From the New York Times:
With the Democratic stage to himself for the first time, Senator Barack Obama opened a two-week tour of battleground states on Monday...the ailing economy as the central theme of the general election campaign. Mr. Obama’s speech started a two-week tour that points to his campaign’s view of the primary November battlegrounds. Monday’s speech was in North Carolina, which has long backed Republican presidential candidates but which has a large black population, and Mr. Obama will be traveling to Florida, Missouri, Pennsylvania and Ohio to press the economic theme.In his remarks Monday, he spoke of hard-pressed workers in Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin struggling to pay their bills and buy gasoline. Mr. Obama’s address came as many Americans were grappling with gasoline prices of more than $4 a gallon and a weakening employment picture. Before Mr. Obama spoke, Pamela Cash-Roper, an unemployed nurse, told of the economic pain caused by family medical crises. Mrs. Cash-Roper, who described herself as a lifelong Republican, said she had turned to the government for help, “but help was nowhere to be seen.” She said she supported Mr. Obama because he had been working for “hard-working Americans like us for more than two decades.”The pieces of the economic program Mr. Obama laid out on Monday were not new, but the context was. This is the first full week of the general election campaign, and the candidates are beginning what promises to be an intense fight over the economy and the Iraq war.“That is the choice we face right now,” Mr. Obama said. “A choice between more of the same policies that have widened inequality, added to our debt and shaken the foundation of our economy, or change that will restore balance to our economy, that will invest in the ingenuity and innovation of our people, that will fuel a bottom-up prosperity to keep America strong and competitive in the 21st century.”“It is not an argument between left or right, liberal or conservative, to say that we have tried it their way for eight long years and it has failed,” he added. “It is time to try something new. It is time for a change.”
From the Wall Street Journal:
…The Illinois senator kicked off an economy-centric two week campaign swing [Monday] in Raleigh, N.C. Obama economic advisor Austan Goolsbee outlined three key principles of the economic plan, which includes a $50 billion additional economic stimulus package, the creation of a $10 billion fund to ward off home foreclosures, and middle class tax cuts which include a $1,000 tax cut for families earning $150,000 or less. “This slowdown is not a random, business-cycle event. It is very much the result of a failed philosophy,” Goolsbee said. …Advisors said Obama’s agenda would not increase the federal deficit and would be paid for by repealing tax cuts to the wealthiest of Americans, as well as funds that would become available when the war effort in Iraq is scaled down.
From the News Observer:
Barack Obama outlined his economic policies [yesterday]. …He attacked "special interest loopholes" in the federal tax code and continued his attacks on free-trade agreements. After an introduction from Gov. Mike Easley raised the issue, Obama repeated his concerns about the fairness of existing agreements like NAFTA. "There is nothing protectionist about demanding that trade spread the benefits of globalization as broadly as possible," he said.
From the Fayetteville Observer:
Sen. Barack Obama made his first campaign stop in North Carolina [yesterday] since becoming the Democratic presidential nominee. Obama reinforced his theme of change…. Speaking before more than 500 guests at an invitation-only speech at the N.C. State Fairgrounds, Obama reiterated his promises to eliminate corporate tax breaks, cut middle-income taxes and make college education and health care more affordable. He also repeated his pledge to end the Iraq war. …Obama thanked Sen. Clinton of New York, who pledged her support for him last week. Obama was introduced by Gov. Mike Easley, and several top Democrats from around the state attended. State Senate Majority Leader Tony Rand of Fayetteville said he supports Obama’s plans and believes he can make them happen.
From ABC News:
At the first event on his "Change That Works for You" tour, presumptive Democratic nominee Sen. Barack Obama was joined by John and Elizabeth Edwards, making known for the first time that he'll enlist Elizabeth Edwards' help in health care policy. …"I'm going to be partnering up with Elizabeth Edwards - we're going to be figuring all this out," Obama said when addressing his proposed reform to the health care system. …"I don't think there's two people in the country who have done more to elevate the debate about politics who have focused on critical issues like health care and who have made us all think about our obligations to create one America," Obama said of the couple, remarking that over the 16 month primary process he has gotten to know them well.
From USA Today:
Democrat Barack Obama's deputy campaign manager, Steve Hildebrand, just announced in an e-mail to supporters that the campaign will compete all over the country this fall. "Today, I am proud to announce that our presidential campaign will be the first in a generation to deploy and maintain staff in every single state," Hildebrand said in the letter. He said the campaign is seeking 30,000 new donors to make $25 contributions which will be matched today by a previous donor. Hildebrand acknowledged that "some states will be more competitive than others, and we will scale our resources accordingly." But he said "unprecedented grassroots energy during the primary means that the list of competitive states will be longer than ever before -- and it will include states like Virginia and Montana that aren't traditionally within reach for a Democratic presidential candidate." He also said that "in every single state, our staff will build volunteer capacity that will provide help where we need it and impact races up and down the ballot this November."
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