Breaking: Obama to Unveil "Massive" 50-State Voter Registration Drive

Very, very big news via The Page, we find out that Obama is planning a "massive" 50-state voter registration drive:

Sen. Barack Obama's presidential campaign is planning to unveil a "massive" voter registration drive, one that will reach all 50 states and seeks to boost confidence in him as a potential general election candidate.

Very smart response to the concerns that are out there, a tangible way to prove he can expand the map, and a way to use his funds to improve the position of Democrats in all states.  This is what we always knew, Obama is the true 50-state candidate.  

By capitalizing on his popularity and huge fundraising advantage, Obama can prove to super delegates just why he is far and away the strongest candidate in the fall.  Many of them are located in states who would clearly benefit from this registration drive - I'm sure they're taking notice.

Also, a move like this is clearly something that Hillary Clinton could never, ever pull off (she has already poo-poo'ed efforts beyond the traditional states).  And could McCain ever pull something like this off?  Only Obama could.

Thank you all for recommending my diary yesterday about a dissenting opinion about what's happening with Obama.  In my prescription for what he should do, I never thought of something like this.

I could be wrong, but this is pretty big.

•  Tips for the 50-state strategy - literally

  Could Clinton expand the map this way?  Hell, could McCain even hope to compete with this?

  by dansac on Fri Apr 25, 2008 at 06:44:50 AM PDT

  •  It 's a brilliant strategy.

    This will involve atleast +10% than the normal percentage of the populace.

    by soms on Fri Apr 25, 2008 at 06:47:33 AM PDT

    •  You...

      Took the word right out of my mouth.

      Brilliant.

      We have all been waiting to see what the first swing would be after the damaging Moyers clips.

      This is a home-run.

      by Rian Fike on Fri Apr 25, 2008 at 06:51:00 AM PDT

      •  Obama, the General Election, and "Republican"

        States, a diary posted recently:
        http://www.dailykos.com/...

        It gives a very comprehensive account of our possibilities to change the map. Check it out if you haven't already.

        by Fairy Tale on Fri Apr 25, 2008 at 06:55:34 AM PDT

        •  Howard Dean campaign 2.0

          This is a great idea, and long, long overdue.

          Imagine all that this will mean...it will cement the importance of a 50 state strategy, it will validate the triumph of grass roots Democrats over the DLC, and it will provide long term gains in congress which will allow Obama to actually get shit done.  

          This has the potential to be a tectonic shift in US politics.

          The man is brilliant.  I'm fired up!!!!

          by leftyboy666 on Fri Apr 25, 2008 at 07:48:44 AM PDT

          •  Plus It Recalls his Chicago Roots

            and the very successful Voter Registration campaign that first propelled him into Politics---absolutely brilliant!!!

            by serrano on Fri Apr 25, 2008 at 07:55:46 AM PDT

            •  I got a call yesterday from the Texas HQ

              The first big push will be May 10th, at least in Houston.  they're contacting the active precinct captains now to round up volunteers (i.e. convention delegates) to go out and do this.  

              Should be fun.  I'll be sure to report more as I hear it.

              by Steven R on Fri Apr 25, 2008 at 07:58:47 AM PDT

              •  Yes some more info on how we can

                get involved would be great!

                by oscarsmom on Fri Apr 25, 2008 at 08:07:32 AM PDT

                •  search my.barackobama.com for events

                  in a diary yesterday, a Kossack talked about this registration effort.

                  http://www.dailykos.com/...

                  Femlaw suggested that people search http://my.barackobama.com/... for events in their area... if you do an advanced search, you can limit the dates to around May 10th and even specify what types of events you want displayed (i'd try and advanced search for "organizing" events and "voter registration" events.)  If there's nothing in your area, then i guess contact your SOS and get a stack of registration forms, then go setup a table at a major public place (ideally where young people will be)

                  by distraught on Fri Apr 25, 2008 at 08:20:40 AM PDT

                •  The gates are starting to crumble... nt

                  by Clive all hat no horse Rodeo on Fri Apr 25, 2008 at 08:24:14 AM PDT

                •  got a website?

                  You can set up the voter registration widget from CREDO (Working Assets) and Rock the Vote...they're nonpartisan, but that doesn't mean you can't use their tool to help Senator Obama out.  

                  (I have it installed on www.awolbush.com -- was very easy to put up, just a matter of copying some code.)

                  by willy mugobeer on Fri Apr 25, 2008 at 08:41:51 AM PDT

                  •  This is PERFECT

                    for this lull period between the individual primaries and the full-on commencement of the GE.  Terrific way to utilize all of us fired-up folk all across America in THE CAUSE!!!  Yes, We Can!!!

                    I would also suggest a major target in Latino Communities and in poor white rural areas, both to address weak areas for Barack, and because it's right.  RFK redux, tip o' the hat to Jesse Jackson, Sr....

                    by serrano on Fri Apr 25, 2008 at 09:21:10 AM PDT

          •  It is a revoultion of Democratic proportions.

            by abarefootboy on Fri Apr 25, 2008 at 09:01:06 AM PDT

          •  This will validate Obama as the best candidate,

            but also validate Dean's 50-state strategy and chairmanship of the DNC. Much of this race is really for the soul of the Democratic party, with Obama representing the progressive wing, while Clinton represents the DLC.

            This truly is a brilliant strategy!

            by Wordie on Fri Apr 25, 2008 at 11:08:54 AM PDT

          •  This is Howard Dean's Strategy....

            ....and Barack Obama is simply carrying out what Howard Dean advocated when he became our new DNC Chair. I specifically remember Dean advocating the 50-State Strategy when he campaigned for and became our new DNC Chair in 2005. Dean carefully explained how this ridiculous "Big State" strategy was erroneous and greatly contributed to Gore's and Kerry's defeat (or rather, made the 2000 election close enough for the Republicans to steal when it never had to be that close). If you write off three quarters of the country (like Gore and Kerry did) and only concentrate on certain "Big States" to achieve that magic number of electoral votes in the electoral college; then if you don't have any cushion if you don't quite win every "Big State" mapped out in your plan and you are consequently, sunk.

            Again, this is what largely happened to Gore and to Kerry. They wrote of the entire South and Heartland but only concentrated on certain "Big States" like Ohio. And look where this got them? To Bill Clinton's credit, he campaigned hard in the South and won four sourthern states twice. Gore and Kerry lost the entire south because they didn't even bother showing up to meet people. Howard Dean specifically said that "...if you want people to vote for you, you have to show up". Hello! This is the foundation for Dean's and Obama's 50-State Strategy. Unfortunately, Hillary (unlike Bill's campaigns) is sticking with this proven losing strategy of concentrating on the "Big State" strategy.

            I APPLAUD YOU OBAMA, FOR EMPLOYING DEAN'S 50-STATE WINNING STRATEGY. I WILL GO TO MY GRAVE BELIEVING THAT THIS IS WHAT HANDED THE DEMOCRATS BOTH HOUSES OF CONGRESS IN 2006.  

            To me, an Obama victory is also a victory for Howard Dean. Keep it up!!!! We've got your back.

            by VirginiaBlue on Fri Apr 25, 2008 at 11:42:14 AM PDT

        •  thanks for linking to my diary

          I posted it at a bad time and it got few views. But it contains some handy info that is directly related to the 50-state strategy.

          There is also this diary of mine, which discusses which two-state combinations could win Obama the Presidency if he fails to win Ohio and Florida. Not that I'm predicting he loses Ohio and/or Florida, but it shows yet again how he's truly expanding the map.

          by ghostman on Fri Apr 25, 2008 at 08:35:21 AM PDT

          •  Welcome, you did a great job

            I will check your other diary as well. It would be great if you write more about the topic, it is as important as can be.

            by Fairy Tale on Fri Apr 25, 2008 at 08:44:04 AM PDT

          •  Two things which would make that diary better:

            Add percentages for the difference in registration

            and

            Add percentages for any kind of past performance - 2000, 2004, or PVI.

            That gives you "at a glance" which pairs might be the most likely.

            -7.75 -4.67

            "Freedom's just another word for nothing left to lose."

            by Odysseus on Fri Apr 25, 2008 at 03:32:07 PM PDT

    •  Agreed, a brilliant idea.

      Obama has the money to do this and he has to spend it on something, while Hillary and McCain are relatively broke.

      The 50-state aspect of this plan is critical; it will be the red state Dem superdelegates who will put Obama over the top, because they know that a Hillary-headed ticket in a red state is a ticket to disaster for the red state Dem local downticket candidates.

      by BonzoDogBand on Fri Apr 25, 2008 at 07:41:54 AM PDT

      •  50 state strategy unites the party

        and gives us a better chance to compete all over the electoral map.

        I think the superdelegates now have the cover they need to come out and end this primary once and for all.

        by GoogleBonhoeffer on Fri Apr 25, 2008 at 07:46:17 AM PDT

        •  He Stole Kos' Idea

          Of Run up the vote everywhere.

          The shame of this Obama guy.

          Next thing cable news will be blasting it everywhere that Obama stole Kos' Idea and Dean's 50 state strategy.

          The nerve.

          I think I am getting bitter.

          Where is my gun when I need it.

          Oh never mind I am just going to start clinging to God.

          by NCJim on Fri Apr 25, 2008 at 08:46:09 AM PDT

      •  The money angle ...

        This is a great way for Obama to spend his money now with a plan to reap for the general election.

        I don't know if there are any restrictions on transferring money from the primary to the general, but if Obama wants to accept public funding in the general per his earlier promise, then this is a way to commit money into the process earlier, while being constrained post-convention.

        by Bronxist on Fri Apr 25, 2008 at 08:26:28 AM PDT

        •  EXACTLY nt

          by bldr on Fri Apr 25, 2008 at 08:51:48 AM PDT

        •  he is not spending money

          this is volunteer driven

          by BlackBox on Fri Apr 25, 2008 at 10:54:31 AM PDT

          •  From the story ...

            "Very smart response to the concerns that are out there, a tangible way to prove he can expand the map, and a way to use his funds to improve the position of Democrats in all states."

            by Bronxist on Fri Apr 25, 2008 at 11:05:29 AM PDT

            •  Love that! n/t

              by missLotus on Fri Apr 25, 2008 at 11:59:39 AM PDT

            •  Hum...

              looks just like his run for the Senate in '04. I think he started campaigning and raising money for others before he won his Senate seat, because he was so far ahead.

              He's something else, this guy. He is Dean 2.0, but he has a better sense of timing. The Dean campaign got too caught up in an early national campaign too early, and lost Iowa as a result.

              Obama waited until he had Hillary on the ropes and reeling.

              by PLS on Fri Apr 25, 2008 at 04:36:21 PM PDT

        •  Not so sure

          he "promised" to accept public finance. I believe he said he would meet with McCain and discuss the influence of special interests in campaigns and find ways to reduce that influence. Something like that.

          He called the public finance program "creaky".

          by Batbird on Sat Apr 26, 2008 at 06:10:07 AM PDT

      •  Insightful comment BonzoDogBand.

        I was aware of the dynamic at play in red states .. but to read your comment .. ' watered it in ' .. so to speak.

        One of the truly transformational aspects of communion here on Kos Mountain is the enlargement of vision that occurs when we share... and thereby .. our purpose, direction and dreams become unified for the benefit of all.

        by abarefootboy on Fri Apr 25, 2008 at 09:05:51 AM PDT

    •  And it will do what

      thereisnospoon was talking about yesterday, re: locking in the youth/X-er vote for Dems for a generation.

      Obama is smrt.

      by kismet on Fri Apr 25, 2008 at 07:56:14 AM PDT

    •  Yes

      This is clearly his answer to the media focus and slight activist depression over the racist voters they encountered in Ohio and Pennsylvania saying point-blank "I'm not voting for a n-----."

      However will he win without those voters?

      Well, he'll bring in new ones.

      Besides the fact that it's good for the party overall and will probably please superdelegates, this is a great way to keep his activists fired up and doing something productive that will lead to his victory, instead of just chewing their nails to the quick and calling the same undecided voters in Indiana 270 times.

      by tjekanefir on Fri Apr 25, 2008 at 08:11:07 AM PDT

      •  Oddly enough...

        ....I know some mild-to-moderately racist white people who are supporting Obama, even at least one person who has dropped the N-bomb a few times.

        by metal prophet on Sat Apr 26, 2008 at 04:58:51 AM PDT

    •  He is a brilliant human

      that's for sure.

      Like most kossacks, I am an Obama fan.  But I can't imagine even people who dislike him not conceding that he is extremely smart

      by plf515 on Fri Apr 25, 2008 at 09:03:54 AM PDT

      •  Obama has been saying this since college

        Why do you think he was involved with GOTV activities after law school?

        Obama understands that the only way for people to change the system is to be engaged.

        That requires a vote.

        by TheOpinionGuy on Fri Apr 25, 2008 at 10:27:19 AM PDT

    •  Count me in! I'll register turn I turn blue

      or turn the country blue! :)

      by newyorknewyork on Fri Apr 25, 2008 at 11:10:02 AM PDT

      •  I just signed up and waiting for my call

        I have wanted to do this for a long time and I love the fact that Obama is offering the opportunity.

        by mouser68 on Fri Apr 25, 2008 at 05:38:46 PM PDT

    •  very brilliant

      Voter Registration his strength, his roots, patriotic.

      by kansasgal on Fri Apr 25, 2008 at 04:40:12 PM PDT

    •  Plus he reframes the race. Hillary who?

      It's about November now.

      by aufklaerer on Fri Apr 25, 2008 at 05:43:33 PM PDT

  •  About f'ing time they announced this.

    Anyone who knew his history saw this coming.

    We will fight in every state and every city, every town and every village, on every campus, in every church and in every community center, on every street  and in every house, for every vote.

    by Kab ibn al Ashraf on Fri Apr 25, 2008 at 06:51:34 AM PDT

    •  You forgot the last line

      We will never surrender.

      by oxfdblue on Fri Apr 25, 2008 at 06:54:50 AM PDT

      •  Hee hee, Kab is channeling Winston Churchill!

        by BonzoDogBand on Fri Apr 25, 2008 at 07:43:59 AM PDT

        •  Indeed

          And damn it... I messed it up.

          It should be "We shall never surrender."

          As someone with almost two dozen books on Sir Winston, I should have caught my error.

          :)

          by oxfdblue on Fri Apr 25, 2008 at 07:45:30 AM PDT

    •  Your sig is somehow perfectly fitting

      for that particular comment.

      by dawnt on Fri Apr 25, 2008 at 07:13:18 AM PDT

    •  When Obama says...

      We are going to remake this country block by block, county by county, precinct by precinct, state by state...

      That's what he means.  That's exactly what he means.

      It isn't just "hope and change" (though that's nice, too) it's a fundamental difference in how the Democratic Party has been run up to this point.

      You want to remake this party, you do it yourself.  You don't wait for somebody else to do it, and you don't wait for it to happen on its own.

      by DemocraticOz on Fri Apr 25, 2008 at 07:18:46 AM PDT

      •  Ahmen.

        You know my heart and mind.

        by koNko on Fri Apr 25, 2008 at 08:02:02 AM PDT

        •  and Ha-le-LUJAH! n/t

          by sap on Fri Apr 25, 2008 at 09:58:12 AM PDT

    •  Silver lining to primary battle

      The voter registration drives in every state, the campaign offices and grass-roots networks in every state, the campaign stops in every state, etc.

      I think there may be more up-side to this than many of us think.

      And don't forget the impact this all has on House and Senate races.  I think esitmates of 53-57 seats in the Senate may be low.

      by ccyd on Fri Apr 25, 2008 at 07:31:23 AM PDT

      •  Every person that gets involved

        cements a vote for him. Every person registered is gravy.

        by Overseas on Fri Apr 25, 2008 at 07:58:35 AM PDT

        •  Remember high turnout is the enemy of Republicans

          by DefendOurConstitution on Fri Apr 25, 2008 at 08:40:44 AM PDT

          •  I read somewhere that

            there were some 66 million unregistered voters in the country.

            He could add 5 or 6 million votes on election day.  And with the displeasure in this country, he could very well slaughter McCain in November.

            John McCain may need a wheelchair after this election.

            by Ex Real Republican on Fri Apr 25, 2008 at 11:56:06 AM PDT

            •  wait..

              you mean he doesn't use one already?

              ;-)

              by gnwmann on Fri Apr 25, 2008 at 07:21:13 PM PDT

    •  In every house

      I won my Dad over from Edwards, and now he's fiercely for Obama.

      by iowabosox on Fri Apr 25, 2008 at 07:39:23 AM PDT

      •  And my dad won me over

        for Obama. I was lukewarm until I saw my apolitical father energized and wanting to caucus!

        by Eddie in ME on Fri Apr 25, 2008 at 07:58:55 AM PDT

    •  A classic...

      by Clive all hat no horse Rodeo on Fri Apr 25, 2008 at 08:31:28 AM PDT

      •  A classic tune

        Never saw the video for it before, though, thanks.  If you dig Maiden, check us out: www.suicide-dream.com

        by ShadowSD on Fri Apr 25, 2008 at 08:47:36 AM PDT

        •  Yep. Really nice :) Thanks for that. The site

          looks good too. Did you get anywhere with lables sniffing around? Or are you gonna stay indy?

          by Clive all hat no horse Rodeo on Fri Apr 25, 2008 at 09:19:33 AM PDT

          •  Actually we're unsigned

            We got some indie deals offered to us, but we wanted to shop around for a major label and not have our options tied up.  Before we sent anything out though, our singer took a hiatus; she returned a few months ago, and now we're writing some new material in order to put together a new demo.

            Thanks for listening, always love to hear feedback.

            by ShadowSD on Fri Apr 25, 2008 at 11:11:19 AM PDT

      •  One of my favorite songs

        From one of my favorite albums, Powerslave. Well, it's right up there with the title track and Rime of the Ancient Mariner.

        by metal prophet on Sat Apr 26, 2008 at 05:05:55 AM PDT

  •  Ya, I heard that in his speech on Thursday.

    by notquitedelilah on Fri Apr 25, 2008 at 06:54:49 AM PDT

  •  He all ready has been doing this

    during his entire campaign. Who do you think increased the number of democratic voters in this election. It sure wasn't Hillary.

    He went into states like Alaska. He does not intend to cede one state.

    He raised the money and spent it wisely, and in the process helped the party not just himself.  That is one of the reasons he spent so much in PA, for the GE as well as the primary.

    Hillary has not done one damn thing to help or expand the party.

    by ronnied on Fri Apr 25, 2008 at 07:23:32 AM PDT

    •  "Hillary has not done one damn thing..."

      Except you have to admit, by being a worthy opponent, Clinton has strengthened Obama's groundwork in the States.  That's the silver lining. Not sure it offsets the damage she does by staying in, but it offers some measurable good for an otherwise bad situation.

      by Bugsby on Fri Apr 25, 2008 at 09:30:42 AM PDT

  •  Suggested update

    Include a link to Femlaw's excellent diary from yesterday which described the plan in more detail from the perspective of a participant:

    http://www.dailykos.com/...

    by sab39 on Fri Apr 25, 2008 at 07:41:37 AM PDT

  •  One of the 50

    is Texas. Obama Dallas will sponsor our first voter registration drive on May 10th. Interested parties in and around the Dallas area can become involved at Obama Dallas at MyBO.

    by Leno on Fri Apr 25, 2008 at 07:44:44 AM PDT

  •  Really your previous diary.

    Once again, someone proves that Obama supporters just don't fit the stereotype of blind cultists. :)

    by plum on Fri Apr 25, 2008 at 08:30:59 AM PDT

    •  Thanks plum!

      I don't even like Kool-Aid

      by dansac on Fri Apr 25, 2008 at 08:45:34 AM PDT

  •  Yes, indeedy! Very exciting.