Lately, I’ve heard political pundits and so-called analysts asking questions like, “If Senator Obama is supposed to be such a great candidate, then why in outspending Hillary Clinton nearly 4 to 1 in states like Ohio and Pennsylvania, can he still not seal the deal?”
Well, I think I have part of the answer…
Last night, President Bill Clinton came to my small little hometown of Martinsville Indiana, to speak at one of our two local middle schools. And even though I’m a huge Obama supporter, I HAD to go see him… I mean, c’mon, he IS Bill Clinton! Plus, an intimate setting like that, here in Martinsville Indiana, just doesn’t come around that often.
So I faithfully donned my big, black, “Obama ‘08” t-shirt (which I love by the way), took my Obama rally sign, and marched straight into the lion’s den of about 600 (mostly) Clinton-democrats gathered in a small school, in a rural, republican Indiana county. As it turned out, the lady to my left was a huge HRC supporter, but her friend was an Obama supporter… as was the lady to my right, and a man in a wheelchair in front of me (funny story – he also wore an Obama shirt, but covered it up with another shirt… I suppose if I were already in a wheelchair, I too might not risk being beaten with sticks by an angry Hillary mob). Anyway, in talking with these nice people, it seemed the general consensus (at least right around me) was that they didn’t care too much whether Obama or Hillary eventually won the nomination, just as long as the Republicans didn’t win in November. Primarily (like me), they were really all there to see Bill. Then it struck me…
Hillary’s out stumping in the cities, and Bill’s cleaning up with the rural democrats, while Barack Obama is just one man. And although I admire Michelle Obama’s efforts… she’s no Bill Clinton. Meaning; meeting “the great orator” in person really sticks with us rural folks and probably goes a long way to swaying an otherwise “toss-up” crowd toward Hillary come Election Day. So while it may be true that Senator Obama outspends HRC nearly 4 to 1, the Clinton campaign effectively out-rallies Senator Obama 2 to 1 in charismatic, larger-than-life figures, which I believe partially is what's keeping her alive in states like Ohio, Pennsylvania, and (hopefully not) Indiana.
And when they call Bill Clinton “the great orator”, it’s well deserved. He said he started his career in the car business which didn’t surprise me one bit after listening to him speak. I swear, the man would get to talking about details then say something like, “… and that’s why I think you should vote for Hillary”, and I’d quickly snap back to reality and remember, “Oh yeah, HE’S not running… SHE is!” But when the man talks for a little while, you unconsciously stop differentiating between the two… It’s scary, and extremely effective.
I couldn’t have had a much better spot in the crowd too, standing right up front-stage-right, about 2 people back – 20 feet or so from the podium with that big Obama logo splayed across my chest, glaring the former President right in the face the entire time. It didn’t faze him though, and I really didn’t expect it to… It was the principle of the thing. However, I didn’t lower myself to heckling or taunting him though – that just wouldn’t have been cool. And in all fairness, he didn’t slam Obama the entire evening… not once. In fact, he spoke favorably on those few occasions where he DID mention Senator Obama. Instead, he spoke about issues and details in a way that really connected with people. But in the end, he gave a speech that pretty much mirrored Senator Obama’s positions on the real issues… it’s just that it was “Bill” giving it, and like I said, I think that’s going to have a lasting effect on my fellow townsfolk come Election Day.
I will share this about the man though…
At the end of the rally, I got the chance to meet him briefly and shake his hand. I told him it was an honor to meet him, and asked if he would be willing to autograph my Obama rally sign as a “gesture of good will”, to which he smiled and said, “sure”. So he took my sign along with everyone else’s books and signs and stuff, and at the end of the reception line brought them all backstage to autograph. An assistant came out periodically to give the items back. Eventually, she came out with the freshly-autographed Hillary rally sign that had been taped to the podium during his speech (duct tape and all), and came up to me and said, “The President wanted you to have this”. Wow!... I was very grateful, but wondered if I’d ever get my Obama sign back. At the end, she DID give it back to me, unsigned of course. To which I said, “He isn’t going to sign it is he”? “No”, she said with a grin… Oh well, I tried.
So basically, Bill Clinton lied to my face!... He didn’t have sex with that woman, he didn’t inhale, and he didn’t autograph my Obama sign after he said he would!... slick, Willie… slick!
All-in-all though, I walked away happy; with an autograph, a smile, and a moment to remember. Thanks Bill! It really WAS an honor to meet you…
But I’m still voting for Obama! ;)
Obama '08Yes we can!!!
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