on the ground organizationally," Rendell said, noting there is a good "nucleus" of fundraisers and volunteers in the state.

"I think the campaign here will go well," Rendell said, "but who knows what the flow of the campaign will be between now and then."

Clinton received some good news this week with the release of a Quinnipiac University poll of Democrats who said they were likely to vote in the Pennsylvania primary. She led Obama by 52 percent to 36 percent, according to the survey.

In a conference call with reporters Wednesday, Clinton field director Guy Cecil vowed that the campaign would have competitive ground operations in all the states to come.

Clinton poured most of her resources into the Feb. 5 Super Tuesday contests, allowing Obama to since then rack up big victories in smaller caucus states where she was less active.

Cecil said the campaign was committed to having "the most effective and largest grass-roots effort in the states going forward."

FROM: ajc.com

Obama Addresses Tragedy at NIU

MIKE JONES |||||| UNITED WE CAN ! * 2012 * |||||| — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 15:16:42 EST

U.S. Senator Barack Obama today released the following statement on the shooting at Northern Illinois University:

“Yesterday, 22 men and women were shot, and six were killed, when a madman walked into a lecture hall at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb and opened fire.

“We hear about heartbreaking, mindless acts of violence like this day after day, week after week. They come in and out of the headlines, and after awhile, most of the world goes on. But for all the loved ones who are left behind, the pain and the sorrow remain for a very, very long time. Today we offer them our prayers, but we must also offer them our determination to do whatever it takes to eradicate this violence from our streets and our schools; from our neighborhoods and our cities. That is our duty as Americans, and that is our solemn obligation as mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers, sons and daughters, neighbors and friends.

“Michelle and I offer our deepest sympathies to the families and loved ones of the victims. They will be in our prayers.”

FROM: swnewsherald.com

Michelle Obama predicts Ohio win ???

MIKE JONES |||||| UNITED WE CAN ! * 2012 * |||||| — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 15:06:01 EST

Mindful of poll numbers that put her husband behind Hillary Clinton in Ohio's March 4 primary, Michelle Obama stopped in the state Friday to relish the role of the underdog.

Obama, speaking in an Ohio State University ballroom to a racially diverse crowd of about 600 that included many students, said the situation reminded her of Iowa, where Barack Obama won the Democratic caucus despite trailing in early polls.

In fact, for a split-second, she let Iowa slip out, when she meant Ohio.

"We're going to win Iowa - Ohio," she said to a laughing and forgiving audience. "We're going to win Ohio just like we won Iowa -- that's what I was trying to say."

She continued with a 45-minute speech that at times was personal and humorous, but always sounded optimistic. She said her husband has no problem with running as an underdog, because it's worked for him so far.

One of Ohio's most prominent Obama supporters, Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman, joined by his wife Frankie, introduced Obama. After her Columbus appearance, she was headed to a second rally in Cincinnati.

FROM: cleveland.com

Obama calls for a "National Infrastructure Reinvestment Bank"

MIKE JONES |||||| UNITED WE CAN ! * 2012 * |||||| — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 14:52:48 EST

Earlier this week, Presidential candidate Barack Obama may have helped transportation infrastructure become a critical issue leading up to this November’s election, when he called for the establishment of a National Infrastructure Reinvestment Bank that would invest $60 billion over a ten year period for highways, technology, and other projects.

Obama proposed this concept as a component of his $210 billion economic stimulus package, when he made an economic policy address at a GE Assembly Plant on Wednesday.

“For our economy, our safety, and our workers, we have to rebuild America,” said Obama. “This investment will multiply into almost half a trillion dollars of infrastructure spending and generate nearly two million new jobs—many of them in the construction industry that’s been hit hard by the housing crisis.”

Funding for this endeavor, said Obama, will be made available by ending the war in Iraq.

Obama’s concept comes at a time when transporation infrastructure has received a fair amount of attention in recent weeks, following the January roll-out of a report released by the National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission. This report focused on the current state of surface transportation in the U.S., and it addressed the myraid needs to improved transportation infrastructure improvements needed to meet the expected demand in domestic freight transportation growth in the coming years.

Some of the things needed to help remedy an ailing and aging surface transportation system to better meet the Department of Transportation’s projected 70 percent increase in freight between now and 2020, included: the U.S. spending at least $225 billion per year for the next 50 years on its surface transportation system from all levels of government compared to the less than 40 percent of that figure spent today; fixing the current highway trust fund shortfall by recommending financial measures such as raising the gas—or federal motor fuels—tax to from five-to-eight cents per year to 25-to-40 cents per gallon per year over the next five years (or 41 to 66 cents per day), which would eventually be followed by a vehicle miles traveled tax until at least 2025, implementing a federal freight fee, and having a portion of Customs fees be dedicated to the highway trust fund.

Other Commission recommendations cited included an increase in tolling to add interstate capacity, congestion pricing in metropolitan areas of a million or more people to finance interstate and new capacity initiatives, and bringing private capital into surface transportation systems through public-private partnerships (PPP) that can help facilitate international trade with intermodal connections, which relieve congestion that add time and costs to the supply chain.

The fact that surface transportation is getting some overdue attention in an election year may prove to be good timing for shippers that count heavily on our nation’s transportation infrastructure to move freight through continually their supply chains, according to some well-respected transportation officials inside the Beltway.

“Obama’s plan reflects the urgent need we have in this country for finding a way to invest in infrastructure and invest with federal leadership,” said Leslie Blakey, executive director, Coalition for America’s Gateways and Trade Corridors, in an interview. “As I understand it, this [amount] would be over and above what we are already investing into transportation infrastructure...it would be a significant addition to what is already being put into the system.

While it is not know if all of the proposed $60 billion would go into transportation infrastructure, Blakey said it is undoubtedly where a great deal of it is likely to be spent and is where some of the most urgent needs are. She added that this plan represents “good strategic thinking” from an economic point of view, because within the transportation sector—and related associations—there was a push to get transportation infrastructure projects included in the recently-passed $168 billion economic stimulus package. There are many projects she said that could be translated into jobs 30-to-90 days if the funding were available, said Blakey. And the fact that Obama recognizes the need for improved transportation infrastructure to meet real needs, rather than just spreading money around, is also very helpful in stabilizing the economic problems being experienced in the country, she added.

“The issue of changing goods movements and logistics patterns, fixing capacity problems, and issues of economic importance are things important to shippers,” said Mort Downey, chairman of PB Consult and former U.S. Department of Transportation secretary in a January interview. “It is timely and also all connected.”

Downey added that it can be hard for shippers and freight carriers to get deeply involved with transportation infrastructure policy at the national, but with last month’s report [and Obama’s recent announcement] at that level, it appears there is a national level discussion starting, where everyone is invited to the table, he said.

FROM: logisticsmgmt.com

Onetime Jersey volunteer heads Obama campaign's new media outreach office in Texas

MIKE JONES |||||| UNITED WE CAN ! * 2012 * |||||| — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 14:34:51 EST

A year ago, Damian Bednarz was completing his Master’s Degree at Seton Hall University and sending g-mails out to fellow backpack-clad, 20–something political junkies as a grassroots Barack Obama organizer.

The campaign liked what it saw of the Paterson product, and snatched him up to handle GOTV efforts in New Hampshire, months before the primary there. He worked all summer and fall in the Granite State, and on primary night found himself in the boiler room, taking down polling information as his presidential candidate came up short of knocking out rival Sen. Hillary Clinton.

Coming off of New Hampshire, the campaign allowed Bednarz to return to New Jersey for a few hours. Then he was on a plane bound for Nevada, where he organized in the days leading up to that state’s primary, took the hard loss, then went to California to work the state for Super Tuesday.

Now he’s in Austin, Texas, and the campaign’s state director of new media.

"It’s a ridiculous operation in Texas, and we’re moving at the speed of sound," said Bednarz. "It’s not like California where we had little time and few resources. Here we have time and resources to do it right."

FROM: politickernj.com

Thanks Damian

YES WE CAN !!!

SEIU Endorses Obama

MIKE JONES |||||| UNITED WE CAN ! * 2012 * |||||| — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 14:21:08 EST

LINK

Christine Pelosi: Superdelegates Should Not Overturn Majority Dem. Vote

MIKE JONES |||||| UNITED WE CAN ! * 2012 * |||||| — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 13:22:04 EST

LINK

Obama Remarks from Today's Press Conference

MIKE JONES |||||| UNITED WE CAN ! * 2012 * |||||| — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 12:49:57 EST

Before I begin today, I want to say a few words about the tragedy that occurred in DeKalb yesterday. Twenty-two men and women were shot, and six were killed, when a madman walked into a lecture hall at Northern Illinois University and opened fire.

We hear about heartbreaking, mindless acts of violence like this day after day, week after week. They come in and out of the headlines, and after awhile, most of the world goes on. But for all the loved ones who are left behind, the pain and the sorrow remain for a very, very long time. Today we offer them our prayers, but we must also offer them our determination to do whatever it takes to eradicate this violence from our streets and our schools; from our neighborhoods and our cities. That is our duty as Americans, and that is our solemn obligation as mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers, sons and daughters, neighbors and friends.

Yesterday, the Fed Chairman, Ben Bernanke, said this economy could get worse before it gets better. He talked of sluggish growth and weak consumer confidence, as well a housing crisis that could deteriorate even more.

It’s a forecast that’s reflected in so many of the stories I’ve heard here in Wisconsin over the last week – families that can’t pay the mortgage, or their medical bills, or are worried that they won’t be able to send their children to college. All while Exxon Mobile reports record profits, and some CEOs make more in ten minutes than the average worker makes in ten months.

We are not standing on the brink of recession because of forces beyond our control. This was not an inevitable part of the business cycle. It was a failure of leadership in Washington – a Washington where George Bush hands out billions of tax cuts to the wealthiest few year after year after year. A Washington where politicians tout NAFTA as a success when they’re in the White House and then call it a mistake when they’re on the campaign trail. A Washington that’s thrown open its doors to lobbyists and special interests who’ve riddled our tax code with loopholes that let corporations avoid paying their taxes while middle-class Americans pay more.

I spoke in Janesville on Wednesday about my comprehensive agenda to help struggling homeowners and prevent foreclosures; provide a middle-class tax cut to workers and seniors; make health care and college affordable; protect families from bankruptcy and credit card debt; and create millions of new jobs by investing in renewable energy and rebuilding our crumbling infrastructure.

Yesterday, Senator Clinton unveiled her latest in a long line of slogans, which argues that she’s proposed solutions while others have not.

Now, all of us have proposed plenty of solutions in this race. On some we differ. On many, we agree. The problem we have is not a lack of good ideas. It’s that Washington today is a place where good ideas go to die. They’re the victim of petty, partisan politics, point-scoring, and special interest influence that’s out of control.

So the real question for this campaign is, who can change that? Who can break us out of the gridlock? Who can take those good ideas that will help working families in Wisconsin and across the country, build a consensus, overcome the special interests, and actually get something done?

You know, after defending Washington lobbyists as people who “represent real Americans” at a debate in August, Senator Clinton said yesterday that she would take them on as President. But in this campaign, she’s taken nearly double the amount of money from lobbyists than any Democrat or Republican running for President. That’s not being a part of the solutions business. That’s being a part of business-as-usual in Washington. And that’s what we’re trying to change so that we can finally take on the special interests, bring people together, and pass the solutions that all of us have outlined in this campaign. That’s what will make a real difference in the lives of working families who are struggling in this economy, and that’s what I intend to do as President.

FROM THE PAGE

Rasmussen Daily Presidential Tracking Poll: OBAMA TO THE LEAD

MIKE JONES |||||| UNITED WE CAN ! * 2012 * |||||| — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 11:55:47 EST

The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Thursday shows Barack Obama opening a double-digit lead over Hillary Clinton in the race for the Democratic Presidential Nomination. Today’s results show Obama earning support from 49% of Likely Democratic Primary Voters while Clinton attracts 37%

FROM : Rasmussen Reports

Obama Camp Memo From Supporting Union Leaders

MIKE JONES |||||| UNITED WE CAN ! * 2012 * |||||| — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 11:48:10 EST

TO: Interested Parties

FR: UNITE Here International Union General President Bruce Raynor

Transport Workers Union President James Little

General President United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters William P. Hite

RE: Senator Clinton’s visit to the Buckeye State

The Clinton campaign declared that Ohio is a must win state for Senator Clinton. But Senator Clinton will face a formidable opponent in Ohio: her record. Ohio voters will judge candidates based on whether they have been consistent in standing up to special interests, opposing tax breaks for corporations that shelter their profits offshore, and fighting against unfair trade deals that cost American workers thousands of jobs.

Today, Senator Clinton will visit the Mahoning Valley and witness some of the devastation that NAFTA, PNTR and other unfair trade agreements have caused putting thousands of American workers out of jobs. As late as September 2006, Senator Clinton touted the President Clinton’s support for NAFTA.

Ohio workers know the truth about NAFTA — Ohio ranks 5th among all states in the number of jobs and opportunities lost due to the rising trade deficit with Canada and Mexico since the passage of NAFTA. Ohio lost nearly 50,000 jobs due to NAFTA alone. And they know that PNTR did not create leverage for the U.S. over China, it led the way to a massive trade deficit, unenforced trade laws, and more Americans looking for work.

Barack Obama believes NAFTA and PNTR were the wrong policies for America – and he has introduced legislation – the Patriot Employers Act – that would eliminate tax breaks for corporations that ship jobs overseas and provide incentives for corporations to invest in their U.S. workforce.

Senator Clinton has the opportunity to come clean with Ohio voters today once and for all – was it a mistake to support NAFTA and PNTR?

THE CLINTON RECORD ON TRADE

AS LATE AS SEPTEMBER 2006: Hillary Said NAFTA Was A Victory For President Clinton, Would Lead To An Economic Improvement. In 1996, on a trip to Brownsville, Texas, Clinton “touted the president’s support for the North American Free Trade Agreement, saying it would reap widespread benefits in the region.” In her memoir, Clinton wrote, “Senator Dole was genuinely interested in health care reform but wanted to run for President in 1996. He couldn’t hand incumbent Bill Clinton any more legislative victories, particularly after Bill’s successes on the budget, the Brady bill and NAFTA.” And according to a Newsday issues rundown in 2006, “Clinton thinks NAFTA has been a boon to the economy.” [New York Newsday, 9/11/06; United Press International, 11/1/96; Living History, p.231]

JANUARY 2008: Bill Clinton Says “A Lot Of People Think NAFTA’s A Bigger Problem Than it Is. During an event in Las Vegas, Clinton said “She [Hillary Clinton] believes that NAFTA, she believes that all our trade agreements should be reviewed in the first 90 to 120 days of taking office. She would have a total moratorium on all new trade deals until we conducted a review. And one of the things that we have to examine is the point I made earlier. That is, is the trade agreement basically fair, but we just don’t enforce it. A lot of people think that NAFTA’s a bigger problem than it is. Our problem with Mexico, our trade deficit with Mexico is mostly because we buy oil from them.” [Bill Clinton, 1/18/08]

CHINA

2000: Hillary Clinton Claimed China’s Entry Into The World Trade Organization Would Be Good For American Workers Despite The Already Massive Trade Deficit With China. “I know many people, here in Western New York in particularly and Erie Country, are concerned about this vote, and I share the concerns that many of my supporters in organized labor have expressed to me, because I do think we have to make sure that we improve labor rights, we improve environmental standards in our bilateral and our multilateral trade agreements. But on balance, I’ve looked at this, I’ve studied it, I think it is in the interests of America and American workers that we provide the option for China to go into the WTO. Right now, we are trading with China. We have a huge trade deficit with China. The agreement that has been negotiated between our two countries would open their markets to us in a way that they are not yet open, and in fact, for many large manufactured products, like automobiles, we would have the first chance to really get in and compete in that marketplace. I also think it’s not just an issue of trade. I believe it’s a security consideration. I want to do everything we can to persuade China to improve its human rights record, to be sure that it doesn’t in any way interfere with its neighbors or with Taiwan. I don’t think you gain that by isolating China. I think we must work out as best we can a relationship in trade, and a very firm statement and commitment to improving human rights and try to make as much progress as possible.” [CNN, 4/26/2000]

2000: Hillary Clinton Supported Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) For China, Claimed It Would Create Leverage. “Senate candidate Hillary Clinton said Thursday she supported permanent normal trade relations for China, but slammed Beijing’s restrictive birthrate policies. Clinton said she favored ‘engagement’ with China through trade as a way to ‘have whatever influence we can have’ on Beijing to change its dismal record on human rights, labor law and the environment. ‘I understand the challenges they are facing with population, minorities and the move from the countryside into the cities,’ Clinton said Thursday. ‘But I would hope that they would improve their human rights record, and that includes reproductive rights,’ she added.” [Agence France Presse, 5/25/00]

THE PRICE OHIO HAS PAID

Ohio Ranked 5th Among All States In The Number Of Jobs And Jobs Opportunities Lost And In Percent Jobs Lost Due To The Rising Trade Deficit With Canada And Mexico Since The Passage Of NAFTA. Ohio ranked fifth among all states in number of jobs and job opportunities lost due to the rising trade deficit with Canada and Mexico since passage of NAFTA, with 49,886 positions lost. Ohio also ranked fifth in percent of jobs lost, with nearly one percent of the state’s employment (.92 percent) lost. [“NAFTA’s Cautionary Tale,” 7/20/05 <http://www.epi.org/content.cfm/ib214 <http://www.epi.org/content.cfm/ib214> > ]

Ohio Ranked 7th Among All States In The Number Of Jobs Lost Due To The Rising Trade Deficit With China, With 66,100 Jobs Lost. Ohio ranked seventh among all states in net job loss due to the growing trade deficit with China, with 66,100 jobs lost. Ohio lost 1.2 percent of the state’s employment due to the rising trade deficit with China. [“Costly Trade With China,” 5/2/07 <http://www.epi.org/content.cfm/bp188 <http://www.epi.org/content.cfm/bp188> > ]
Dayton, OH: Deuer Manufacturing Laid Of 158 Workers Because The Company Shifted Work To Mexico. Dayton-based Deuer Manufacturing Inc. laid off 158 workers because the company shifted its tire winch assembly plant to Mexico, according to the report. [Dayton Business Journal, 7/8/05]

Cleveland, OH: Ford Motor Company Scheduled To Close An Engine-Casting Plant In 2009 Costing More Than 1,700 Employees Their Jobs. Ford Motor Co. says it will close an engine-casting plant in the Cleveland suburb of Brook Park. The shutdown, scheduled for 2009, is part of a companywide restructuring plan that will close 16 facilities by 2012. Like other workers at the Ohio plant, Mike Theus said he knew about the company’s restructuring program. Yet the announcement that his plant would close still came as a shock. More than 1,700 Ford employees in the Cleveland area will feel the economic blow — 1,200 at the casting plant and another 500 at a nearby engine plant that will be shuttered for at least a year. [NPR, 5/8/07 <http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=10067000 <http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=10067000> > ]

Moraine, OH: GM Planned To Lay Off 340 Workers At Its Assembly Plant In 2008. General Motors Corp. plans to lay off about 340 of the 2,250 production workers at its assembly plant in this Dayton suburb next year because of expected softening in demand for the midsize sport utility vehicles the plant makes. Layoffs will start in the first quarter and continue through mid-2008 while cutting production from 58 SUVS to 50 an hour, Jessica Peck, spokeswoman for the GM Moraine plant, said Wednesday. GM told members of the International Union of Electronic Workers-Communications Workers of America Local 798 at Moraine in October that production cuts were coming, based on GM’s market forecasts, Peck said. Union members were informed on Wednesday of the number of layoffs expected, she said. [AP, 12/13/07 <http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071213/UPDATE/712130449/1148/auto01 <http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071213/UPDATE/712130449/1148/auto01> > ]

Toledo, OH: Chrysler Planed To Close Four Assembly Plants, Affecting About 10,500 Workers. In its lawsuit filed Friday, Chrysler claimed Plastech no longer can meet its production demands. Monday morning, Chrysler announced plans to temporarily close four assembly plants and shut down one shift at another, affecting about 10,500 workers. Plants to be closed are in Sterling Heights, Mich.; Newark, Del.; Toledo, Ohio; and Belvidere, Ill., while the second shift at Toledo Supplier Park in Toledo will be dismissed, the company said. [AP, 2/5/08 <http://www.clickondetroit.com/money/15210593/detail.html <http://www.clickondetroit.com/money/15210593/detail.html> > ]

Archbold, OH: Archbold Factory Was Expected To Cut 800 Jobs. For years, the village about 50 miles west of Toledo has had more jobs than it had people. That’s still true, but its economy is changing. One Archbold factory has closed, and two other plant closings have been announced. [Toledo Blade, 1/21/07 <http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070121/NEWS17/70121001 <http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070121/NEWS17/70121001> > ]

Toledo, OH: Leggest & Platt Inc.’s Young Spring & Wire Division Plant Cut 168 Jobs. Together, they are expected to cull some 800 jobs from the village of 4,505 residents. In June, Leggett & Platt Inc.’s Young Spring & Wire Division plant, which made automotive seating components, closed, ending 168 jobs that averaged about $16 an hour.

Archbold, OH: ConAgra Foods Cut 400 Workers. In September, ConAgra Foods Inc. announced a restructuring that is to include closing its Archbold plant that employs more than 400 as well as a smaller Perrysburg Township plant. Layoffs at the Archbold plant, which has made Healthy Choice soup and La Choy products, are to start Feb. 15 and continue through midsummer. Both ConAgra plants have veteran workers who are paid $15 to $23 an hour, plus about $10 an hour in benefits, according to union leaders. [Toledo Blade, 1/21/07 <http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070121/NEWS17/70121001 <http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070121/NEWS17/70121001> > ]

Archbold, OH: Cooper-Standard Automotive Cut 215 Jobs. Earlier this month, Cooper-Standard Automotive Inc. said it would close its Archbold plant, ending the jobs of 215 employees by the summer of 2008. [Toledo Blade, 1/21/07 <http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070121/NEWS17/70121001 <http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070121/NEWS17/70121001> >

FROM THE PAGE

Former R.I. Republican Sen. Chafee Endorsing Obama

MIKE JONES |||||| UNITED WE CAN ! * 2012 * |||||| — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 11:45:34 EST

LINK FROM THE PAGE

Clinton is “struggling” in Maryland and Virginia. Obama is “thriving.”

MIKE JONES |||||| UNITED WE CAN ! * 2012 * |||||| — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 18:18:03 EST

****************************************************

Fox NEWS:

Clinton is “struggling” in Maryland and Virginia. Obama is “thriving.”

FROM THE PAGE

****************************************************

SMACK DOWN TUESDAY ??

FLASH: House Speaker Pelosi 'leaning towards Obama'...

MIKE JONES |||||| UNITED WE CAN ! * 2012 * |||||| — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 17:46:47 EST

A senior adviser to Nancy Pelosi, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, has suggested that she — along with other “party elders” — will step into the ring to end this extraordinary contest if it threatens Democratic hopes of winning back the White House or maintaining control over Congress. Ms Pelosi says that she is “torn” and that “the people will speak — that’s the beauty of a democracy,” before adding: “My focus is on re-electing a Democratic majority in the House of Representatives.”

Her voice would carry great authority among uncommitted super-delegates on Capitol Hill — and she is said to be “leaning” towards Mr Obama. “The party Establishment is not going to turn its back on a candidate who is generating this tremendous excitement and bringing all these new voters into the political process,” said a source close to her. Mr Obama’s team are pressing the same message, especially to members of Congress in districts where he has already won and who may not wish to alienate their core vote in an election year.

LINK

FROM THE drudgereport.com

Early exit poll data in MD, VA

MIKE JONES |||||| UNITED WE CAN ! * 2012 * |||||| — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 17:33:35 EST

Highlights of preliminary exit poll data in the Maryland and Virginia presidential primaries Tuesday:

READY TO MAKE HISTORY:

As they helped decide whether their party will nominate the first woman or first black for president, more than eight in 10 voters in the Maryland and Virginia Democratic primaries said the country is ready to elect a black or female president.

Democratic voters in Virginia were a little more likely than their counterparts in Maryland to say the country "definitely" was ready for a black or female president, rather than just "probably" ready.

Blacks in Virginia were a little less likely than whites there to say the country is ready to elect a female president.

DEMOGRAPHICS

Blacks made up more than a third of the Democratic electorate in Maryland, a little less than that in Virginia. In both states women outnumbered men in the Democratic contests. Men and women were pretty evenly divided in the Republican primaries in both states.

ISSUES

Voters in both parties in both states most often picked the economy as the most important issue facing the country.

___

From partial samples conducted by Edison Media Research and Mitofsky International in 30 precincts each in Maryland and Virginia for The Associated Press and television networks. Sample sizes: Maryland Democratic 790; Maryland Republican 439; Virginia Democratic 864; Virginia Republican 461.

LINK

Fox News Channel graphic: “Potomac Primary Looks Big for Barack Obama and John McCain”

MIKE JONES |||||| UNITED WE CAN ! * 2012 * |||||| — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 17:28:29 EST

LINK

Obama Looks for Momentum in Va., Md., DC

MIKE JONES |||||| UNITED WE CAN ! * 2012 * |||||| — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 11:14:50 EST

LINK

Voting Begins in Maryland

MIKE JONES |||||| UNITED WE CAN ! * 2012 * |||||| — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 11:13:30 EST

Voting in the Potomac Primary began at 7 a.m. in Maryland with no major problems being reported and elections officials expecting a relatively high turnout -- though that might be affected by the light snow that began falling ths morning in the Washington suburbs.

LINK

Virginia’s Presidential Primary off to steady start

MIKE JONES |||||| UNITED WE CAN ! * 2012 * |||||| — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 11:11:12 EST

LINK

Mike Huckabee: Barack Obama tough contender

MIKE JONES |||||| UNITED WE CAN ! * 2012 * |||||| — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 10:39:14 EST

“I think Obama may present a significant challenge because he is fresh.”

LINK

ABC 7 & POLITICO.COM Exclusive: Barack Obama interview

MIKE JONES |||||| UNITED WE CAN ! * 2012 * |||||| — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 07:04:16 EST

VIDEO Part 1

VIDEO Part 2

VIDEO Part 3

Obama poised to win Virginia

MIKE JONES |||||| UNITED WE CAN ! * 2012 * |||||| — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 09:37:23 EST

LINK

fxstreet.com Prediction : OBAMA will be the next President of the United States

MIKE JONES |||||| UNITED WE CAN ! * 2012 * |||||| — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 09:20:19 EST

LINK

Obama Wins UC Irvine Student Vote in California Primary Election

MIKE JONES |||||| UNITED WE CAN ! * 2012 * |||||| — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 09:14:23 EST

LINK

Obama The Stronger Democrat?

MIKE JONES |||||| UNITED WE CAN ! * 2012 * |||||| — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 09:08:45 EST

LINK

On the front lines with Barack Obama

MIKE JONES |||||| UNITED WE CAN ! * 2012 * |||||| — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 09:07:24 EST

LINK

Expectations of Obama Victory Rise Sharply

MIKE JONES |||||| UNITED WE CAN ! * 2012 * |||||| — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 09:03:04 EST

LINK

Obama’s Path to Victory

MIKE JONES |||||| UNITED WE CAN ! * 2012 * |||||| — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 09:01:44 EST

LINK

Obama Lead In Virginia

MIKE JONES |||||| UNITED WE CAN ! * 2012 * |||||| — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 07:39:20 EST

LINK

Obama gains momentum

MIKE JONES |||||| UNITED WE CAN ! * 2012 * |||||| — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 04:54:55 EST

LINK

Monday Obama-Edwards Meet

MIKE JONES |||||| UNITED WE CAN ! * 2012 * |||||| — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 04:40:04 EST

LINK

Source: The Page

Michelle Obama Solidifies Her Role in the Election

MIKE JONES |||||| UNITED WE CAN ! * 2012 * |||||| — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 04:16:30 EST

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120269904120358135.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

Obama recieves backing of Obama

MIKE JONES |||||| UNITED WE CAN ! * 2012 * |||||| — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 03:04:59 EST

If foreign nationals were permitted to select US presidential candidates, the senator from Illinois would be assured of the votes of the people of Obama, a fishing town on the Japan Sea coast that has taken its namesake to its heart.

Residents in Obama - small port in Japanese - have formed a support group whose members are monitoring every twist and turn in his bid to become the Democratic candidate.

As the race for the nomination heated up, the town's tourism office received a stream of calls from locals wishing Obama well. On Super Tuesday, supporters nervously clutched photos of Obama as they watched the results come in at their makeshift headquarters in a hotel, whose lobby is currently home to a large portrait of the candidate.

Obama's most ardent fans, who include a hotel executive and a couple of farmers, believe their campaign, like that of their hero, is gathering momentum. With his name recognition at an all-time high, they plan to produce hachimaki "victory" headbands - a common campaign accoutrement in Japan - themed lacquerware chopsticks, and manju sweet buns bearing his name and face.

"I think our support base will keep growing", Seiji Fujihara, the group's secretary general, told ABC News. "We wanted to do something because Mr Obama doesn't feel like a stranger to us. He's like a relative to us."

Residents started taking a close interest in Obama's political career in 2006 after a customs official claimed on TV that the senator had joked about his "Japanese origins" on arrival at Narita airport.

The town's mayor, grateful for the free publicity, sent Obama a personal letter of thanks, a set of chopsticks and a tourist brochure.

The Narita exchange could be apocryphal, but the people of Obama, previously known only for its seafood and Chinese-influenced architecture, are grateful all the same.

"The publicity could last for another four or eight years if Mr Obama becomes president," an advertising agency executive told the Zakzak news website.

"In terms of advertising costs, that's free publicity equivalent to billions of yen, or even more."

At Campaign Obama's Japanese HQ, plans are being made to send a delegation to Washington early next year if his bid takes him all the way to the White House.

His opponent for the Democratic nomination, meanwhile, has won a small but ardent following among workers at a factory in southern Japan that makes construction equipment.

The elections are giving the firm's "Hillary" transportation machines unprecedented media coverage. Launched after Bill Clinton became president in 1992, the machines are said by builders to be robust, yet easy to manoeuvre.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/feb/11/japan.barackobama?gusrc=rss&feed=worldnews

Obama wins Maine caucuses

MIKE JONES |||||| UNITED WE CAN ! * 2012 * |||||| — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 02:34:13 EST

http://www.idahopress.com/news/?id=3748

Obama Ties Clinton to Past

MIKE JONES |||||| UNITED WE CAN ! * 2012 * |||||| — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 17:40:42 EST

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5isOFwdbq0tsqatW6vJpkDRTI1gMgD8UNNN0G0

Obama takes early lead in Maine

MIKE JONES |||||| UNITED WE CAN ! * 2012 * |||||| — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 17:34:30 EST

http://www.kpvi.com/Global/story.asp?S=7850683

Maine Democrats trudge to snowy caucuses

MIKE JONES |||||| UNITED WE CAN ! * 2012 * |||||| — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 16:16:10 EST

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/920/story/86933.html

Lines by the thousands outside of Portland caucus site

MIKE JONES |||||| UNITED WE CAN ! * 2012 * |||||| — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 15:40:42 EST

http://www.politickerme.com/lines-thousands-outside-portland-caucus-site-822

What's an Obama State? With February predictions

MIKE JONES |||||| UNITED WE CAN ! * 2012 * |||||| — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 15:18:05 EST

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/2/9/13227/22519/239/453361

Obama closes in on Hillary

MIKE JONES |||||| UNITED WE CAN ! * 2012 * |||||| — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 15:16:27 EST

http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&ct=us/1-0&fp=47afeaa602d27798&ei=dluvR9D5K6SioAOE4PnaAw&url=http%3A//www.tribuneindia.com/2008/20080211/main1.htm&cid=0

Madison WI gets ready for Obama rally at Kohl Center on Tuesday

MIKE JONES |||||| UNITED WE CAN ! * 2012 * |||||| — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 15:15:17 EST

http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&ct=us/3-0&fp=47af47c5ec3c6e88&ei=E1uvR7XWH4-koAOuzenAAg&url=http%3A//www.thedailypage.com/daily/article.php%3Farticle%3D21550&cid=0

Bush attacks Obama

MIKE JONES |||||| UNITED WE CAN ! * 2012 * |||||| — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 15:13:21 EST

http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0208/Bush_attacks_Obama.html

Today's Highlight in History: OBAMA

MIKE JONES |||||| UNITED WE CAN ! * 2012 * |||||| — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 15:11:16 EST

One year ago: Democrat Barack Obama announced his bid for president, telling thousands at the campaign's kickoff in Springfield, Illinois: "Let us transform this nation."

http://kvoa.com/Global/story.asp?S=279421&nav=menu216_16_18_1

Obama And Hillary Using High Profile Supporters To Woo Superdelegates

MIKE JONES |||||| UNITED WE CAN ! * 2012 * |||||| — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 15:03:55 EST

http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/02/obama_and_hillary_using_high_p.php

Allen Roland: Obama Sweeps 3 States, Takes Lead

MIKE JONES |||||| UNITED WE CAN ! * 2012 * |||||| — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 15:02:56 EST

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0802/S00099.htm

Texas' arcane delegate system suddenly comes into play

MIKE JONES |||||| UNITED WE CAN ! * 2012 * |||||| — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 15:02:08 EST

Associated Press

For the first time in 20 years, Texas will have a heated presidential primary election next month, a contest that will bring the state's complex primary and caucus system into play for Democratic hopefuls Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama.

"Texas arguably has the most arcane system in the country," state Rep. Juan Garcia, D-Corpus Christi and an Obama backer, told the Houston Chronicle in a story published Sunday. "There are a lot of people scrambling to get smart on it in a hurry."

The Democratic and Republican primaries in Texas are March 4. The Clinton-Obama tussle for national convention delegates is extremely tight, especially after Obama's victories Saturday in Nebraska, Washington and Louisiana.

The last time the Texas Democratic convention delegation was at stake in the midst of a national fight was 1988. Michael Dukakis won the statewide primary that year but virtually split delegates evenly with Jesse Jackson because of the state' unique Democratic nominating process.

Here's a short version of the party rules, which are 11 pages long.

A total of 126 delegates will be awarded based on the outcome of the vote in each of the 31 state senatorial districts.

But the number of delegates available in each district is not equal: Delegates are allocated based on the votes cast in districts in the 2004 and 2006 presidential and gubernatorial elections.

In the heavily urban, African-American districts of state Sens. Rodney Ellis of Houston and Royce West of Dallas, a good voter turnout in the past two elections means a combined total of 13 delegates are at stake in the two districts on Election Day.

Obama nationally has been winning eight out of 10 back voters, according to network exit polls.

But in the heavily Hispanic districts of state Sens. Juan Hinojosa of McAllen and Eddie Lucio Jr. of Brownsville, election turnout was low, and a combined total of seven delegates are at stake.

Clinton has been taking six of 10 Hispanic votes nationally. So a big South Texas win might not mean as much for Clinton as a big win for Obama in the two black districts.

In 1988, Dukakis won the statewide primary with 33 percent of the vote, followed by Jackson at 25 percent. Al Gore had 20 percent and Richard Gephardt had 14 percent.

But despite Dukakis' clear plurality victory, he split the state's delegates almost evenly. Dukakis took 72 delegates, Jackson 67. Forty-four were uncommitted.

"In '88, Jesse Jackson paid attention to the caucus process and had grass-roots organizers," said Garry Mauro, a former state land commissioner and Hillary Clinton supporter. "Dukakis did not pay attention to the caucus process."

The state's Republican primary is not nearly as complicated. If the GOP race is still alive between Sen. John McCain, the front-runner, and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee when the primary arrives, they will find an equal number of nominating delegates available in each of the state's 32 congressional districts.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/APStories/stories/D8UNL0R00.html

It's Obama in Fairfield

MIKE JONES |||||| UNITED WE CAN ! * 2012 * |||||| — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 14:52:51 EST

FAIRFIELD — A contingent of eight undeclared Democratic Party regulars cast their votes for Barack Obama in caucuses on Sunday, shifting the party balance in Fairfield away from Hillary Clinton.

In the end, said caucus Chairman Franklin Bouchard, there were 55 Democrats for Obama and 54 for Clinton.

The vote means each camp will send seven delegates to the Maine Democratic Party convention in May.

Fairfield has 14 delegates to the convention.

http://news.mainetoday.com/updates/022069.html

Bush will support McCain if he wins nomination

MIKE JONES |||||| UNITED WE CAN ! * 2012 * |||||| — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 14:51:16 EST

WASHINGTON (AFP) — US President George Bush said John McCain has a lot of work left to convince Republicans he is a "solid" conservative, but said he would support his one-time rival if McCain wins the party's presidential nomination.

"I know him well. I know his convictions. I know the principles that drive him. And no doubt in my mind he's a true conservative," Bush said in an interview on Fox News Sunday.

But, Bush added, "I think that if John's the nominee, he has got some convincing to do to convince people that he is a solid conservative."

"And I'll be glad to help him if he's the nominee."

Bush defended McCain, who ran against him in the 2000 presidential race, against criticism from the party's right-wing that McCain is not conservative enough to represent them.

"Look, he's very strong on national defense. He's tough fiscally. He believes that tax cuts ought to be permanent. He's pro-life. I mean, he's a -- his principles are sound and solid as far as I'm concerned," Bush said.

But Bush, in his final year as president, refused to declare his preference between McCain and former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee, who has remained in the race despite having little chance of overcoming McCain's massive lead.

"I do want to make sure that you don't rope me into getting into this primary before it ends, because we have another conservative candidate in Mike Huckabee still running," Bush told Fox.

McCain, who has squared off with the White House numerous times during the Bush presidency, is accused of being out of line with the party's principles.

But Bush defended McCain.

"You can find in the course of any senator's career a case where they may have differed with the president," he said.

"The question I ask myself and I hope voters ask, what are the principles by which this person will be making decisions?"

"And we've got two conservative candidates running for office. Our party will soon decide ... who our banner carrier is going to be, and our candidate will be certainly more conservative than the other."

Bush criticized Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton for making him an issue of the campaign, and criticized Barack Obama's stance on Pakistan.

"What's going to matter is not the past but the future when it comes to campaigns," he said in response to a Clinton campaign ad saying she will have to "clean up" after Bush if she wins the presidency.

"If the Democratic party feel they can win an election by focusing on me, I think they'll be making a huge tactical mistake," Bush said, "because our candidate will be able to talk about the future and what this person intends to do for the country."

Asked if voters know enough about Senator Obama, Bush replied: "I certainly don't know what he believes in.

"The only foreign policy thing I remember he said was that he's going to attack Pakistan, and I think I commented on that in a press conference. I hope not."

http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5iLzO_4H7Jqc2FWGlDZXGv0ijFNFg

Obama blitzes Md., D.C. Jews

MIKE JONES |||||| UNITED WE CAN ! * 2012 * |||||| — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 14:50:11 EST

A slate of Maryland Jewish Democratic lawmakers endorsed Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) for president.

State Attorney General Douglas Gansler, five state lawmakers, two officials of suburban Montgomery County and a host of Jewish leaders signed on to an e-mail letter backing Obama as part of a campaign for the Jewish vote ahead of Tuesday's state primary.

"The time for change, the time for a leader who will heal, unify and make the world a better, kinder and safer place for our children, grandchildren is NOW," said the letter sent to Maryland Jews. "We believe that Barack Obama is such a leader."

Along with Maryland, primaries will be held Tuesday in Virginia and the District of Columbia.

Obama won the three state contests on Saturday, in Louisiana, Nebraska and Washington state, beating U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) by wide margins.

On the Republican side, Mike Huckabee, the former Arkansas governor, dealt a blow to the front-runner status of Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) with a blowout victory in Kansas and a narrow win in Louisiana. The contest in Washington state was still too close to call. Caucuses in Maine were under way on Sunday.

In his Jewish campaign, Obama is pushing hard against false Internet rumors depicting him as a secret Muslim and hostile to Israel. The Maryland letter addressed those rumors.

"Barack Obama’s friendship with Israel is clear and unwavering despite the vicious and fallacious emails circulating the internet," it said. "In his own words, he is committed to Israel as a Jewish state."

Obama proxies were also reaching out in person to Jews in the region. Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.), who is Jewish, met with young Jewish D.C. professionals on Saturday evening at a Havdalah service at the historic Sixth and I synagogue in downtown Washington. Schakowsky said Obama stood "shoulder to shoulder" with Israel but understood peace negotiations were the key to ensuring Israel's security.

Rep. Robert Wexler (D-Fla.), the unofficial top Jewish proxy in the campaign, was meeting with top Jewish opinion leaders at a home in the wealthy Washington suburb of Potomac on Sunday afternoon. Last week, according to the Forward newspaper, Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.), who is close to Jewish leaders in the state, met with a slate of Baltimore Jewish lay officials.

http://www.jta.org/cgi-bin/iowa/breaking/106898.html

Resounding victories bolster Obama campaign

MIKE JONES |||||| UNITED WE CAN ! * 2012 * |||||| — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 14:48:23 EST

http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/02/10/america/campaign.php