Despite our loss last night in Ohio, Cincinnati delivered for Obama! We had the highest percentage in the state for Obama. Also, Dayton, Columbus and Cleveland all went Obama. What is striking is just how many rural counties there are and how substantial the percentages are, yet how few the votes!
The road ahead is long (I feel like singing a spiritual!). But we have come a long way and it is far from over. Barack's speech in San Antonio last night was of the spirit and nature I've come to expect from this campaign - positive, respectful, issues-driven, calm, direct. This morning, Barack sent this email to my in-box:
Julie --Hillary's attacks worked, in my opinion. She went negative and fear-based, allowed for doubt to be cast about Obama's faith on 60 Minutes, sustained misinformation about Obama and Canada's NAFTA conversations and used sleeping children as a ploy to evoke votes. (And she says she's about the issues...)
We may not know the final outcome of today's voting until morning, but the results so far make one thing clear.
When the dust settles from today's contests, we will maintain our substantial lead in delegates. And thanks to millions of people standing for change, we will keep adding delegates and capture the Democratic nomination.
We knew from the day we began this journey that the road would be long. And we knew what we were up against.
We knew that the closer we got to the change we seek, the more we'd see of the politics we're trying to end -- the attacks and distortions that try to distract us from the issues that matter to people's lives, the stunts and the tactics that ask us to fear instead of hope.
But this time -- this year -- it will not work. The challenges are too great. The stakes are too high.
Americans need real change.
In the coming weeks, we will begin a great debate about the future of this country with a man who has served it bravely and loves it dearly. And we will offer two very different visions of the America we see in the twenty-first century.
John McCain has already dismissed our call for change as eloquent but empty.
But he should know that it's a call that did not begin with my words. It's the resounding call from every corner of this country, from first-time voters and lifelong cynics, from Democrats and Republicans alike.
And together you and I are going to grow this movement to deliver that change in November.
Thank you,
Barack
Every single Obama ad that I saw (and believe me, they were on every ten minutes this weekend) focused on a single issue, well-articulated, clearly outlined. He never went low, didn't attack Hillary, stayed on message. The whole campaign constantly reminds us to stay on message, to stay above the fray of negative campaigning. Even on our list which is still recovering from the losses last night, there is respectful conversation and avoidance of bashing any other candidate.
I'm so weary of this constant need to play on the emotions of our electorate. It is time for a real change and Obama is the face of that change.
Last night while I sat with the Cincinnati team and friends at the Cadillac Ranch for the primary party, three of our table mates received free drinks from a couple of businessmen at the table next to us. All of them were African Americans. We discussed why we, white folk, were supporting Obama. As I got up to leave, one of the drink-senders stood and literally bowed in my direction, "Thank you so much for supporting Senator Obama. You have no idea. No idea what this means. Thank YOU."
I imagine that the entire world will have that response if Senator Obama wins the nomination and then the election (as I expect him to). We have no idea... only a glimpse of what it could be like for the face of America to change in both appearance and substance.
Yes. We. Can.
Obama 08
6 comments:
OK, so just this morning I changed my registration status from R to D ...never really thinking that Pennsylvania might play a role in a presendential primary election. Hillary already has the endorsement of a very popular and outspoken governor (Ed Rendell)...it will be an uphill battle. Still, there is much time for things to happen. PA's primary isn't until April 22nd. The political landscape in PA (as James Carville once noted) is Philadelphia and Pittsburgh...with Alabama in between. I don't particularly care for James Carville but I think his assessment was spot on so it will be an interesting race here to see how it develops.
I will be getting in touch with the Obama campaign to see where I might be able to help.
O's campaign has made me hope again that there really can be change that begins at the highest level. I haven't felt that for a long time.
R. Michael
The losses last night sting. Once again I'm reminded of one of the reasons I don't like Ohio. Hillary's fear and prejudice campaign worked here. Obama stayed on message and lost. He was gaining ground until Hillary went negative. Once again, we see that negative campaigning works. One of the things I like about Barack is he runs a campaign the way I think I would run a campaign. I'm still hopeful it'll actually work. But, it's much more difficult to win votes in this country based on hope and vision than based on fear. Just look back at the last several presidential elections. This campaign is more than just about Obama and Clinton, it's a study in how Americans respond to campaign strategies. I am almost as disappointed about the fact that once again we went for the fear and negative campaigns as I am that the battle for the Democratic nominee has to continue.
I think Pennsylvania will be tough. We need to figure out how we can get the average Joe Lunchbox to stop believing the whisper campaigns against Barack. Surprising numbers of people still question his religion, his commitment to America versus Africa and his patriotism (because it's been reported he won't say the Pledge of Allegiance). He may have to spend time on that on his next series of ads rather than what he can do for the country. Deep sigh...
Peace,
Brian
Does anyone want to send a virtual hug my way? I'm feeling a little low today but I'm so glad my city stood for change. Thanks, everyone, for working so hard to make it happen.
Brian, I agree. That's my disappointment - that negative campaigning is working. I am in awe (shock?) that the Democrats all talk openly about the Clinton "kitchen sink" strategy, about how ruthless they are, about how negative they can go and yet continue to support them!
How does that work?
R. Michael, good for you!! Please send me email updates on the campaign in PA. I'll be very interested in how Obama tweaks his message for that race. Is the primary open (anyone can vote either party) or closed? I gathered from your change of affiliation that it is closed. I'm actually hoping that's the case after the absurdity of the Rush Limbaugh interference.
Tough morning but Obama still leads so Yes We Can.
l-bo jengles - I sent you love over on your blog. I totally hear you. Hugs, hugs, hugs.
I'll keep you updated on the campaign. PA does not have the same issues that OH or TX has. My wife is from Lorain, OH and so we get to see some of the economic problems first hand when we go back there every year. It is palpable.
PA is a closed primary so my vote in a Republican primary would be wasted anyway now that McCain has captured enough delegates to win the nomination.
I think the wild card will be Rendell's influence. He is part of the old-time political machine and he can play the game better than most...yet I think that if PA went for Obama he would ride that wave as well...he is after all a politician in the truest sense of the word.
R. Michael
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