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Two New Ads on the Air

Check ou the two new television ads now airing in Tsunami Tuesday states.

Obama Campaign Stops

Jan 29

Community Event with Barack Obama
in El Dorado, KS

Jan 29

Stand for Change Town Hall with Barack Obama
in Kansas City, MO

Jan 30

Community Event with Barack Obama
in Denver, CO

Jan 30

Stand for Change Rally with Barack Obama
in Phoenix, AZ

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Ground forces, surrogates will play key Super Tuesday role

No candidate will be able to effectively stump through 22 states leading up to Super Tuesday. Instead they will depend on an army of volunteers and surrogates to fan out and represent them in these locations.

Elected officials and celebrities who support the candidate can stump in key areas allowing the candidate to pick and choose which locations to target. Organizations like labor unions and political action committees will also play a role.

Celebrity surrogates vary in their effectiveness depending on the venue. In California, where two former Hollywood stars have governed the state, people often welcome the fanfare. Someone like Oprah Winfrey could have a big impact on the campaign trail in the Golden State.

Regular supporters also act as surrogates representing the candidate with their family, friends and associates. They may also volunteer to "cold call" working door-to-door, on the phones or at visibility/tabling events.

Barack Obama is widely seen as having the most extensive ground operation across the Tsunami Tuesday states. Here in California the operation is unprecedented. There are at least 13 official field offices most now working feverishly seven days a week. Numerous events are scheduled across the state to make contact with voters on behalf of the candidate.

The internet will also play an important role as supporters use email, texting and the like to cajole their contact list. Some may even work the social networks like Facebook and MySpace seeking new friends in Feb. 5 states across cyberspace.

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Obama News on Thursday

The Washington Post reports that the Obama campaign is concentrating on six small caucus states as part of its Tsunami Tuesday strategy.

Obama's staff believes that Obama's grassroots style and organizing is well suited to caucus-type elections after good performances in Iowa and Nevada. Three of the states targeted are Minnesota, Colorado and Kansas.

In Kansas, there are reports that Gov. Kathleen Sebelius might be ready to endorse Obama after she delivers the Democratic response to the State of the Union address on Monday.


Obama supporters get out the vote in South Carolina

The Importance of South Carolina

The most important move the Obama campaign can do now in preparation for Super Tuesday is to win South Carolina.

A win in the Palmetto State guarantees nationwide media coverage far exceeding any televisions ads the campaign could afford. Barack will have the "big mo" going into Tsunami Tuesday when 22 states pick the Democratic nominee.

If he loses there, people will say the Iowa win was a fluke. African Americans may see him as non-viable since he could not win a state in which they make up about half the Democratic electorate. There will be a lot of negative buzz about his electability.

The big task again, as with all other states except probably Illinois, will be to get out the vote, especially Obama's young supporters. The work requires voter contact, preferably person-to-person although robo-calls, radio ads and other mass media techniques can also help.



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More on Obama's "Grassroots Tuesday"

The more I think about it, the more it appears Barack Obama is preparing for the possibility of a big showdown on Feb5. or "Tsunami Tuesday."

Obama is laying out the infrastructure to win using the grassroots approach reaching people with phone banks, canvassing, tabling, rallies, etc.

Obviously he still wants to do very well in the early states of Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina. He particularly is putting a lot of emphasis in Iowa.

But his 19 offices in Feb. 5 states as compared to five for Hillary Clinton indicate how serious a ground campaign he is planning.

For example, here in California, the Obama camp has divided the whole state into congressional districts with one committee for each district. This is not just for show. They've been holding meetings and arranging direct voter contact activities.

Now, even in the last general election for president, there wasn't this kind of organization for Kerry-Edwards.

Some people might think it a waste of money to attempt something on this scale. The common strategy would be to dump nearly all one's cash in the early states and then hope for the best.

That might not be the most effective way of leveraging Obama's grassroots support though. He has many young supporters who don't have much or anything monetary-wise to contribute campaign. They might be willing to volunteer, however, with their time and effort.

Barack speaks out on healthcare

Obama aiming for Feb. 5?

A Washington Post article claims the Obama campaign may be looking for victory on Feb. 5 as much as winning the early states.

Obama has 19 offices in different early states, much less than his total in Iowa alone, but again much more than total five offices of her leading opponent Hillary Clinton. This can be taken to indicate that the Obama camp believes things may not be over after polls are done in the four early states of Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina.

On Feb. 5, known as "Super Duper Tuesday" or "Tsunami Tuesday" some 20 states will hold primary elections.

Obama is generally less well-known in these states as compared to Clinton. It may be that Obama's belief in grassroots campaigning is driving the investment in Super Duper Tuesday states. It's difficult to start up a person-to-person campaign in a short span of time, as compared to simply launching a television ad blitz.

By opening offices in these states, Obama may be showing his community organizing background and his experience in the importance of making personal contact.