More than thirty states offer some form of early voting this year, including this one:
Find out about early vote in your state at VoteForChange.com.
In many states, polls are open now . . . The election ends in 23 days.
Barack returned to Pennsylvania today, barnstorming four Philadelphia neighborhoods in just a few short hours. Barack was blessed with beautiful weather and huge crowds during his visits to North Philly, Germantown, the Northeast and West Philadelphia this morning and afternoon.
The first step was Progress Plaza, a shopping center just a few blocks south of Temple University, where Obama's honest and inspiring assessment of the challenges facing America today were met with cheers by a 15,000-strong crowd. "We've always seen the mountaintop from the deepest valley," Obama told the crowd. "We can do it again."
The next stop was the Mayfair Diner, in lower Northeast Philadelphia. Obama addressed a crowd of 5,000, many of them proud union members.
Barack also visited Philadelphia's historic Germantown neighborhood and 52nd Street in the legendary West Philly commercial district where, were a crowed of over 20,000 had been waiting since morning. Standing in front of the Bushfire theater, Obama laid out a plan for America's future that was short on platitudes and long on specifics. After enthusiastic introductions from Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell and Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter (who grew up just a few blocks away), Obama spoke to the crowd about his plans for job creation, energy independence and accessible health care. "We can do this," Obama told the crowd. "We've done it before!"
Joel TannenbaumOctober 11, 2008Philadelphia, PA
From yesterday's Washington Post blog, The Trail:
Barack Obama wrapped up two days of campaigning here in Ohio with something you don't often hear at a pre-election rally: Go vote. Right now. "Right across the street," Obama told a crowd of thousands in a downtown park along the river.
In Ohio, and over a dozen other states, early voting is underway right now. In all, 36 of the 50 states will allow some form of early voting this year, in addition to absentee voting.
The Associated Press reports:
Nationwide, about a third of the electorate is expected to vote early this year, thanks to expanded early voting provisions and fewer restrictions on absentee voting, researchers project. In all, more than 30 states allow any registered voter to cast an early ballot, some in person and others by mail.... Across the nation, election officials are reporting high demand for absentee ballots. Ballots already are available in a few states, and they will be ready in about 20 more this week. By the first week of October, absentee voting will have started in all but a handful of states. In most states, all registered voters will be eligible to vote absentee, and a growing number will take advantage.
Now matter where you live, you can find out the early vote options available to you at VoteForChange.com.
At recent campaign stop, Barack took a moment backstage to record a message for supporters in North Carolina, where early voting begins next Thursday, October 16th:
The Dayton Daily News endorsed Barack for president today. The Ohio newspaper lays out why Barack is the right person to take on Washington politics and the failing economy.
In this unhappy passage, the nation faces a happy choice: a brilliant young man offering a new generation of leadership — and a remarkable turning point in the nation's history — opposes an accomplished veteran who has punched all the right tickets in his rise toward the presidency. Both are thoughtful, modern people alert to the real problems of the world and the nation....Sen. Obama's opposition to the war goes a long way toward making the case that experience isn't necessarily the magic ingredient in making a national leader....They must be comforted, though, by Sen. Obama's cool, even masterful performance in the campaign. Nobody could have expected any more. He has made his supporters proud, as Sen. McCain has made his supporters wonder....Added to their vice-presidential decisions, and to the ability of the younger man to stand next to the veteran in debates and demonstrate every bit as much command of issues, the bailout incident was a suggestion of readiness.Barack Obama has been in the public spotlight for four years (since his memorable debut speech at his party's 2004 convention). He has withstood relentless, withering attacks. The more attacks he survives, the more comfortable people seem with the idea of him as a leader. On the issues, he is in the liberal mainstream of the Democratic Party. He worries less about the taxes of the people at the top of the economic system than those in the middle. He unambiguously embraces decent health care as a "right." He would like to put more public resources into education and efforts to extend the American dream to those still dreaming. He favors more regulation of Wall Street. He sees diplomacy as underused by the current president. He wants...to shape trade treaties so that they work better for American workers....He built his early appeal around the promise to get beyond the liberal-conservative wars, to show a level of respect for the views of others that helps build a new kind of politics. It is his most ambitious promise....The nation's moment of choice arrives even as some sort of new era has arrived in the realm of the economy....But in a time of change, Sen. Obama is the more promising leader. With his agile mind, often pitch-perfect judgment and preternatural calm and self-confidence, he seems built for the job of sorting through this thing, if anybody can.The nation faces a choice that looks more and more like a choice between the future and the past. It has never been one to shrink from the future.
In this unhappy passage, the nation faces a happy choice: a brilliant young man offering a new generation of leadership — and a remarkable turning point in the nation's history — opposes an accomplished veteran who has punched all the right tickets in his rise toward the presidency.
Both are thoughtful, modern people alert to the real problems of the world and the nation.
...Sen. Obama's opposition to the war goes a long way toward making the case that experience isn't necessarily the magic ingredient in making a national leader.
...They must be comforted, though, by Sen. Obama's cool, even masterful performance in the campaign. Nobody could have expected any more. He has made his supporters proud, as Sen. McCain has made his supporters wonder.
...Added to their vice-presidential decisions, and to the ability of the younger man to stand next to the veteran in debates and demonstrate every bit as much command of issues, the bailout incident was a suggestion of readiness.
Barack Obama has been in the public spotlight for four years (since his memorable debut speech at his party's 2004 convention). He has withstood relentless, withering attacks. The more attacks he survives, the more comfortable people seem with the idea of him as a leader.
On the issues, he is in the liberal mainstream of the Democratic Party. He worries less about the taxes of the people at the top of the economic system than those in the middle. He unambiguously embraces decent health care as a "right." He would like to put more public resources into education and efforts to extend the American dream to those still dreaming.
He favors more regulation of Wall Street. He sees diplomacy as underused by the current president. He wants...to shape trade treaties so that they work better for American workers.
...He built his early appeal around the promise to get beyond the liberal-conservative wars, to show a level of respect for the views of others that helps build a new kind of politics. It is his most ambitious promise.
...The nation's moment of choice arrives even as some sort of new era has arrived in the realm of the economy.
...But in a time of change, Sen. Obama is the more promising leader. With his agile mind, often pitch-perfect judgment and preternatural calm and self-confidence, he seems built for the job of sorting through this thing, if anybody can.
The nation faces a choice that looks more and more like a choice between the future and the past. It has never been one to shrink from the future.
Michelle Obama was a guest on Larry King Live earlier in the week, where she spoke about the importance of "running hard through the tape" over the next 24 days -- registering to vote, early voting, and getting out the vote on election day:
You can download a podcast of the full interview from CNN.com.
National Field Director Jon Carson just sent out this email...
Dear Amanda, The final presidential debate is this Wednesday, October 15th, at 9:00 p.m. Eastern. It's the last chance for undecided voters to see Barack and John McCain side-by-side and determine who will bring the change this country needs. You can make the most of this opportunity by bringing your friends, family, and fellow supporters together to watch. Sign up to host a Debate Watch Party. We'll make sure you have everything you need to make the event a success. If you've hosted an event before, you know how powerful they can be to help grow our movement. If you haven't, it's a terrific way to show your support, and we'll be with you every step of the way to help. We're having a special conference call for Debate Watch Party hosts next week. We'll give you ideas for how to get your guests involved in the rest of the campaign. In these final weeks, each of us needs to do whatever we can to keep growing our movement and encourage undecided voters to cast their vote for change. Sign up to host a Debate Watch Party now: http://my.barackobama.com/debate-watch-party Thanks, Jon Jon Carson National Field Director Obama for America
Dear Amanda, The final presidential debate is this Wednesday, October 15th, at 9:00 p.m. Eastern. It's the last chance for undecided voters to see Barack and John McCain side-by-side and determine who will bring the change this country needs. You can make the most of this opportunity by bringing your friends, family, and fellow supporters together to watch. Sign up to host a Debate Watch Party. We'll make sure you have everything you need to make the event a success. If you've hosted an event before, you know how powerful they can be to help grow our movement. If you haven't, it's a terrific way to show your support, and we'll be with you every step of the way to help. We're having a special conference call for Debate Watch Party hosts next week. We'll give you ideas for how to get your guests involved in the rest of the campaign. In these final weeks, each of us needs to do whatever we can to keep growing our movement and encourage undecided voters to cast their vote for change. Sign up to host a Debate Watch Party now: http://my.barackobama.com/debate-watch-party Thanks, Jon
Jon Carson National Field Director Obama for America
There are many ways for you to have an impact on this campaign, but the single most important thing you can do is to talk directly to voters. There’s nothing more powerful and effective than everyday people reaching out to their neighbors – or people in a neighboring battleground state – and talking about why they support Barack.
Last Thursday Colorado State Director Ray Rivera, Senator Ken Salazar, Senator Amy Klobuchar and former Colorado Governor Roy Romer spoke on a special conference call with Neighbor to Neigbhor users about the importance that these conversations can have in battleground states.
Former Governor Roy Roymer explained:
"I know Colorado real well. We can win this state. But right now, we need to reach everybody that we can, and that's why your calls are so critical... Colorado is the kind of state that can go either way. A sincere call from somebody out of state will be very effective. Your help is critical... Colorado could be the difference in this election."
If you ever the doubted the importance of each and every call, listen to this clip below from Thursday's conference call:
In a race this close, every conversation matters. The way we win is by engaging more people in real conversations about the issues and letting them know about Barack’s message of change. It’s as simple as that.So pick up the phone and make your voice heard.You can amplify your impact by hosting a phonebank party from your house. It's easy to do -- our online host guide has all the information and tips that you'll need.
Voters are hungry for change and they want to know what the candidates plan to do about the issues that affect them most – like healthcare, the economy and the price of gas. You can be the one to let them know about Barack's plans, and the difference this election can make in their lives.
Barack spoke to residents of Philadelpia, Pennsylvania this morning. He held four mini-rallies throughout the city to talk about the kind of change he will bring to Washington.
But here’s the thing. They can run misleading ads, and pursue the politics of anything goes, and try to change the subject. They can do that – but it’s not going to work. Not this time. The times are too serious. The challenges are too great. The American people aren’t looking for someone who can divide this country – they’re looking for someone who will lead it. We simply cannot afford four more years of the economic theory that says we should give more to those with the most and hope prosperity trickles down to everyone else. It is time to turn the page on eight years of economic policies that put Wall Street before Main Street but end up hurting both. We need policies that grow our economy from the bottom-up, so that every American, everywhere has the chance to get ahead. Not just corporate CEOs, but their secretaries too. Not just the person who owns the factory, but the men and women who work on its floor. These are the Americans I’m standing with. These are the folks I’m fighting for. That’s the kind of leadership I’m offering. That’s what I mean when I talk about change.
Read Barack's full remarks, as prepared for delivery...
Barack is currently holding a Change We Need Rally at the Intersection of South 52nd Street and Locust Street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.You can watch the event live below...
[UPDATE] This event has ended. Check back for more coverage from our road team.
Senator Obama released the following statement in response to President Bush's decision to remove North Korea from the list of state sponsors of terrorism as part of ongoing negotiations with North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons program:
North Korea’s agreement to these verification measures is a modest step forward in dismantling its nuclear weapons programs. President Bush’s decision to remove North Korea from the list of state sponsors of terrorism is an appropriate response, as long as there is a clear understanding that if North Korea fails to follow through there will be immediate consequences. It is now essential that North Korea halt all efforts to reassemble its nuclear facilities, place them back under IAEA supervision, and cooperate fully with the international community to complete the disablement of the Yongbyon facilities and to implement a robust verification mechanism to confirm the accuracy of its nuclear declaration.The last eight years have demonstrated the necessity of confronting the threat from North Korea through aggressive, sustained, and direct bilateral and multilateral diplomacy. Too often, there has been a failure to effectively engage our partners throughout this effort. We must dramatically improve coordination with our allies Japan and South Korea, as well as with China and Russia, particularly as we ensure that any agreement reached on verification is fully implemented.If North Korea refuses to permit robust verification, we should lead all members of the Six Party talks in suspending energy assistance, re-imposing sanctions that have recently been waived, and considering new restrictions. Our objective remains the complete and verifiable elimination of North Korea's nuclear weapons programs. This must include getting clarity on North Korea’s efforts to enrich uranium and its proliferation of nuclear technology abroad.Looking ahead, North Korea must also resolve all questions about the abduction of Japanese and South Korean citizens, and of the Reverend Kim Dong-Shik. I urge the Bush Administration to continue to use our diplomatic and economic leverage to press North Korea to cooperate fully with Tokyo, Seoul and Washington on these matters.The Six Party Talks offer North Korea a clear choice. If North Korea abandons its nuclear weapons programs, there will be meaningful incentives. If it refuses, it faces a future of political and economic isolation.
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch endorsed Barack Obama for president this morning. The newspaper tells readers that Barack is right on the issues, will bring public service back to Washington and can unite America in a time of economic crisis. Read the endorsement below...
Nine Days before the Feb. 5 presidential primaries in Missouri and Illinois, this editorial page endorsed Barack Obama and John McCain in their respective races.We did so enthusiastically. We wrote that either Mr. Obama’s message of hope or Mr. McCain’s independence and integrity offered America “the chance to turn the page on 28 years of contentious, greed-driven politics and move into a new era of possibility.”Over the past nine months, Mr. Obama, the junior senator from Illinois, has emerged as the only truly transformative candidate in the race. In the crucible that is a presidential campaign, his intellect, his temperament and equanimity under pressure consistently have been impressive. He has surrounded himself with smart, capable advisers who have helped him refine thorough, nuanced policy positions.In a word, Mr. Obama has been presidential....In making political endorsements, this editorial page is guided first by the principles espoused by Joseph Pulitzer in The Post-Dispatch Platform printed daily at the top of this page. Then we consider questions of character, life experience and intellect, as well as specific policy and issue positions. Each member of the editorial board weighs in.On all counts, the consensus was clear: Barack Obama of Illinois should be the next president of the United States.We didn’t know nine months ago that before Election Day, America would face its greatest economic challenge since the Great Depression. The crisis on Wall Street is devastating, but it has offered voters a useful preview of how the two presidential candidates would respond to a crisis.Very early on, Mr. Obama reached out to his impressive corps of economic advisers and developed a comprehensive set of recommendations for addressing the problems. He set them forth calmly and explained them carefully....Mr. McCain first was elected to Congress in 1982 when Mr. Obama was in his senior year at Columbia University. Yet the younger man’s intellectual curiosity and capacity — and, yes, also the skills he developed as a community organizer and his instincts as a political conciliator — more than compensate for his lack of more traditional Washington experience.A presidency is defined less by what happens in the Oval Office than by what is done by the more than 3,000 men and women the president appoints to government office. Only 600 of them are subject to Senate approval. The rest serve at the pleasure of the president.We have little doubt that Mr. Obama’s appointees would bring a level of competence, compassion and intellectual achievement to the executive branch that hasn’t been seen since the New Frontier. He has energized a new generation of Americans who would put the concept of service back in “public service.”...The idea that 3,000 bright, dedicated and accomplished Americans would be joining the Obama administration to serve the public — as opposed to padding their resumés or shilling for the corporate interests they’re sworn to oversee — is reassuring. That they would be serving a president who actually would listen to them is staggering.And the fact that Mr. Obama can explain his thoughts and policies in language that can instruct and inspire is exciting. Eloquence isn’t everything in a president, but it is not nothing, either....He sees the complicated world as it is today, not as a binary division between us and them, but as a kaleidoscope of shifting alliances and interests. As he often notes, he is the son of a Kenyan father and a mother from Kansas, an internationalist who yet acknowledges that America is the only nation in the world in which someone of his distinctly modest background could rise as far as his talent, intellect and hard work would take him.Given the damage that has been done to America’s moral standing in the world in the last eight years...Mr. Obama’s election would help America reclaim the moral high ground.It also must be said that Mr. Obama is right on the issues. He was right on the war in Iraq. He is right that all Americans deserve access to health care and right in his pragmatic approach to meeting that goal. He is right on tax policy, infrastructure investment, energy policy and environmental issues. He is right on American ideals.He was right when he said in his remarkable speech in March in Philadelphia that “In the end, then, what is called for is nothing more, and nothing less, than what all the world’s great religions demand: that we do unto others as we would have them do unto us. Let us be our brother’s keeper, Scripture tells us. Let us be our sister’s keeper. Let us find that common stake we all have in one another, and let our politics reflect that spirit as well.”
Nine Days before the Feb. 5 presidential primaries in Missouri and Illinois, this editorial page endorsed Barack Obama and John McCain in their respective races.
We did so enthusiastically. We wrote that either Mr. Obama’s message of hope or Mr. McCain’s independence and integrity offered America “the chance to turn the page on 28 years of contentious, greed-driven politics and move into a new era of possibility.”
Over the past nine months, Mr. Obama, the junior senator from Illinois, has emerged as the only truly transformative candidate in the race. In the crucible that is a presidential campaign, his intellect, his temperament and equanimity under pressure consistently have been impressive. He has surrounded himself with smart, capable advisers who have helped him refine thorough, nuanced policy positions.
In a word, Mr. Obama has been presidential.
...In making political endorsements, this editorial page is guided first by the principles espoused by Joseph Pulitzer in The Post-Dispatch Platform printed daily at the top of this page. Then we consider questions of character, life experience and intellect, as well as specific policy and issue positions. Each member of the editorial board weighs in.
On all counts, the consensus was clear: Barack Obama of Illinois should be the next president of the United States.
We didn’t know nine months ago that before Election Day, America would face its greatest economic challenge since the Great Depression. The crisis on Wall Street is devastating, but it has offered voters a useful preview of how the two presidential candidates would respond to a crisis.
Very early on, Mr. Obama reached out to his impressive corps of economic advisers and developed a comprehensive set of recommendations for addressing the problems. He set them forth calmly and explained them carefully.
...Mr. McCain first was elected to Congress in 1982 when Mr. Obama was in his senior year at Columbia University. Yet the younger man’s intellectual curiosity and capacity — and, yes, also the skills he developed as a community organizer and his instincts as a political conciliator — more than compensate for his lack of more traditional Washington experience.
A presidency is defined less by what happens in the Oval Office than by what is done by the more than 3,000 men and women the president appoints to government office. Only 600 of them are subject to Senate approval. The rest serve at the pleasure of the president.
We have little doubt that Mr. Obama’s appointees would bring a level of competence, compassion and intellectual achievement to the executive branch that hasn’t been seen since the New Frontier. He has energized a new generation of Americans who would put the concept of service back in “public service.”
...The idea that 3,000 bright, dedicated and accomplished Americans would be joining the Obama administration to serve the public — as opposed to padding their resumés or shilling for the corporate interests they’re sworn to oversee — is reassuring. That they would be serving a president who actually would listen to them is staggering.
And the fact that Mr. Obama can explain his thoughts and policies in language that can instruct and inspire is exciting. Eloquence isn’t everything in a president, but it is not nothing, either.
...He sees the complicated world as it is today, not as a binary division between us and them, but as a kaleidoscope of shifting alliances and interests. As he often notes, he is the son of a Kenyan father and a mother from Kansas, an internationalist who yet acknowledges that America is the only nation in the world in which someone of his distinctly modest background could rise as far as his talent, intellect and hard work would take him.
Given the damage that has been done to America’s moral standing in the world in the last eight years...Mr. Obama’s election would help America reclaim the moral high ground.
It also must be said that Mr. Obama is right on the issues. He was right on the war in Iraq. He is right that all Americans deserve access to health care and right in his pragmatic approach to meeting that goal. He is right on tax policy, infrastructure investment, energy policy and environmental issues. He is right on American ideals.
He was right when he said in his remarkable speech in March in Philadelphia that “In the end, then, what is called for is nothing more, and nothing less, than what all the world’s great religions demand: that we do unto others as we would have them do unto us. Let us be our brother’s keeper, Scripture tells us. Let us be our sister’s keeper. Let us find that common stake we all have in one another, and let our politics reflect that spirit as well.”
From the Toledo Blade:
'We have seen our share of hard times. The American story has never been about things coming easy,' Mr. Obama said. 'We remember that some of the most famous words ever spoken by an American came from a President who took office in a time of turmoil — ‘The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.'?' ...Yesterday, Mr. Obama wrapped up a two-day bus trip that took him to Dayton, Cincinnati, Portsmouth, Chillicothe, and Columbus, speaking to a total of more than 50,000. ...In his remarks, Mr. Obama seemed to allude to the attacks coming from the campaign of Republican nominee Sen. John McCain... ...'It's easy to rile up a crowd by stoking anger and division. The American people aren't looking for someone who can divide this country — they're looking for someone who can lead this country,' Mr. Obama said. ...Mr. Obama unveiled what he called a 'small business rescue plan' to offer disaster-style loans through the Small Business Administration and to offer tax incentives immediately to encourage new investments. Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland, a native of southern Ohio who previously represented the area in Congress, urged listeners not to be deceived in the heat of the campaign. 'Unfortunately, there are those who have tried to spread untruths about Barack Obama. Barack Obama is a good, Christian family man. The McCain-Palin campaign and unfortunately some of their followers would want you to be afraid of Barack Obama,' Mr. Strickland said. Mr. Strickland also tried to assure sportsmen and hunters that Mr. Obama supports their Second Amendment right to own weapons. After the speech in Columbus's Genoa Park, Mr. Obama paid an unannounced visit to a meeting of 700 Obama volunteers, who erupted in prolonged cheers when Mr. Obama suddenly burst into the Greater Columbus Convention Center. In Chillicothe, Mandy MacLachlan, 30, said she wants Mr. Obama elected to 'make sure my kids have health insurance and my grandkids have health insurance. I don't want the rich to keep getting richer with no concern for the middle class.'
From the Associated Press:
Democratic vice presidential candidate Joe Biden said Friday that Republican John McCain is trying to "take the lowest road to the highest office in America," with ads and rhetoric questioning Barack Obama's character and judgment. "Every single false charge, every single baseless accusation is an attempt to stop you from paying attention to what is affecting your daily lives, to what is happening at your kitchen table," Biden said at a campaign rally in Springfield, a traditional Republican stronghold in the swing state of Missouri. The nation's financial problems have been felt in Missouri, where the unemployment rate is at its highest mark in 17 years. Many of those lost jobs have been in the manufacturing sector. Biden spoke on a sunny but windy day from a temporary stage erected in a city park near a minor league baseball stadium. The speech ended Biden's two-day swing through four Missouri cities, located in counties that supported President Bush in 2004. Springfield is the home of GOP Gov. Matt Blunt, and the southwest corner of the state has historically been Republican territory.
From the Wall Street Journal:
Sen. Obama, campaigning in Chillicothe, Ohio, unveiled a plan to temporarily provide low-interest loans to struggling businesses by using existing structures already in place through the Small Business Administration. ...Obama campaign officials said the Democratic nominee's proposal wasn't intended to be a dramatic response to collapsing credit markets or to Sen. McCain's recent housing-policy proposal. "It's just another tool in the toolbox," Obama spokeswoman Jen Psaki said. ...Sen. Obama's lending plan for small businesses was cobbled from similar legislation pending in the Senate. In late September, Sen. John Kerry, chairman of the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee, introduced a bill that would treat the financial crisis like a federal disaster, thereby allowing the Small Business Administration to guarantee private low-interest loans to small businesses. Like Sen. Kerry's bill, Sen. Obama's proposal would temporarily waive closing fees associated with these loans. The Kerry bill seeks $715 million in appropriations, which Sen. Kerry said would generate $25 billion in loan guarantees. Sen. Kerry's bill was shelved while Congress worked on passing the $700 billion rescue plan last week. On Friday, the Obama campaign issued a statement..."Barack Obama supports allowing senior citizens to delay withdrawals from 401(k)s and believes we don't have to wait for Congress to act to provide seniors with these protections," spokesman Bill Burton said. He called on Sen. McCain to support Sen. Obama's small-business policies. Dallas Salisbury, president of the Employee Benefit Research Institute, a Washington nonprofit group, said Sen. McCain's retirement-account proposal would likely benefit mostly wealthy retirees who could afford to leave their stock investments untouched. He said Congress has made similar proposals in the past, but they have died because they would benefit only a narrow slice of retirees...
From the Boston Globe:
U.S. presidential candidate Barack Obama on Friday welcomed a plan by Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson to buy equity in financial institutions if necessary to halt market turmoil. "There are many causes of this economic crisis, and it's critical that we respond using all the tools that we currently have," Obama said in a statement. "That's why I support Secretary Paulson's latest initiative to use the authority we gave him in the financial rescue plan to provide more capital to our financial institutions so that they have money to lend to families and businesses," the Illinois Democratic senator added. Paulson said the program aims to encourage the raising of new private capital to complement the public capital injections. It would use authority created by the $700 billion financial rescue package that Congress passed last week. ... Obama said the Paulson plan should be implemented "quickly, aggressively, and ensure that it protects taxpayers, does not reward CEOs, and is limited in duration." The Democratic White House contender said that as market conditions evolve, the government should be ready to take further steps to boost investor confidence, such as extending guarantees. "And the United States must step up its efforts to work with the G-7 (Group of Seven) and our other allies to ensure a globally coordinated solution," he said.
From Reuters:
White House Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama said on Friday that U.S. policymakers have the tools they need to address the deepening financial crisis but it is crucial that they use them right away. "What they need to do is use the tools that they've got immediately," Obama told Reuters during a stop in Columbus, Ohio to visit campaign volunteers. "We've given them authority to capitalize the banks, we've given them the authority to buy up assets, we've given them the authority even to apply guarantees. The Fed is already using its authority on the commercial paper markets." But Obama said more needs to be done to communicate to the markets the steps that will be carried out to address the turmoil. "The problem is that there's been a lack of coordination, a lack of marketing of what's being done, clarity -- so that the market understands these clear signals," he said. "My hope is over the weekend that package is being put together in a way that can really start making a difference." The U.S. Congress last week approved a $700 billion rescue package that gives that would allow the government buy up troubled assets.
Barack Obama is currently holding a Change We Need Rally at Mayfair Diner in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. You can watch the event live below...
Polls open in 24 days . . .
Earlier today, Campaign Manager David Plouffe sent out an email with a special, behind the scenes look at Barack and his family at the Democratic National Convention...
John McCain keeps asking this question at his rallies -- then he gives answers that are shockingly false and negative. That's why it's vital that you sign up to volunteer for at least one day during the final days of this election. Voters won't know the truth about Barack unless supporters like you reach out to them. I also wanted to share a video of personal moments from behind the scenes at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, so you can see Barack and Michelle as they are -- decent, warm, and kind people with a loving family. Watch the video and get to know the Obamas a little better. Then sign up to volunteer on a crucial day before the Election: Our opponents try to stir up doubt and fear by questioning who Barack really is -- as if after more than a decade in public office, more than 20 months on the campaign trail, dozens of debates, two books written by him and dozens more about him, people still don't have enough information to decide for themselves who should lead our country. Millions of Americans have gotten to know Barack Obama as an American who's devoted his life to things bigger than himself -- his community, his country, and ordinary citizens looking for a voice. Our challenge now is to do the same -- to devote these last weeks to a cause bigger than ourselves. These tough economic times make our cause more urgent and the stakes even higher. Barack needs your help to win this election and bring the change we need to Washington. Can you give a day of your time during the last four days of the election? Watch the video, share it with others, and get involved. Only 24 days remain until Election Day. Won't you commit at least one to ensure our victory? David David Plouffe Campaign Manager Obama for America P.S. -- You don't have to wait till the four days before Election Day to get involved. Visit your state page to find events happening near you.
John McCain keeps asking this question at his rallies -- then he gives answers that are shockingly false and negative. That's why it's vital that you sign up to volunteer for at least one day during the final days of this election. Voters won't know the truth about Barack unless supporters like you reach out to them. I also wanted to share a video of personal moments from behind the scenes at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, so you can see Barack and Michelle as they are -- decent, warm, and kind people with a loving family. Watch the video and get to know the Obamas a little better. Then sign up to volunteer on a crucial day before the Election:
Joe Biden held a rally in Springfield, Missouri today. The event was a great success, capping off a four-stop tour through the state. From the sheer numbers of enthusiastic people who turned out at these events to see Joe, things are looking good for the Obama-Biden ticket in Missouri.
Joe will return on Sunday to campaign with his wife Jill alongside Bill and Hillary Clinton at an event in his hometown of Scranton, Pennsylvania.
In the meantime, enjoy the day in pictures:
Peter RubiOctober 10, 2008Wilmington, Delaware
"The American people aren't looking for someone to divide the country -- they want someone to lead it." - Barack Obama
Barack Obama spoke those words today on the banks of the Scioto river, in view of the Columbus skyline. He continued to draw large crowds on the second day of his Ohio bus tour: 5,000 in Chillicothe according to Glenda Cornett, the City Fire Inspector and 12,000 in Columbus as counted by Lieutenant Mark L. McMurray, Columbus Department of Public Safety, Division of Fire.
The day started in front of the Chillicothe court house in Ross County, which was the first state house of Ohio. In this small town, struggling from the effects of the current financial crisis, Barack unveiled his new Small Business Rescue Plan. Small businesses are the powerhouse of our economy, where most of this nation's jobs are created. Unfortunately they are also often the hardest hit when times are tough. Even with the current federal government rescue plan there is a long way to go. We've all got a lot of work to do.
With this in mind, the end of the day was just as fitting as the beginning. Barack stopped by a meeting of Obama for America field organizers in Columbus, young people determined to make a difference in this election, determined to help bring change to America. He told them about his experiences as an organizer in the South Side of Chicago, helping rebuild communities that had been devastated by the closing of local steel plants. Like Barack back then, these folks are the ones who hit the streets, who knock on doors, who listen to people tell their stories and explain their problems. Sometimes it can be hard to get the specific answers from a TV commercial or at a rally. Who better to make the choice we have in this election clear than friends and neighbors? Find out how you can get involved in Barack's campaign in your state, or in neighboring states, and enjoy the day in pictures:
Arun ChaudharyOctober 10th, 2008Philadelphia, PA
Jill Biden stopped by the National Headquarters in Chicago to meet with volunteers and call voters in Pennsylvania earlier today. She talked to voters about why they should choose the Obama-Biden ticket this November. Using our Neighbor-to-Neighbor program, Jill called these voters from a computer in our volunteer center. She showed everyone how easy it is to log in to a my.barackobama.com account and find voters to call.
The campaign is currently focusing on calling voters in battleground states. People are already casting early ballots in a number of states, which is why it's especially important that our supporters call these voters now. You can make a big difference in states where the race is neck-and-neck by sharing crucial information about early and absentee voting. With just 25 days left before the election, time is running out to make direct personal contact with potential supporters. And there is no more powerful way to sway an undecided voter than a one-on-one conversation with a supporter like you. As the McCain campaign tries to smear Barack's character and distract voters from the issues that matter, your phone calls are more important than ever. It's going to come down to what supporters like you do -- or don't do -- right now.
Sign on to your my.barackobama.com account right now and use Neighbor-to-Neighbor.
Senator Obama just issued this statement on the new Treasury Equity initiative...
There are many causes of this economic crisis, and it’s critical that we respond using all the tools that we currently have. That’s why I support Secretary Paulson’s latest initiative to use the authority we gave him in the financial rescue plan to provide more capital to our financial institutions so that they have money to lend to families and businesses. He should implement this plan quickly, aggressively, and ensure that it protects taxpayers, does not reward CEOs, and is limited in duration. As financial conditions evolve, the government should be prepared to take all additional action necessary to maintain market confidence, including extending broader guarantees in the financial system. And the United States must step up its efforts to work with the G-7 and our other allies to ensure a globally coordinated solution. This is not a time for ideology, but a time for common sense and pragmatism. The test of any idea must not be whether it is liberal or conservative, but whether it works for the American people. That’s what we should all be focused on in the days ahead to restore strength and prosperity to our economy.
“There is no way to rebuild this economy without rebuilding the middle class.” – Joe Biden
Joe Biden held a rally in Springfield, Missouri this morning, his fourth event in two days in the Show Me State. Three thousand enthusiastic folks gathered in the sunshine at Jordan Valley Park to hear Joe speak.
In this clip, Joe talks about some of the fundamental differences on economic policy between the candidates:
Peter Rubi October 10, 2008Springfield, Missouri
