35,000 rally behind Barack and Michelle in Ohio

More evidence that the "enthusiasm gap" is a thing of the past. A crowd of 35,000 people gathered in Ohio to see President Barack Obama and the First Lady Michelle.



Armies of volunteers will get people out to vote in the election. Really only Barack and Michelle can rally the people on this scale.

Scoping Ohio (and Indiana)

Since I made my last analysis of battleground states, it still looks like Ohio is the most important of these targets. And a new state can be added to the list -- Indiana.

Indiana is sandwiched between Ohio and Obama's home state of Illinois, and it would be relatively easy to reach both Ohio and Indiana from the main campaign headquarters.

The race in Ohio still looks very tight and I think the campaign has a better chance there than in Florida, although that could change. The Democratic governor in Ohio compared to Florida's Republican governor is very helpful. Both states had some significant voting irregularities in the last two presidential elections.

Ohio is close enough to Illinois for road trips by dedicated Obama volunteers as well as paid staff.

Northwest Indiana is part of the Chicago Metropolitan Area. People regularly commute between both places especially from Indiana into Chicago for work. Given that Obama's ground support is likely strongest in his home state of Illinois, it is very practical to spill over into Indiana and make a run at this usually Republican-leaning state.

In both states, Obama will have to reach out to very similar populations consisting of working class people who have been hit hard by recent economic woes. Evan Bayh is a good possible VP choice for targeting Indiana, while Gov. Ted Strickland would be logical for Ohio. Hillary Clinton and her husband are very popular with the swing voting segment in these states.





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More Obama News from Monday

Academy Award winning actor George Clooney is organizing a big fundraiser for Barack Obama in Switzerland on Sept. 2.

There will be a reception with tickets at $1,000 followed by a dinner at the house of NFC member Charles Adams for guests who raised at least $10,000 from multiple sources.

Why the event is taking place overseas is not explained, but the campaign states that only U.S. citizens with passports will be allowed to donate.

Tire pressure claim correct

Barack's claims on oil savings from simply keeping your tires properly inflated and getting regular tuneups is correct. The savings in fact, if practiced widely, could easily exceed the amount of oil obtained from any new offshore drilling.

McCain had mocked Obama's suggestions pointing instead to his plan to expand offshore drilling.

Also, it has been widely reported that Barack now supports some offshore drilling himself. Haven't seen the evidence though. He has said that he might consider some new drilling as part of a compromise plan were the good gained would offset the negatives of new drilling.


Barack in Ohio

In the following video, Barack talks in Ohio about his new energy plan and other economic matters. He notes that during the last eight years it has been the wealthy, the oil companies, the big contractors and lobbys who have gained, while the American people have suffered. He promises to shift the emphasis back to the people.

Video: Organizing Fellows

Obama Organizing Fellow Andy rides his bike to register new voters in Ohio. During the primary, Andy skipped his college graduation commencement ceremonies to help out the campaign in Indiana.




Mr. Frank Watson, a 92-year-old Republican supporter of Barack and Gregory, an Organizing Fellow, talk about supporting the campaign in Denver, Colorado.

One way everybody can get involved is by taking part in shaping the Democratic Party Platform by participating in one of the 1,200 platform meetings in all 50 states from July 19 to July 27.

You still have time to host or attend a Platform Meeting in your community to help set the agenda for the Democratic Party and its presumptive presidential nominee, Barack Obama.

Targeted States: Ohio

One can't revisit the importance of focusing on key swing states enough. The Obama campaign will work in all states to help build the campaign and the party -- registering voters, raising money, recruiting volunteers -- but it will focus a lot of its persuasion and get out the vote efforts on battleground states.

There are times when no matter how many millions one spends on TV ads, and despite the thousands of dedicated volunteers one fields, that you will still come up short in the end. You can work on these people over the long haul, but for any particular election cycle it pays to target voters who are more open and persuadable.

They identify these 'soft targets' by professional polling and reports from ground workers.

Ohio is one of the swing states with the most available electoral votes. In this primary season, the state had a much larger turnout among Democrats as compared to Republicans.

Primary Turnout in Ohio (2008)
2,233,156 (D)
1,018,865 (R)
3,450,893 (Total)

In the 2006 election, the Democrats romped to victory winning the governorship and seats in the Senate and the House. The local economy has been spiraling down for years now and there is a general dissatisfaction with the Republican Party, which is blamed for the state's woes.

The Real Clear Politics polling average shows Obama slightly ahead in recent polls.

Poll	Date	Sample	Obama (D)	McCain (R)	Spread
RCP Average	05/13 - 05/20	--	44.0	42.7	Obama +1.3
SurveyUSA	05/16 - 05/18	600 RV	48	39	Obama +9.0
Quinnipiac	05/13 - 05/20	1244 RV	40	44	McCain +4.0
Rasmussen	05/15 - 05/15	500 LV	44	45	McCain +1.0

We should note that these polls were taken before Hillary Clinton dropped out of the race.

An Akron Buckeye Poll taken in March 2008 showed that Ohioans largely believe that the Democratic nominee will win the general election.

The major issues: "Nearly one-half of all Ohioans said that economic issues (such as jobs and prices) would be most important to their vote for president (47.5%). Another one-quarter said foreign policy issues (like the Iraq war and terrorism) would be most important (24.8%). Roughly one-sixth (16.8%) chose other domestic issues (such as public services and taxes) and one-in-ten respondents said social issues (such as abortion and same-sex marriage) would be most important to their presidential vote (10.9%)."

Obviously, Republicans are very vulnerable when the campaign if focused on the economy, so don't be surprised to see that strategy taken in the Buckeye State.

Paul Tewes on Voting in Ohio

Forwarded from barackboama.com:

Statement from Ohio State Director Paul Tewes

by Sam Graham-Felsen, Tuesday, March 04, 2008 at 11:18 AM

Ohio State Director Paul Tewes:

Our campaign’s goal today is to ensure that any registered voter in the state of Ohio can go to the polls and cast their ballot for their candidate of choice without interference. We understand that the Clinton campaign may want to depress turnout because Barack Obama has closed a 20-point gap over the course of this month as voters across the state got to know him.

It has been the hallmark of the Democratic party to educate and protect the rights of voters. If the Clinton campaign disagrees with that principle, they should say so today.

We have received reports from around the state of independents and Republicans who chose to vote in the Democratic primary receiving issue only or Republican ballots instead of the Democratic ballot they were entitled to. We have also had reports that the voter ID requirements have been misstated at various locations, causing some voters to be turned away.

We will take action when necessary to ensure that all eligible voters are able to cast their votes and to have their votes counted.

We will continue to monitor the polls to ensure that all Ohioans who choose to participate in today’s election are able to do so regardless of who they choose to vote for.

If you've experienced any problems at the polls, visit our National Voter Protection Center and report them...

Barack supporters getting out the vote in Ohio:

Ohio: Road to Change

Check out the Ohio Road to Change video profiling the campaign in Ohio, and also a YouTube video showing Ohio supporters in Parma explain why they are supporting Barack.

Ohio: Road to Change


Parma, Ohio: Why Barack?

Gov. Deval Patrick and SEIU's Andy Stern in Youngstown, Ohio

Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick and SEIU President Andy Stern campaign for Sen. Barack Obama in Youngstown, Ohio in this YouTube video.






The new campaign goal is 1.5 million calls by the close of polls on Mar. 4.

Cincinnati Enquirer endorses Barack Obama

The Cincinnati Enquirer endorsed Barack Obama today for Democrats.

Enquirer endorses Obama on Democratic side
Illinois senator offers energy, rich experiences, fresh ideas

Despite all of the jokes and misplaced campaign rhetoric, it is the experiences of Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama that have set them apart - set them above - the crowded Democratic field that started the race for their party's nomination so many months ago.

Clinton's experience as first lady often is derided as "secondhand," or somehow invalid. Actually, it gave her a perspective on the possibilities and limitations of the presidency that no other candidate for the office ever has had.

Beyond that, she has been a senator for the past eight years, carving out her own political niche on the national scene. Her service on the Senate Armed Services Committee has involved her intimately in the details of the ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, subjects the next commander in chief will need to come to terms with immediately.

Obama was born to an American mother and Kenyan father, raised in a multicultural environment, graduated with an Ivy League education and worked as a community organizer on the streets of Chicago before becoming a civil rights lawyer. His life and experiences reflect the diversity of America in ways no other presidential candidate has experienced.

He points to the richness of these experiences as the reason he has earned a reputation of uniting people around what he describes on his Web site as the "politics of purpose" - getting people to work beyond their partisan differences to achieve common goals.

These are both extraordinarily talented candidates, but it is Obama's ability to reach beyond the partisan divide and gather in support that prompts The Enquirer to give him our endorsement for the Democratic nomination.

The true differences on policy between Obama and Clinton - on Iraq, on trade and a host of other issues, are narrow.

On health care, we prefer his approach of lowering costs rather than mandating participation.

Obama and Clinton both say ending the war in Iraq, while preserving U.S. security, would be their top priority upon taking office. Both say they would consult with the military experts and withdraw American forces and quickly as prudently possible. This will be a clear point of debate in the general election with John McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee.

Clinton has shown herself to be an able senator, with an impressive grasp of details. But she remains for many in this country a polarizing figure.

Much of that dislike undoubtedly is residual disapproval of her husband, former President Bill Clinton, and his policies and performance in office. That may be unfair to her, but it remains a fact of political life.

But her own style has opened her to criticism as well. Her major public policy involvement during her husband's administration was the failed attempt to come up with a universal health care policy.

Critics remember her closed-door, high-handed and uncompromising approach, which drew opposition from many Democrats as well as Republicans and doomed the initiative.

She says she has learned from those mistakes, yet her style often seems abrasive and superior when criticized.

A president must be able to make hard decisions but must also be able to face - even welcome - dissenting views and understand that there can be validity in the opposition.

Obama has been on the national stage for a relatively short time, but in that time he has demonstrated an ability and a willingness to work with others. He does not waste time demonizing those with different views.

One obvious example is his work with Sen. Dick Lugar, R-Ind., on a new non-proliferation effort with Russia designed to keep nuclear weapons from falling into terrorist hands. He also lists the need for coming up with a workable, bipartisan national energy policy as one of the first things he would tackle in office.

But perhaps Obama's most impressive achievement so far is the excitement he has engendered in the political process itself.

He is a gifted public speaker, and the energy he brings to his campaign seems to have brought many people, including many young people, into the political process for the first time.

Obama has an undeniable appeal that is attracting people of divergent backgrounds. He seems able to find ways to work even with people who don't share his views.

We believe that of the two, he has the better chance at quickly creating the working coalitions that would allow for the progress a new administration will need in dealing with the issues at hand.

Jim Borgman

Upcoming Obama Events

"Keeping America's Promise" Town Hall Meeting with Barack Obama
Saturday, March 1, 2008

Valley Forge High School Auditorium
9999 Independence Boulevard
Parma Heights, OH

Doors Open 6:30 PM
Event Begins 8:00 PM

This event is free and open to the public, but tickets are required. Free tickets are available at the following locations:

Obama for America Parma Office
Parma Town Plaza
7719 W Ridgewood Dr.
Cleveland, OH 44129

Hours: 10 AM – 9 PM
Friday and Saturday


SEIU Local 1199
1771 E. 30th St.
Cleveland, OH 44114

Hours: 10 AM – 9 PM
Friday and Saturday


For security reasons, do not bring bags. Please limit personal belongings. No sign or banners allowed.





Houston- Town Hall with Gov. Tim Kaine
Saturday, March 01, 2008 @ 2:00pm
Houston, TX

Forest Whitaker in Texarkana
Saturday, March 01, 2008 @ 6:45pm
Texarkana, TX

Rally with Forest Whitaker
Sunday, March 02, 2008 @ 12:45pm
Marshall, TX



Kal Penn's College GOTV Tour

Saturday, March 1, 2008

One Million for Change Rally—“March Forth Towards March 4”
Shiloh Baptist Church
720 Mount Vernon Avenue
Columbus, OH 43203
Event Begins 9:00 AM


Canvass Kickoff at OSU OFA Office
Ohio State University
2240 North High Street
Columbus, OH 43201
Event Begin: 10:45 AM


Event at Denison University
Denison University
Slayter Auditorium, Fourth Floor
100 West College Street
Granville, OH 43023
Event Begins: 12:15


Event at Ohio Wesleyan University
Ohio Wesleyan University
61 South Sandusky Street
Delaware, OH 43015
Event Begins: 3:00 PM


Kal Penn in Ohio.

New Obama TV Ads

Here are some new television ads running in Mar. 4 states.

"Plan," airing in Ohio.



"Oportunidad," running in Texas.



New ad running in Texas.

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Toledo Blade (OH) endorses Barack Obama

Check out the Toledo Blade newspaper's (Ohio) endorsement of Barack Obama.

Obama, for change

THE Blade has a long-established principle of seldom endorsing a candidate in any primary election. It's easy to see, however, that this isn't a typical year. For the first time in history, the outcome of the Ohio primary may well determine the Democratic nominee for president of the United States.

We are not yet ready to say who we will endorse in November. But we wholeheartedly agree with something our editorial board heard on Sunday: 'We have to have a government that works for ordinary people. We've got to be able to bring the country together so we have a working majority for change. We have to break down some of the ideologically driven polarization that prevents us from taking practical steps to make the country more competitive and to get opportunity to people.'

We urge Ohio Democrats to vote on Tuesday for the man who spoke those words, U.S. Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois. It has become clear during the year-long primary campaign that he eclipses Sen. Hillary Clinton as the strong­est possible candidate to run in the general election against the presumptive Republican nominee, Sen. John McCain.

Moreover, we believe that Mr. Obama's inspiring life story, keen intellect, strong but quiet confidence, ready grasp of public policy issues, and his fresh and optimistic world view are what America needs after eight years of an administration that repeatedly has shown open contempt for the American people and for the Constitution.

Mr. Obama offers a breath of fresh air and new hope at a depressing time in the life of this nation. His selection would send an unmistakable signal to the world that America really may be living up to its promise of a just and truly pluralistic society.

The offspring of a father from Kenya and a mother from Kansas, young Obama grew up partly in Hawaii, partly in Indonesia. Were he to become president, we have no doubt that he would be seen — more than any previous occupant of the White House — as someone who is comfortably at home in the wider world. Yet his is the quintessential American story, that of the self-made man.

Those who object that he is too young overlook that he would, at 47, be a year older than Bill Clinton was when he was elected, and four years older than John F. Kennedy. Those who say that he is inexperienced in international affairs overlook that he sits on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. The last two Democratic presidents, Mr. Clinton and Jimmy Carter, didn't have a day's service in Congress, much less foreign policy, before they took office, and it certainly hurt them.

Additionally, Mr. Obama, a younger and more physically vigorous man, will be in a far better position to push Americans into solving one of the biggest problems we face: that of an unhealthy, morbidly obese generation of young people, a health crisis that is costing the nation billions. We applaud the fact that, urged by his talented wife, Michelle, he has quit smoking. That alone should be an inspiration to millions.

There are those who resent Mr. Obama's relatively rapid rise on the national scene and link his growing support to ingrained bias against putting a woman in the Oval Office. Certainly there may be some misguided prejudice against women. But that isn't what is going on this year. We agree the nation is more than ready for a female president. But Hillary Clinton is handicapped by her own baggage, and it has to do with her character, not her gender.

Voters during this primary process have come to know the real Hillary Clinton, and many have not liked what they've seen. Try as she might to project a warm personal image, she has come across mostly as a coldly calculating individual.

Moreover, her candidacy reminds voters of how the Clintons in effect looted the White House of expensive china, furniture, and other items when they left in January, 2001. And, if that weren't enough, they set up a gift registry to furnish their new home in New York. In contrast to such political royalism, Mr. Obama, his wife, and their two daughters live much closer to the reality of ordinary people.

America is badly in need of something new. We need this election to mark, at last, the end of the Vietnam period. Hillary Clinton is a product of that era and is, in a sense, still fighting its battles.

Barack Obama would be, figuratively if not literally, the first president of the 21st Century, much as John F. Kennedy was the first president born in the 20th century — each necessary to his time, and each able to see the world with a fresh, clear view.

Again, this endorsement does not mark our final verdict for November. John McCain, the all-but-certain GOP nominee, is a far more admirable figure than George W. Bush, although his policies on the war and the economy merely mimic those of the incumbent.

We will be scrutinizing the candidates very carefully as the general election campaign progresses. But at this point we feel free to break with tradition and enthusiastically recommend that on Tuesday, Ohio Democrats cast their primary ballots for Barack Obama.

Jim Borgman

From: Cincinnati Enquirer

Latest Obama Videos

Line of supporters outside of University of Cincinnati.



Barack on the "Texas Two-Step."



Barack Obama speaks to a crowd of 11,000 in Dayton, Ohio.

Barack in Ohio

Here are some videos from Barack Obama's appearances in Ohio.

Blockbuster -- long lines for Barack's speech at the John S. Knight Center in Akron.



Barack Obama speaking and attending a townhall meeting in Lorain, Ohio.



Barack at a rally of more than 6,000 people in Cleveland, Feb. 23.

Upcoming Obama Events

Feb 23

Keeping America's Promise Rally with Barack Obama
in Akron, OH

Feb 23

Keeping America's Promise Rally with Barack Obama
in Cleveland, OH

Feb 24

Keeping America's Promise Rally with Barack Obama
in Toledo, OH

Economy & Trade Town Hall Meeting with Federico Pena
Saturday, February 23, 2008 @ 09:30am
El Paso, TX

Brownsville- Town Hall with Sen. John Kerry
Saturday, February 23, 2008 @ 3:30pm
Brownsville, TX

Del Rio - Town Hall with Sen. John Kerry
Saturday, February 23, 2008 @ 6:30pm
Del Rio, TX


Obama rally in Edinburg, Texas

Obama Events in the Mar. 4 States

Feb 20

Stand for Change Rally with Barack Obama
in Dallas, TX

Feb 20

Rally with Michelle Obama
in Warwick, RI

Feb 21

Community Gathering with Michelle Obama
in Cleveland, OH

Feb 22

Community Event with Barack Obama
in Corpus Christi, TX

Early Vote Kickoff with Senator Ted Kennedy
Wednesday, February 20, 2008 @ 12:30pm
Corpus Christi, TX

Early Vote Kick-Off With Senator Edward Kennedy
Wednesday, February 20, 2008 @ 3:30pm
Edinburg, TX

Austin HQ - Poster Making Party
Wednesday, February 20, 2008 @ 6:00pm
Austin, TX

Early Vote Kickoff with Senator Ted Kennedy
Wednesday, February 20, 2008 @ 7:00pm
Laredo, TX

San Marcos- Rally for Change with Senator Ted Kennedy
Thursday, February 21, 2008 @ 10:30am
San Marcos, TX

Obama heads to Mar. 4 with Big Mo

Sen. Barack Obama racked up 10 straight wins with convincing victories last night in Wisconsin and Hawai'i.

The winning streak definitely gives Obama momentum going into the big state contest of Mar. 4 when Texas, Ohio, Rhode Island and Vermont go to the polls. Many undecided voters may tip toward Barack because of his wins in other states.

Still Hillary Clinton has strong establishment ties particularly in Texas, and the Obama campaign is mounting a full-blown ground operation to contest these states.


Videos of Barack's victory speech last night in Houston.

Barack picks up more key support

The Top of the Ticket blog of the Los Angeles Times is reporting that Maria Elena Durazo, executive secretary-treasurer of the powerful Los Angeles County Federation of Labor will endorse Barack Obama's candidacy for president.

Mo Denis, one of three Latino state legislators in Nevada, endorsed Obama this morning after meeting with and questioning the Illinois senator. Denis had formerly supported Gov. Bill Richardson.

The Statesman Journal reports two important endorsements from Oregon, Randall Edwards and Susan Castillo:

Barack Obama is the right person to heal this country and restore America’s standing in the world,” said Edwards, who is completing a second four-year term as treasurer this year. He is barred from running for a third term.

Castillo, the first Hispanic woman in statewide office, said she is endorsing Obama for his commitment to education. She has been a state schools chief, a nonpartisan office, for five years; she was a Democratic state senator for six years before that.

Of Oregon’s top Democrats, Gov. Ted Kulongoski and U.S. Rep. Darlene Hooley have endorsed New York Sen. Hillary Clinton, and Oregon House Speaker Jeff Merkley and Oregon Senate President pro tem Margaret Carter have endorsed former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards. Others have made no public endorsements.

In Ohio, Mayor Jay Williams of Youngstown endorsed Obama saying "I admire his ability to inspire; he’s seen as an agent of change."