32.5M Raised Total
31M for the Primaries
Over 258,000 Donors
OUTSTANDING!!!...read from Campaign Manager David Plouffe
AP Story
New York Times
CBS
Tentative Debate Schedules:
July 23, 2007 - Charleston, South Carolina
August 19, 2007 - Des Moines, Iowa
September 26, 2007 - Hanover, New Hampshire
October 30, 2007 - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
November 15, 2007 - Las Vegas, Nevada
December 10, 2007 - Los Angeles, California
January 6, 2008 - Johnson County, Iowa
January 15, 2008 - Las Vegas, Nevada
January 31, 2008 - California
Here is the roundup, The Good, The Bad and The Ugly...
Let's Go....
June 25, 2007
Interesting article about a New York fundraiser held last Friday, June 22, 2007, for Senator Obama. Its main focus was about the under 40, young professional group. This event was held at the Hammerstein with estimate of 600 people in attendance. Ben Harper also on hand, with live performance.
Illinois Democratic senator Barack Hussein Obama captivated his New York supporters on Saturday, June 22nd at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City. I had the opportunity to speak with many of the patrons and organizers at the fundraiser as well as with Senator Obama himself.
The fundraiser was sponsored by Generation Barack Obama (GBO), a group of about 15 young professionals and students aged 25 through 40 that want to affect positive change within their country.
Generation Barack Obama publicized the fundraiser as "the largest fundraising rally to date for the 2008 presidential election." About 600 people, comprised largely of diverse, middle class young adults and students, attended the fundraiser.
Obama the Poet?
Yes, New Yorker Magazine, has a piece about two poems crafted by Senator Obama. Published in 1981, Feast, a literary magazine.
This confession of youthful indiscretion was at once more sober and more lyrical than those proffered by Presidents Forty-two ("I didn’t inhale") and Forty-three ("When I was young and irresponsible, I was young and irresponsible"), and it comes as little surprise to discover that another, less publicized intoxication to which the young Obama succumbed was the composition of lyric poetry.
New book written by David Mendell of the Chicago Tribune about Senator Obama, "Obama: From Promise to Power". As with all the Hillary books, we will see how this goes. If it is a book about aspirations, a calculating politician, then guess what? Who knew? A politician who is calculating? Aren't they all?
A soon-to-be-released biography about Sen. Barack Obama portrays the Democratic presidential candidate as a far more calculating politician than his most ardent supporters might imagine.
In Honolulu, Senator Obama sends message to his sister for supporters.
Senator Barack Obama told voters in Hawaii today that a failure of leadership was preventing the nation from meeting its many challenges from war to a broken health care system.
The Honolulu-born Democratic presidential candidate delivered the words in a letter his half-sister, Maya Soetoro-Ng, read to some 125 people at Trinity Missionary Baptist Church.
Vibe Magazine, will soon have Senator Obama on its cover, sometime this summer. One of the best selling hip-hop magazines, he shot the cover the week of June 18th, in NYC.
Obama's Decline in the Polls: Who Turned Off the Electricity?
Makes one wonder, is the electricity off? Interesting analysis of how electrifying Senator Obama is on the stump, but comes across sub-par in the debates. Is this intentional? Planned? A strategy not to be ahead in the polls until fall? Interesting. Not a slam piece, but a why piece.
On the stump, Obama can be electrifying. And behind all that electricity is a first-rate intellect. But if you have electricity, the last thing you want to do is pull the circuit breaker and start explaining the fine points of transistors, electrons, and electrical engineering. Yet that's exactly what Obama has done in his recent debate performances. Whether the decision was his, his senor strategists', or some combination of the two, he seems to have decided to check his charisma at the door, avoid the moving imagery and oratory that electrified the electorate from the first time they saw him on the national stage, and talk about issues, positions, "marginal tax rates" (as opposed, for example, to "your taxes"), and the fine print of his health care plan.
Obama has it in him, but he isn't using it. The one who is using it is John Edwards, who voters saw as the winner of the last debate, but who the East Coast media have run a concerted effort to take out of the race -- first by pretending that he wasn't in it, describing it as a two-way contest between a white woman and a black man, and failing to mention in most articles that the usual presumptive favorite, the vice-presidential nominee from the last election, was even in the race; then by amplifying a concerted GOP effort to portray him as feminine and hypocritical (as if the Kennedys couldn't talk about poverty or the minimum wage until they sold their compound on the Cape), and now describing his years studying and speaking about poverty -- not exactly an obvious issue to champion if you want to win an election -- bashing immigrants is much better for the polls, if not for the soul -- as a political ploy and perhaps a misuse of funds. Northeastern intellectuals didn't care much for Bill Clinton, either, and he did what Edwards will likely need to do: he turned to alternative media (which are now much more powerful) and to local media, who are usually excited to talk with a major candidate rather than to run him into the ground. But Edwards will also need to respond more rapidly and aggressively to smear campaigns, because it's a lot harder to wipe it off after it sticks.
Obama's strategists may be thinking that this is a marathon, and that they'd better pace themselves. You don't want to sprint 18 months before the final mile.
But they need to remember that Dukakis lost. Obama would do a lot better to take a leaf out of Reagan's book than to retrace the journey of the long list of Democrats who have drowned on the dispassionate river: Let Obama be Obama.
Clinton 37, Obama 25, Edwards 13: Rasmussen Poll
Not that much of a difference. This has been pretty steady and I expect it to continue through the summer. Clinton seems to average out 35% and Obama 23-25%, depending on what polling you are looking at. Again, as Senator Obama is retooling his campaign, his message is starting to resonate, his speeches stronger. Now, we will see how he is on Thursday night for the PBS Debate, at Howard University, Washingon, D.C.
There are no surprises in this week’s polling on the race for the Democratic Presidential nomination. For the sixth straight week, New York Senator Hillary Clinton is in the mid-30s, Illinois Senator Barack Obama is in the mid-20s, and former North Carolina Senator John Edwards is in the mid-teens.
This week’s numbers are Clinton 37% Obama 25% and Edwards 13%. A week ago, it was Clinton 38% Obama 27% and Edwards 16%. Clinton has been within three points of the 35% level in seventeen of the last eighteen weekly updates. However, she has been at 35% or above for six of the past seven weeks. Prior to that, she had been under 35% for six weeks.
Clinton is viewed favorably by 80% of Democrats while 69% have a favorable opinion of Obama and 73% say the same about Edwards.
Among all voters nationwide, 29% say they’d definitely vote for Clinton if she’s on the ballot in 2008. Forty-six percent (46%) say they’d definitely vote against the former First Lady.
For Obama, the numbers are 28% definitely for and 40% definitely against. Edwards is the strongest of the top tier candidates by this measure—28% would definitely vote for him while 32% would definitely vote against.
When I wrote in last week's diary, about how nasty this campaign can get with this "oppo resesarch", now we have a website for Clinton, decicated to smear and get information against Barack Obama. The site is Hillaryis44.org.
Encouraging readers to send in "confidential tips" its primary target and obvious obsession is Barack Obama. "Senator Barack Obama (D-Rezko) is busy lately lying about President Bill Clinton" and "attacking entire communities." "We have written extensively on Obama, and his indicted slumlord friend Antoin 'Tony' Rezko. We have repeatedly warned David Axelrod, Michelle Obama and Barack Obama that this story is not going away." The Obama campaign is "still posing as innocents incapable of doing anything unsavory even as evidence mounts that unsavory is their favorite dish." "Dirty Obama Smear" and "Obama's Dirty Mud Politics" are two recent headlines.
This appears to be the subterranean part of Hillary's campaign, the part that quietly coexists with the warm, chuckling lady playing the jukebox with her husband. It coexists with the Maya Angelou part, the listening tour part, the filmed parts.
It is the war room part. I suspect the site is a back door to that war room.
Politics ain't beanbag. It is not, generally, an ennobling profession. But if Mrs. Clinton's aides want to understand better her likability problem, they should look at this site. It's dark in there.
I don't think Clinton is putting her seal of approval on this site, as the Obama Campaign stated they have not authorized this 527, but I am sure if either is benefical to these candidates, they will surely just let it slide.
Q2, yes, AGAIN. "Sigh". Well, we can not get away from the money aspect of this campaign, or all of them for that matter.
"On the Democratic side, the Clinton campaign continues to boost the idea that it'll be lucky to stay even with Obama. Come again? How did the Clintons pull this spin off? This is their muscle quarter. On paper, it’s Clinton who should be slightly favored to outraise Obama -- not vice versa. It would be a BIG deal if Obama outraises Clinton for a second quarter in a row (in primary money). By the way, don't miss the Richardson camp's bragging that it will outraise Edwards. You really raising $10 million-plus, governor?"
I don't know about YOU, but I want to know if Richardson, REALLY outraised Edwards? Or is he blowin' smoke, "up the you know where"? Update [2007-7-1 15:16:47 by icebergslim]: Richardson announced 7M raised, he did not outraised, Edwards, so it was the "smoke up the you know where".
The Agony and the Agony
This piece was brought to my attention and a very interesting article on David Axelrod, the man behind Obama. Interesting, I did not know much about him, but he was a former Chicago Tribune Bureau Chief. Left the paper to work in politics.
A quarter century later, Axelrod is one of the nation's pre-eminent political consultants--the most successful one not based on one of the Coasts. And, capping a career of putting Democratic hopefuls into office, he's the top strategist of the presidential campaign of his close friend, U.S. Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.).
As Obama's chief strategist, Axelrod is at the pinnacle of his profession, a media star appearing frequently on political talk shows and often sought out by reporters seeking snappy, soundbite-quality comments.
He's in a position of power, wielding important influence in hammering out his candidate's message and getting that message across to the media and the voters. And he's the latest in a long line of campaign operatives who, although never elected themselves, have helped determine the course of American elections, such as Karl Rove for George W. Bush and James Carville for Bill Clinton.
Obama will go where no other Democrats will
Ummm, interesting, where did he go? Straight to the heartland of Republicanville, in South Carolina. This is about his recent trip to South Carolina, where an estimate of 3500-5000 people showed up to hear Senator Obama.
Barack Obama showed a whole lot of savvy and political courage when he took his Democratic presidential campaign into the Republican heartland of South Carolina.
It was a huge success.
Democrats were ecstatic.
"We have complained bitterly over the years about the treatment we’ve received at the hands of the Democrats," said Ron Romine, a Spartanburg party activist and long-time political science professor at the University of South Carolina. "Finally, we’re getting some attention."
Barack, a U.S. senator from Illinois, drew large crowds at stops in Greenwood, Greenville and Spartanburg — a region heavily populated by Republicans.
But Obama’s campaign looked at the sheer numbers in the Upstate and decided it would be foolhardy to ignore the vote-rich region, even though it was clearly dominated by Republicans.
Obama made his first visit to the Upstate on June 15. And boy was he surprised when he arrived at McAlister Square in Greenville. Over 3,500 people — a good mix of blacks and whites — were there to greet him.
Barack Obama: Hagel, Obama, Brown Introduce Bill to Improve VA Services for Blind Veterans
Barack Obama: Feingold, Obama Push for Strongest Ethics and Lobbying Reform Bill Possible
Obama to Air First Campaign ADS in Iowa
I think this is a good idea. The campaign does feel confident and the ads are good, well balanced, crafted and tells you about Senator Obama.
The ads represent a strategic shift for the Obama campaign, which has focused on grass-roots efforts and now will introduce the candidate to a new population of voters watching at home.
Obama aides planned a conference call Monday to discuss the new commercials, featuring a Republican lawmaker who worked with Obama in the Illinois State Legislature and Harvard Law professor Laurence Tribe.
Both Tribe and Republican Sen. Kirk Dillard are featured in the new commercials.
A 60-second commercial, called "Choices," focuses on the decision Obama made after graduating from Harvard Law School, opting to turn down lucrative offers from law firms and instead move to Chicago as a community organizer.
The other 30-second spot, titled "Carry," addresses Obama's work in the Illinois Legislature, where Dillard praises him for pushing ethics legislation, expanding child care and health coverage and supporting tax credits for the working poor.
"Senator Obama worked on some of the deepest issues we had and was successful in a bipartisan way," Dillard says in that ad.
Aides described Tribe, a member of the Harvard law faculty, as a mentor for Obama. Tribe praises Obama for his decisions after graduating.
"It was inspiring, absolutely inspiring to see someone as brilliant as Barack Obama, as successful, someone who could have written his ticket on Wall Street, take all of the talent and all of the learning and decide to devote it to the community and to make people's lives better," Tribe says in the commercial.
Video of the television ads
Michelle Obama will be in Greenville, South Carolina
Michelle Obama, wife of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, will kick off South Carolina Women for Obama with events in the Greenville area on Mon, July 2. Michelle will be the featured speaker at "A Salute to Courageous Women," a luncheon at the Bethlehem Life Center. Details about additional events will be made available in the coming week.
Changes at the Obama Camp
Yes, I have written after that Hillary Memo, hub-bub, that the communications need to be CHANGED and that is happening:
Occasionally, the aggressive push-back of the Clinton and Edwards campaigns -- both of whom have all-hours warroom operations -- has caused Obama to stumble.
Now the Obama campaign wants to better prepare itself for these day-to-day skirmishes.
Democrats familiar with Obama's operation said the campaign is looking to hire several Democrats with press and research experience who would man a 24/7 "warroom" operation.
Also, Dan Pfeiffer, formerly a senior adviser to Tom Daschle and Evan Bayh, has been brought back from the road to oversee the day-to-day communications planning.
Robert Gibbs, Obama's director of communications and one of his closest aides, will spend more time on the road with Obama to hone his message. Gibbs will work with campaign strategist David Axelrod on big-picture strategy and messaging.
June 26, 2007
More Ad Stuff
Republican Sen. Kirk Dillard, State Senator from Illinois making this ad for Obama. The senator is supporting McCain. He stated, "’Certainly I care what Republicans think, but Sen. Obama is a personal friend, someone I worked closely with on issues we’re both proud of. He’s my United States senator and I think his candidacy, whether he wins or loses, is good for Illinois and it’s good for the United States.’" My take on this, so what. Just so what. He did this as a personal favor, because they are friends, so what. And what about Hillary Clinton from Fortune Magazine courting big business and a couple of "Bush Rangers"? So what. So what. If Hillary Clinton want to court big business to cross the line for the nomination, that is on her. These candidates have to cross the line to court votes and donors. So, again for me, so what. And to be honest, we need a president to bring this country together, not drive us apart, as we have been for so long. Obama will do that.
Next, Republican South Carolina, Rep. Bob Inglis, has stated, ""I'm sort of hopeful Hillary is the nominee because I think that's winnable," Inglis told a small crowd Monday. "It's more of a challenge if Obama is the nominee because he has less of a record to defend." Inglis has yet to endorse in the GOP primary. Wow, what does that tell one?
Bringing out "First Time Donors" in Houston
Yes, fundraising time again. Senator Obama was in San Antonio and Houston, Sunday and Monday. Interesting that this was a group of 30 Black Professionals, who never gave to any political candidate, most, and was pretty uninterested until Obama.
Obama's fellow Harvard Law graduates hosted an event for him Monday, capping three private fundraisers in Houston in two days, one of which drew a group of 30-something black professionals.
"This is not my thing," said Sean Roberts, a lawyer who rarely financially supports candidates. "I'm not one of these guys who trolls around political races."
Yet, he held an event at his River Oaks-area condo Sunday night and got his friends and associates to contribute up to $2,300 to meet the Illinois senator in an intimate setting.
"Most of the people who wrote checks to come here have not done this before," said Roberts, 35. "I know, because it hurt them to do it. But he struck a chord with everyone here."
The Monday morning event, hosted by Harvard Law graduates from the class of 1991, was held at the trendy restaurant t'afia, just outside of downtown. The upscale spot, which normally isn't open on Mondays or for breakfast, drew a crowd of 70 or so.
Entry to the event was $1,000. To get a picture with Obama, supporters had to pay $2,300.
"It's a lot of money for anyone to reach in their pocket, particularly at this stage of the game," said David Levy, 40, a host of the event, who has contributed to candidates periodically, but never at this level. "Our event consisted more of people who were first-timers contributing, but are excited about Barack."
Obama is making FAITH a Key Issue
This is a good story. Infusing Senator Obama's electrifying speech to the UCC Congregation, in Harford, CT over the previous weekend. And about the role of Poltics and Religion.
The old adage that politics and religion are not appropriate subjects in polite conversation is only partly true in New Hampshire. While politics is something that can be discussed almost anytime and anywhere, talking about it in church is not something with which most Granite Staters feel comfortable. Although religion plays a large part in people's lives here, regardless of denomination, when it comes to the role of religion in politics, New Hampshire has traditionally been a fairly secular state.
"It's not my impression that voters up here tend to pay a lot of attention to that aspect of a candidate's background," said Dante Scala, professor of politics at the University of New Hampshire. "It may be a factor, it may be something voters wouldn't mind hearing about, but I don't think for most voters it would be the deciding factor."
Reid Cherlin, spokesperson for the New Hampshire Obama for America campaign said these forums were meant to "get the conversation started" amongst people in the faith community who want their politics to more closely reflect their faith. The forum wasn't solely about promoting the Obama campaign, but was more part of the greater conversation the campaign hopes to foster through Obama's Faith-Action-Change initiative. At the first forum, held at the New Hope Baptist Church in Portsmouth, about 40 people from 14 different congregations and 10 different towns came together. It was called a public event but was closed to the media because the participants had said they felt more comfortable talking about religious issues, which can be quite personal, if the press wasn't there, said Cherlin.
I know, what about President George W. Bush, how he wore the "faith button " on his sleeve. But what did he do with it? He used it, twisted words for his own purpose, and in many ways against us. I don't like the role of religion in politics, I strongly believe in the constitution and the seperation of "Church and State". I do expect any sitting President to have a moral compass, one that he uses on a daily basis. We all have one, we all know what is just and what is not. But I don't expect a sitting President to tell the populus "God Told Me to Do It". Really? Did he tell you to go over there and destroy Iraq and put us in a middle of a war of no end in sight? Because if he came to me and said, "God" told me, I would be calling 911, quick, fast and in a hurry. I don't expect Senator Obama, if our nominee, to be one that we will have to call 911 on, anytime soon.
Obama in Tight Race With Thompson/Giuliani reports Rasmussen
Giuliani leads Obama 44% to 41% while Obama leads Thompson 43% to 41%. The survey's margin of sampling error is +/- three percentage points with a 95% level of confidence.
For Obama, the latest numbers are 53% favorable and 37% unfavorable.
And more, polls...Young Voters Favor Obama, Clinton
Democrats Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton are the favored presidential candidates of younger Americans, according to a poll conducted by CBS News, The New York Times and MTV.
Eighteen percent say they're enthusiastic about Obama and 17 percent are enthusiastic about Clinton – far more than say the same about Republicans Rudy Giuliani (4 percent), Mitt Romney (2 percent) and potential candidate Fred Thompson (2 percent).
Strategic Vision Poll for Iowa: Edwards 26, Obama 21, Clinton 20 and Richardson 11
Political Wire got an advance look at a new Strategic Vision (R) poll in Iowa that shows John Edwards continuing to lead the Democratic pack with 26%, followed by Sen. Barack Obama at 21%, Sen. Hillary Clinton at 20% and Gov. Bill Richardson at 11%.
On the Republican side, Mitt Romney still leads his rivals but Fred Thompson jumped to a solid second place and is just six points behind, followed by Rudy Giuliani in third and John McCain falling to fourth place.
Ummm, there have been rumblings on the boards about Ricardson, "makin' a move in Iowa", is it possible??
Is the next President going to be, young enough?
Young people prefer a young president, according to a poll of those from ages 17-to-29 that was conducted by The New York Times and CBS News with MTV. As a group, these young adults say the presidency is an office best occupied by someone (relatively) young — 44 percent of those polled prefer a president in his/her 40’s, 33 percent said 50’s, and 14 percent said the 30’s. Only 5 percent said 60’s and 1 percent said 70’s.
This means Obama, LOCK, McCain, it's over dude, it's over....
And when you Thought you knew...
We all know about the "infamous Obama Girl" video. Naw, I am not puttin' a link up for her, you know how to hit youtube. Well, here comes the next of many "youtube campaign videos, that the campaigns can not control", ta-da...."Tommy Girl". Yes, you read it here. "Tommy Girl", for the Republican Presidential hopeful, Tommy Thompson. Ahhhhhh, what can anyone possibly sing to HIM about? Oh, well, even if you may look like the bottom of someone's SHOE, you just have to be, powerful, influential, celebrity, large "bank account", and all of a sudden you are "fine as wine." Just ask Fred Thompson. Seen his wife lately? Oh, well at least it will get his "name" out there, with the "young", and hopefully some much needed "press", which can or hopefully will roll into dollars, ya dig???
Clinton/Obama: Who threw the better bash?
Fundraisers, again? Yep, this is coming down to the nitty-gritty. It is all about showing up for 20-30 minutes, making a speech and collecting CHECKS. Both candidates were in Chicago, yesterday, for funraisers. This is OBAMA's town, but Clinton was here first, technically. Yes, folks, she was born in Park Ridge, Illinois.
Barack Obama says he has no problem with Hillary Rodham Clinton coming to Chicago to raise campaign cash -- even if her formal dinner Monday night was expected to raise seven times as much as his cocktail party earlier in the evening.
But the South Side Democrat wasn't going to let anyone suggest the senator and former first lady was more qualified to hit the ground running as president than he is.
Now a little, "politicking", I know they were "hot" and "heavy" over at HillaryHub, but c'mon, whining about this?
"The only person who would probably be prepared to be our president on Day 1 would be Bill Clinton -- not Hillary Clinton," Obama said when asked about unnamed Clinton backers questioning Obama's experience.
"I think that we're all very qualified for the job," the freshman senator said. "The question is who can inspire the nation to get us past the politics that have bogged us down in the past. That was true, by the way, in the '90s as well as more recently."
Yep, whining about this. Which is an opinion, asked to the Senator, who give many opinions, on a daily basis. NEXT.
Since our next debate is Thursday, June 28, 2007, on PBS, I found this piece by the moderator Tavis Smiley. He writes about moving healthcare beyond politics. A good read.
June 27, 2007
Well, Obama is not going to be "OUTDONE" during the July 4th week. We all know our beloved former President Bill Clinton is campaigning with Hillary, so what is Obama doing? On a bus trip through IOWA.
On Tuesday, Obama begins a two-day bus tour that winds through Keokuk, Mt. Pleasant, Fairfield, Oskaloosa, Pella and Beaversale. At points, he'll be less than an hour away from the Clintons.
Well, I was scrolling through the web and hit DKos for my mid-day thing with Markos, yeah, that's my thing, anyway I hit up the Most Recent Diaries and came across this: Hillary Clinton Push-ish Polling in Iowa and NH on Edwards and Obama. Well, I thought, "already"? This conversation came up a few weeks ago about some folks up in New Hampshire being asked some "grey area" questions, from the Clinton Camp. It was immediately disspelled, but this, I don't know.
Hillary Rodham Clinton has publicly disdained going negative on fellow Democrats, but her pollster is apparently probing primary opponents' vulnerabilities in calls to voters in New Hampshire and Iowa.
A field office working for Clinton pollster Mark Penn has been testing Democrats' responses to attacks on John Edwards and Barack Obama, according to three voters who say they received calls in recent weeks.
OK, she put it out there, voiced her opinion, told y'all, that she "publicly disdained", going to the darkside, basically. But then it is ok, for her poll pumper to push the polls, riiight, gotcha!!
Iowa voter Jason Eness-Potter told Newsday a pollster called him last month asking if he'd be less or more likely to back Edwards knowing the former senator "proudly promotes himself as a champion of the poor, and yet he went and got a $400 haircut."
Another Democrat told Talking Points Memo, a left-leaning Web site, she had received a similar call.
News of the negative "test" polling comes as Obama and Edwards have stepped up criticism of front-runner Clinton. On Monday, Obama told reporters, "The only person who would probably be prepared to be our president on Day 1 would be Bill Clinton - not Hillary Clinton."
The polling worker asked Eness-Porter if he thought Obama should be elected president despite serving only two years in the Senate. "It was a 40-minute interview," said Eness-Porter. "For the first 35 minutes they asked me basic poll questions and then it turned negative."
A Clinton spokesman declined to comment last night.
Ummm, now we have folks coming forward saying, "wait we have been polled, and it is Hillary's folks"!!! I mean that is what they are pretty much stating here. And as much as Hillary Clinton has total "disdain" for "dirty politics", her spokesman declined to comment. I told you guys, this would not be won by, "tea & crumpets". But is this a "gotcha moment"??
TPMCafe's Greg Sargent located another respondent from Iowa and noted that all three said the call came from a firm called "PSA Interviewing," the telephone call center of the firm of Clinton Pollster, Mark Penn.
This is not the first such story to involve surveys testing negative messages about Clinton's opponents originating from "PSA Interviewing." Similar reports a few months made it into the profile of Penn by The Nation's Ari Melber, including a response from Penn that "the charges were false and that ˜this firm conducts standard political and market research polls...and does not do push polling.'"
So, what the HELL happened? Well, it is called, "walking a very fine line".
It's not a push poll. It's just this side of a fine line between message testing, and a push poll, but it's not a push poll. Now, were it a 30 second to 1 minute call with just negatives, going to tens of thousands of people (ie, not a standard 300-1000 sample size) THAT would be a push poll.
Remember, a "push poll" is not a poll at all but an effort to communicate a message under the guise of legitimate research (more here and here). And let's give due credit to Greg Sargent, Ben Smith and the Iowa Independent's Chase Martyn for avoiding the "push poll" label altogether.
Well, whatever the HELL it was, Clinton need to STOP doing it. Because if you don't?
He spoke to a caller while washing dishes in his Iowa City home, and he said he ended the call after the question about Edwards' haircut.
"I'm pretty much ending support for Hillary altogether here," he recalled telling the caller. "He apologized and said, 'Can we continue with the poll?'" Eness-Potter declined.
you will loose something, called, SUPPORT....
OK, I have finished snapping, now Michelle...
Michelle Obama, in Harlem
Sen. Barack Obama's wife yesterday blasted critics who question her husband's experience - something that Hillary Rodham Clinton's backers have often cited.
"For people who say that Barack Obama is not experienced . . . I can't wrap my head around that," Michelle Obama told hundreds of people crowded into the offices of the nonprofit Our Children's Foundation in Harlem.
"Yes, he's ready to lead," she said. "The question is: Are you ready? . . . Will you move out of fear, or will you move out of possibility?"
AMEN, to that....
Obama to address the College Democrats of America Convention at the University of South Carolina
The Obama campaign announced Wednesday that Sen. Barack Obama is scheduled to address the College Democrats of America Convention at the University of South Carolina on July 26.
Promoters say the College Democrats' convention is a premier national gathering of organizers who know how to get out the vote on college campuses.
"I am looking forward to seeing all the College Democrats in South Carolina," Obama said. "Thousands of young people are getting involved in this campaign because they see it as a powerful way to change our country."
Obama finds it pays to woo small donors
Well, we already know this, because many reading this are supporting the Senator or on the fence. We, are the ones who are the backbone of this candidacy. Period.
Most presidential candidates aren't in Carolyn Zafiriades' price range.
The suburban Chicago travel agency owner can't afford political fundraisers where entry can cost as much as $2,300, the maximum allowed donation for the primary. So, she snapped up tickets to see Democrat Barack Obama at a recent downtown fundraiser that cost only $100.
Obama and other presidential hopefuls are making time to pocket donations at these less-expensive fundraisers that reel in supporters who might give more of their money - and as important - their time in volunteering for a campaign.
Democrat John Edwards' birthday fundraiser in North Carolina cost just $15 a person and the campaign of fellow Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton said she recently held a $20-a-person event. About 1,000 people paid $100 to see Obama earlier this month at a downtown Chicago train station and 2,000 people paid that amount to see him in Florida in April.
For Zafiriades, Obama's Chicago fundraiser was a chance to help her decide between him and Clinton. She'd like the chance to see Clinton in person, too.
"If she comes down in price," Zafiriades said.
Quarter 2, ends June 30th, and the "spin" continues
Presidential candidates in both parties are scrambling to swell their bank accounts before June 30, the end of the second quarter for reporting campaign donations.
Contenders including Democratic Senators Barack Obama of Illinois and Hillary Clinton of New York, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani are all poised to claim that success in the money wars gives them political momentum.
The candidates' ability to meet expectations -- set by campaign-finance experts, political consultants and lawmakers -- has become a test of their potential to stand out in a crowded 2008 field and compete in the expensive early round of primaries and caucuses.
Thus far, the Darwinian money quest has divided the field into three main categories: leaders Obama, Clinton, Romney and Giuliani; laggards such as John McCain and John Edwards; and strivers including Bill Richardson, Chris Dodd and Joe Biden.
Flush With Cash
Obama and Clinton are poised to match or exceed the $25 million-plus each collected in the first quarter. Both will be flush with cash, capable of funding their campaigns in the first six weeks of 2008.
Both have said only that they will raise more than $20 million this quarter and, in an attempt to raise the bar for their competition, suggested that the other will bring in more. Bragging rights will go to the candidate with the most cash.
I will be glad when this money thing is OVER. If there is ANYTHING GOOD out of this, it will be new voters, donors coming over to OUR SIDE, the Democrats.
Obama's Knox Speech Selected for Anthology
Senator Obama's speech is selected to be included the book "Great Speeches by African Americans". The speech selected was delivered at Knox College on June 4, 2005.
The 2005 commencement address at Knox College by U.S. Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) is included in the book, "Great Speeches by African Americans." Published by Dover Publications, the anthology features 20 speeches spanning more than 150 years, including orations by Frederick Douglass, Sojourner Truth, and the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.
"This volume attempts to show, using the voices of our country's greatest and most influential African Americans, how the goal of democracy has been fought for, dreamed of, and brought within our reach," wrote the editor, James Daley.
June 28, 2007
Wow, just WOW!!
By the time you read this we will know how many donors gave, how many people gave. Hopefully, how many "new" people gave, and maybe, the tally of monies raised. I am typing this tidbit at 9:08 AM (CST), and Senator Obama's website (and he has been the first to do this with the "ticker") has: 243,986 Donors, 337,170 Donations. Staggering. And from the AP story, 138,000 NEW DONORS. He doubled his donors from last month. And his target is 250K in donors this quarter. Well, all I can write is this, "somebody is giving to this campaign that are bypassing Hillary Clinton and John Edwards, period." Obama has tapped into the small donor market that many have "bypassed". If Clinton want to keep up she need to be more available, personable, and on it. I don't care how much corporate cash you get, PEOPLE can bypass corporate cash any day. That is a fact.
Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama has improved on his stunning support in the race for campaign cash, raising his total number of donors to nearly 250,000 people in the first six months of the year.
The freshman Illinois senator impressed rivals in the first quarter when he reported 104,000 donors, but he surpassed the mark in the second quarter with 138,000 more opening their wallets, the campaign told The Associated Press.
In Washington on Thursday at a fund-raiser aimed at women,
Michelle Obama said the crowds coming to see Obama show "This is not curiosity, this is a movement."
The Obama campaign estimated that events in the Washington area on Wednesday and Thursday hauled in $1 million for Obama. Michelle Obama quipped that one of her daughters calls the Secret Service personnel assigned to Obama "Secret people."
Obama at Essence Fest
U.S. Senator Barack Obama has confirmed an appearance at the 13th Annual Essence Music Festival in New Orleans on Thursday, July 5, 2007, it was announced today by Essence Communications, Inc. The Democratic presidential candidate will address the nation's largest annual gathering of African-Americans celebrating Black music and culture at the Festival's opening night concert in the Louisiana Superdome.
After being displaced to Houston in 2006 due to the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, the 13th Annual Essence Music Festival will celebrate its homecoming to New Orleans this July 5, 6, and 7 with the biggest names in entertainment and the country's most dynamic speakers, authors and leaders. In addition, the renowned "Party with a Purpose" has partnered with the Children's Defense Fund (CDF) to support education. A portion of all concert ticket proceeds will benefit the CDF Freedom Schools in New Orleans.
"We are delighted to welcome Senator Obama to the Essence Music Festival main stage Thursday night, July 5th, to address an audience of tens of thousands African-Americans from all over the country," said Michelle Ebanks, President, Essence Communications, Inc. "I am certain that our Festival-goers, who are 'Coming Home' to celebrate our culture and help support the children of New Orleans, will look to Senator Obama to provide insight and inspiration within the context of observing America's Independence Day."
"The presence of Senator Obama in the Superdome on opening night will have a tremendous impact on New Orleans and is sure to put joy and much-needed hope into the hearts of the people," added ESSENCE Editorial Director Susan L. Taylor.
Barack Obama Launches Online Presence on Eons.com, Nation's Largest Boomer-Focused Online Community
Barack Obama's presence on Eons.com will leverage the power of social networks and user-generated content to connect with 50-plus Americans in a way that embraces the newest and potentially most influential political medium on the planet, the Internet. With the largest community of politically vocal and mobilized boomers on the Web, Eons is an ideal domain to host a discussion between Barack Obama and boomer voters.
Jeff Taylor, founder and CEO of Eons, said, "Eons members are using discussion communities and blogs as they add Web 2.0 to their activism, whether it's to recruit marchers to a 'Walk for Obama' rally or to discuss Hillary Clinton's candidacy or add context to the latest news out of the Rudy Giuliani and Mitt Romney camps. The Eons generation is loud and proud when it comes to politics, and the discussion is only going to get hotter."
Barack Obama's member profile has been created at Eons.com (visit http://www.eons.com/... ), including posting a LifeDream(TM) of serving as president of the United States. It also links to Obama's LifeMap(TM), which chronicles his life from his birth in 1961 through an educational career culminating with a law degree from Harvard Law School and a political career that has taken him to the U.S. Senate. Obama's profile and LifeMap also offer a glimpse at less well-known milestones, including his Grammy Award for best spoken-word album for his 2005 album, "Dreams from my Father."
LACONIA, NH, Obama is coming to YOU!! July 2, 2007!!!
Lakes Region residents will get a chance to be up close and personal with one of the front-running Democratic presidential hopefuls on Monday when Sen. Barack Obama rolls into Laconia for a "Meet the Candidate" event that will kick off the second half of his 2007 campaign.
The senator from Illinois will appear in Rotary Riverside Park (near the Belknap Mill) at approximately 12 noon for his first appearance in Belknap County, thus completing a tour that will have seen him visiting all of the counties in the Granite State.
Obama Does Not Favor Impeachment for BUSH
U.S. Sen. Barack Obama says he doesn't favor impeachment proceedings for President George W. Bush and Vice President Cheney.
Obama made that comment Thursday in response to a question asked at a meeting in Washington with his Illinois constituents.
The Illinois Democrat said he's distressed by the Bush administration's ethical standards and secrecy. But the presidential hopeful says impeachment should be reserved for "grave" breaches of the president's authority.
Senator Barack Obama's Response to the Supreme Court Ruling on Diversity
June 29, 2007
Debate Showcases Clinton, Obama Rivalry
Yes, it was debate time last night on PBS, though it was more like a forum or discussion. Anyway, my impressions were this, they were GOOD. Clinton got big ups for the remark about HIV/AIDS, "If HIV-AIDS were the leading cause of death of white women between the ages of 25 and 34 there would be an outraged, outcry in this country,". Yes, they would. Obama's response on the Justice system and how it should be for "everybody" and not JUST US. Yes, that resonated with the African American community. And his statement about the African American community unwillingness to to talk about HIV/AIDS, "One of the things we've got to overcome is a stigma that still exists in our communities," he said. "We don't talk about this. We don't talk about it in the schools, sometimes we don't talk about it in the churches. It has been an aspect of, sometimes, our homophobia that we don't address this issue as clearly as it needs to be." This is still, unfortunately, very true. Overall, not a debate, but more of a conversation of one's idea. And thanks to Tavis Smiley for the format and addressing issues concerning African Americans in this country. Transcript of the debate.
Grading the Debate Candidates, Obama, A-
Quarter Two, Cash Race
Well, today is June 29th as I am typing, 1:21PM (CST) and Senator Barack Obama has smashed the 250K donor mark and has had 252,913 individuals so far, to commit to his campaign. He now is in the race to get 350K donations to his campaign and thus far, 346,580. Looks like he just may break the 350K mark of donations. And the Clinton Camp, has succeded that Obama has outraised them. Well, until I see official numbers, this is still a horse race to me. And after the hub-bub and release of names to campaigns comes this:
After this two-week period, each campaign will begin the detailed work of examining the line-by-line contributions and expenditures in their opponents' reports. On the contribution side, they will be looking for donations from questionable figures - for example, subjects of criminal inquiries, executives of anti-union construction firms, CEOs who laid off large numbers of workers, donors who have made racist or anti-Semitic remarks, and so forth.
Wow, isn't this just lovely????
Interesting article on the Real Clear Politics website. It is about strategy, and that a crumbling John Edwards Campaign is bad news for Clinton. This is just an article and opinion, which is dubious depending on who is debating, but it is an interesting read.
Back in January when Barack Obama officially announced his presidential exploratory committee, I suggested it was "bad news for John Edwards, which in turn is good news for Hillary Clinton."
On the surface the Democratic race has remained rather static over the last three months - at least as far as the horserace numbers between Clinton and Obama. But not enough attention has been paid to Edwards' crumbling campaign and its consequences on the Democratic contest.
So while the national horserace numbers between Clinton and Obama have remained unchanged during the last quarter, Edwards' implosion has strategically weakened Senator Clinton's hold on the nomination. The Clinton campaign wants to neutralize Edwards and to limit the odds of him breaking out with an early win in Iowa. But they don't want to see Edwards' campaign totally implode and allow the anti-Hillary forces to rally behind an increasingly powerful Senator Obama.
With the second quarter fundraising numbers due out over the next week and with the rumblings that the Obama campaign is poised to release a monster haul, the potential elimination of Edwards as a serious candidate, coupled with the Obama campaign's ability to not only compete with, but to beat, the vaunted Clinton machine, could be the catalyst that allows Obama to consolidate his position as the sole anti-Hillary candidate. He would then be in a very strong position to tighten those horserace numbers both nationally and in the key early states over the next quarter as we head into the fall.
All I can write is we will see. I think the Edwards campaign is stronger than what is written, but we will see.
Barack Obama, Richard Lugar Secure Funding for Implementation of Nonproliferation Law
Clinton, Edwards, Obama: Taking A Stand on High End Taxes?
3,000 Strong, Obama packs 'em in Minneapolis
Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama padded his campaign fundraising numbers Friday with small-and-big buck events, telling one overflow crowd he'd champion an energy revolution on the homefront and improve America's foreign reputation as president.
Organizers estimated 3,000 people paid between $15 and $25 for rally at a warehouse-turned-office building and they were counting on a couple hundred at a private reception for larger donors.
From Mason/Dixon Polling, 60% would consider voting for Obama, 40% will not
On the question of electability, Mason-Dixon phrased the question this way:
I am going to read that list of names again. This time, I want you to assume that person is the 2008 presidential nominee of their political party. Please tell me if, today, you would or would not consider voting for them as the next President of the United States.
"Would" means that you would at least consider voting for that candidate depending upon circumstances, while "Would not" means that you would not vote for them under any circumstances.
The results were as follows:
Would/Would Not
Giuliani 64/36 (+28)
Thompson 62/38 (+24)
Bloomberg 61/39 (+22)
Obama 60/40 (+20)
Edwards 59/41 (+18)
McCain 58/42 (+16)
Biden 57/43 (+14)
Richardson 57/43 (+14)
Huckabee 56/44 (+12)
Romney 54/46 (+8)
Clinton 48/52 (-4)
More Q2 rumors...
The memo to the press....indicating they raised between 20-27M, but finally, this...
Let's also stipulate that, while many in the press, including, occasionally, this here column, wonder whether the excitement that greeted Obama's entrance into the race has fizzled, the size and direction of his 2nd quarter haul gives one a reason to pause and review the physics of this race.
An analysis of the Clinton Memo released about fundraising. read this....
June 30, 2007
Senator Barack Obama may spend the 4th of July with the Iowa Cubs.
Barack Obama, a candidate for the Democratic nomination for president, is expected to celebrate the Fourth of July with the Iowa Cubs.
Jim Nahas, vice president and assistant general manager for the Cubs, said the Obama campaign purchased 500 tickets for the 7 p.m. game against New Orleans.
Join 'Conversation' With Barack Obama
Presidential candidate Barack Obama shared his views on the war in Iraq, health care and global warming with an audience of New Hampshire voters.
Obama answered questions in "Conversation with the Candidate," an ongoing series produced by WMUR-TV in New Hampshire in which the candidates for president discuss issues on the minds of voters.
OK, 11:00 AM (CST) and Senator Barack Obama has smashed the 350K ceiling of donations. As of now, 350,603 donations and 256,756 donors. Spectacular, outstanding, WTF, and all that. We all know that raising monies in campaigns is 50% of a campaign. Can not do one without the other. And the other side? Read this.
Citizen Ad for Obama '08
July 1, 2007
Former Senate Majority Leader, Tom Daschle Backs Obama
Daschle says "I'm backin' Obama because I believe strongly we need someone with real integrity and he's got it because I agree with him on the issues on Iraq, on health-care, on education, on climate change, and because I think he can inspire the next generation. He's already shown me he can do that and we need that more than anything right now."
Obama can't take blacks for granted
It's time for Sen. Barack Obama to define his message to African Americans if he hopes to tighten his grip on the black vote.
And trust me, he needs to tighten it.
I agree with this piece. Though he has made inroads with African Americans, he must tighten it. Right now this community is split 50/50 between Clinton and Obama. For Obama to take this nomination he has to have the African American Community, soundly behind him, period.
Obama trails in name recognition
Sen. Barack Obama, despite two best-selling books, heavy press coverage and a slight fundraising edge, is still lagging behind his 2008 rivals Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and John Edwards in name recognition.
Which is his battle and why it was important to release the ads in Iowa and the direct mail pieces sent throughout Iowa. Edwards has been campaigning in Iowa since 2005 and everyone knows the Clinton name. Now this is the time for the campaign to distinguish Obama, from the rest. Who he is and what he is about. Fall is going to be interesting, indeed.
Well, it is 9:01 AM (CST) and Q2 is over. On Senator Obama's website it reads 257,902 people, 351,792 donations. All I can type is "who would have thought", yes, who would have? A junior upstart senator, just makes you shake your head. Anyway, people are turned on out there, for whatever reasons, they are turned on. And in the end, this is all good for Democrats. A very interesting cycle is about to begin. Quarter Three. Yes, this is about still raising monies, but more importantly about framing/honing your message and showing distinct differences between you and your opponents. This is what the next step should be. Look for Obama to do just that. Big ups, kudos, congrats to the Obama Campaign, and now move to the next level. Update [2007-7-1 15:16:47 by icebergslim]: Obama raised 32.5, Total, with over 258,000 donors. The race is on!!!!!
Check out this interesting link, supporting Obama.
Finally, I read a great diary about Barack Obama by lovingj on mydd. If you want to know what this "movement" is about, read the diary.
What Obama's Numbers Mean
The photo below is a reminder of what this campaign is all about, US.
alright, have a great week, don't beat each other up to badly on the boards, and remember to focus on Obama, and not the Drama...