Biden: "We're Gonna Win West-By-God-Virginia!"

Al, I'm so happy to see you posting again. I don't even know what you wrote - I came straight to the comments section. I'll go back now and actually read what you wrote and comment on it later.

Al,

I'm enjoying the campaign with the latest poll showing a couple of touchdowns lead of the O-Man. And McCain below 40. You can't get any better than that. 

Biden gave a speech on Sunday in Scranton that was one of the most passionate speeches I've seen a politician give.  Man, he was so good. Having only seen him do the Sunday morning talk show circuit in the past, I like this different side I'm seeing of him.

p.s. Did you get that picture from Ideals?  My Mother was a lifelong subscriber.

I don't trust ARG, but the other last serious poll had Obama down by 4 in West Viriginia. I think, and have always thought, Obama should do some sort of visits to Appalachia. Ride or Die Joe should go first, though.

Personally, there are 4 places I would like to see Obama squeeze in visits to, two for potential state wins, and two for the "stick it in your eye" effect.

The latter two are Arizona and Alaska.  My guess is he would get big crowds both places which would result in a lot of ink, even though he doesn't really have a chance in either place.

The other two are West Virginia and North Dakota.  He has a real chance in both, particulalry with Palin basically snubbing WV this past few days and with the ND poll.  Psychologically, going to both those places and drawing huige crowds would be devastating to the republicans.

Finally, according to Olberman, the McCain campaign said they drew 25,000 to a rally in VA, but the place where it was held only holds 16,000 and the fire marshall estimated 13,000.  I think the denial is far more than a river in Egypt for this crew.

I agree on the 4 places.  Alaska and North Dakota supported him big in the primaries and I hope we don't view the entire electorate by their head of state.  Thank God for the past 8 years the rest of the world has not harshly judged us for the misdeeds, mistakes and crimes of our fearless leader.  I would like him to go to Alaska and Arizona but then I'm wondering if that is kicking somebody when they're down.  *Obviously I don't have the stomach for I guess what is a necessary side of politics.!)

p.s. Thanks for the article in the last thread about Obama's "community organizing" in Congress.  

Catherine, here is the thing. It might be over-doing it, but if he can pull good sized crowds in AZ and AK, his over all legitimacy is strengthened.  He is, effect, telling the people of those states, and all the other "red" states as well, that he plans on being the President of the United States and not disregarding some states and some citizens.  This has been his theme ever since the convention speech in 2004.

The symbolism would be significant.

As to the link, yes it is a form of community organizing, isn't it.  Again his message is that everyone matters to me.  Despite all the times you hear him called arrogant, he will probably be the most humble President since Carter. In fact maybe more so, as Carter thought he could come in and just change DC on his own with his cadre of Georgians.

I'm crying right now having just watched a new Obama song and now this!  Also read some more about the power of the ground organization and thought about how it all ties in with the previous post.

Check out this video.  It's on the front page over on Kos right now.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83lum1XcOug

I almost didn't watch it when I realized it was a wrap song but man am I glad I did.  It's just yet ONE MORE example of how powerful this movement is.   I can just imagine how these wrappers are spreading hope among their peers and it makes me cry.  This is what real change looks like.

There was another video I watched today that was just as good.  It's unfathomable how much art has been inspired.  This stuff really resonates with people.  I mean, how many original songs are people singing about McCain?  And you can't even keep track of all the Obama ones.

Wow...I am happy to be living through all this.  Just wish things didn't have to get so bad first.

' if you're tired of all the Drama....ELECT OBAMA!'

when he quoted JFK, I was like YEAH!!

My partner's mom lives in Springfield, MO, and she got a call from a local Obama organizer asking her if she'd like to make some calls.  This woman is a lifelong Democrat, and can't remember the last time a Democratic presidential campaign was competing in SW MO.  Now, I'm not saying Obama is going to carry Springfield, but the fact that Obama has the resources to compete there with a full platoon of organizers is pretty amazing.

Here in the CA foothills, where the GOP mostly reigns supreme, Obama is showing up stronger than any Democratic candidate since LBJ.  Here's a real clue: local non-partisan candidates usually cringe when their signs are put next to the Democrat's.  Not this year.  Coattails?  On a Democrat??  Here???  Never thought I'd live to see the day.

Not saying the hay's in the barn or its time to ease up, just sharing my personal anecdotes as history is, God willing, made before our eyes.

Best to all.  Al, I hope fame doesn't ruin you!

quarter century back. Brings back great memories.

Could you possibly point me to the web-source of this picture for the original quality ? Thanks.

amk

Great time of the year for a visit.  If anyone offers you a mayonaise jar of clear liquid, try it.

My post on it at West Virginia Blue

Running Scared Makes Sense -- Even with a 14 Point Obama Lead http://stephencrosehome.blogspot.com

This state is close now; see

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/RCP_PDF/IA_WestVa_101508.pdf

Showing McCain with a 49-47 lead.

Per an Obama e:mail this morning, which confirmed similar appeals I have been receiving in last couple of days:

Pennsylvania is shaping up to be one of the most hotly contested battleground states in this election.  The McCain campaign is actively moving staff and resources into the state from Michigan. They're gearing up to send even more nasty mailings and put up more negative ads.  Person-to-person voter contact is the best way to fight back, and volunteers and staff are working day and night to connect with voters.

We need to keep the pressure on in PA. If you can make a trip to PA or do some phone banking, please click on link below. 

http://my.barackobama.com/page/s/PABorder

This just keeps getting better and better.  We've been very stressed in WA State because CW states that McCain has to stay within 11 points of Obama for Rossi to win.  Well the SUSA poll came out today and wow...Obama has gone from 11 percent to 16 percent, with the biggest increases among people older than McCain, whites and women.  http://www.surveyusa.com/client/PollReport.aspx?g=3520ed8f-f1c8-4ffd-9bbe-df5a5d8ed5e5

Colorado: Obama 51 McCain 47  Florida: Obama 51 McCain 46

Georgia: McCain 53 Obama 45  Missouri: McCain 49 Obama 48

Virginia: Obama 53 McCain 43

http://thepage.time.com/

I think a stop in West Virginia would be a very good idea. It would have particular impact both because of the bogus narrative from the primaries, and because there are West Virginia Democrats who are feeling a bit left out (based on what some have posted on various sites) and would be massively energized if Obama came there.

A stop in Alaska would be fun, but since it's so damn far to travel, it probably isn't worth it just for the in-your-face value.

I just spent last weekend in Montgomery County, outside of Philly. My wife and I were among hundreds of New Yorkers and others coming to canvass. The two days resulted in over 4000 contacts just in the Ambler office I went to. Five other Montgomery offices had similar results. Coming from true blue NY where we run our own campaign, it was an eye opening experience. The warmth and professionalism of the local staff was a joy to behold. Since 2004, Montgomery has shifted from 70-30 Republican to 52-48 Democratic. All potential voters are contacted multiple times. The reason the work can be done is the willingness of out of staters to spend the weekends helping out. Two more weekends is all it takes to keep the lead that apparently is real and growing.

People were coming by car, bus and train. We met a high school student from Scarsdale in Westchester Co.,NY. He took a local commuter train to Grand Central Station in Manhattan, subwayed to Penn Station where he took Amtrak to Philly. He then waited an hour to take a Septa commuter train to Ambler Station. In Ambler, he walked almost two miles to the headquarters. The trip was about five hours, and then about the same returning to NY. That is the dedication we are seeing. Think about that when considering whether it's worth the time to drive three hours or so to a neighboring state. After eight long years, a few hours don't matter.

Yes We Carve, Download Carve and Share. There are many stencils available, I am doing two for my house.

Montana might be in the mix after all for Obama.  Look what happens when we rise up as a unified group and call them out:

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/10/montana_gop_chief_out_...

They tried the same voter suppression stuff they do every election in MT, we called them out, and now the GOP Chair in MT stepping down because of it.  In the past, they would usually get away with these tricks.  Not any more.

Stay vigilant everyone!  There's many more where that one came from.

Be sure and read this post from Ben Smith over at Politico.

A Republican consultant emailed him in despair after conducting a focus-group with a batch of "Reagan Democrats" to gauge their response to an especially hard-hitting anti-Obama ad.

Yes, the spot worked. Yes, they believed the charges against Obama. Yes, they actually think he's too liberal, consorts with bad people and WON'T BE A GOOD PRESIDENT...but they STILL don't give a f***. They said right out, "He won't do anything better than McCain" but they're STILL voting for Obama.

The two most unreal moments of my professional life of watching focus groups: 54 year-old white male, voted Kerry '04, Bush '00, Dole '96, hunter, NASCAR fan...hard for Obama said: "I'm gonna hate him the minute I vote for him. He's gonna be a bad president. But I won't ever vote for another god-damn Republican. I want the government to take over all of Wall Street and bankers and the car companies and Wal-Mart run this county like we used to when Reagan was President."

The next was a woman, late 50s, Democrat but strongly pro-life. Loved B. and H. Clinton, loved Bush in 2000. "Well, I don't know much about this terrorist group Barack used to be in with that Weather guy but I'm sick of paying for health insurance at work and that's why I'm supporting Barack."

Game, set, match Obama.

I never see any poll numbers for AZ, probably because nobody even considers it in play.  But living here, I do not see all that much support for M/P.  It appears to me the enthusiasm for Obama/Biden is as high here as what I read about in other places.  That being said, down at the Phoenix HQ we are concentrating calls to New Mexico since the internal polling seems to indicate the chances of swinging that state are greater than AZ.  I would love to see some numbers though, exactly how far behind is Obama here?

Just discovered your page.  What a breathtaking picture.  WV really is the gem of the 50 states.

I've been saying for weeks that one or both guys on the ticket need to spend some time in WV.  That ARG poll out several days ago was just a taste.  I think West Virginia is ripe for turning blue.

I sure hope the campaign fits it in, maybe in between stops in OH and PA.  Give those states a break - PA at least is in the bag.

Thanks for highlighting West Virginia.  Having grown up in Southern WV, I've been following the state closely during the primary and beyond, and I'm excited about the current polls.  WV can make history by going blue, and a visit from Obama is what the state is waiting for!  I remember JFK's swing through small WV towns including my home town of Logan and the incredible rally in the courthouse square.  He's still mythologized there, and you can even rent the Kennedy Suite in the local hotel.  I'm sure Obama would receive the same kind of enthusiastic welcome throughout the state.  Thanks to the hard work of dedicated West Virginians for Obama, he is closing the gap in a state which was never  considered a swing or battleground state.  An Obama win in WV would be truly "wild and wonderful"!