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First, Maryland is likely to go to Obama, western Maryland--not so much.
That said, Obama's campaign in Hagerstown: 20+ volunteers. We have gall our lawn signs out (they put most of them in Frederick, but that's to be expected). We have literature, and we're going door to door.
In the middle of our walk, a local activist comes up to us and says he wants to volunteer! When we're having a sidewalk rally two people we've never met before, and who have never been involved in anything, ask if they can stand there with us and have a sign. And they stay out of the blue for 45 minutes.
Granted, there are a few middle fingers, thumbs down, the rare shout of "Hillary!" and a little fringe activity. But that's to be expected in these parts.
But we're doing good here. Better than I thought we would. We'll likely still lose the county, but we're trying and it'll be closer than people expect.
The extent of the Hillary campaign here: 25 untouched lapel stickers in the county party's office and 1,000 print outs of her website on plain white paper. I've seen City Council candidates with far superior literature.
DC will be a landslide. Virginia will be as well, though no where near DC proportions. Maryland will likely be a little bit closer than those two will be. But we're still going to win here. And if we do, it'll be at least 7 of 8, and if Maine goes his way tomorrow, 8 in a row. If this happens, it'll be time for Hillary to drop out--for the good of the party.
Oh, and I'm campaigning through strep throat, so no more updates until election day. I'll be out there, but I need to sleep instead of blog at night.
Take care of that strep throat b/c we want the updates.
Barack Obama 08!
Yes We Can!
1. Take care of yourself.
2. Thank you for the report on the ground. I really do enjoy reading about people's experiences on the campaign trail.
I am glad to hear your optimism about Maryland.
I mean, what if it was Obama who lost all of these states by such huge margins (we're talking 25-35% in many states)? What if it was Obama who, despite running on name recognition as the inevitable candidate, could only claim his home state and California as major (hard fought) wins thus far? What if Obama had negatives in the mid 40s/low 50s? What if Obama who held low appeal with Independents and virtually no appeal with cross-over Republicans?
What if Obama lost a majority of the swing states on Super Tuesday? What if it was Clinton who lead McCain by 7 points in the latest head to head contest, instead of Obama?
What if Obama had as much dirt on him as the Clintons do? What if Obama brought as much fatigue and divisiveness as the Clintons do?
What if it was Obama who had to "loan" himself $5 million dollars of his own money just to stay competitive?
What if Obama trailed in PLEDGED delegates and could only claim a slim (misleading) lead by counting super delegates (party insiders who can change their mind at the drop of a dime and show loyalty through political favors)?
What if Obama lost 6 out of 8 primaries (perhaps even 8 or 9 in a row) as Hillary Clinton is expected to lose this week?
I tell you what would happen . . . there'd be tremendous pressure on Obama to DROP OUT of the race. This thing would be over, and we'd have the DNC, the media, and party elders all telling Obama to pack it up and try again in 8 years.
I know, we have many more states to go. But that's never stopped the Party from rallying behind a candidate in the past. In fact, we often have a clear-cut nominee as early as Iowa/New Hampshire. Obama has shown that he can win in all parts of this country (black, white, young, old, male, female). He wins in black South Carolina and white Nebraska. He's won key swing states like Missouri and Colorado. He's expanding the Democratic Party every day, bringing new faces to the voting booths. Why hasn't the party establishment embraced him yet?
http://reachblack.blogspot.com/
http://reachblack.blogspot.com/
Been in VA-the commonwealth, not the "state" Obama called it at the JJ Dinner last night- over the weekend, and yall will be glad to know that Obama's everywhere here. Someone was driving around in a pickup with a HUGE Obama '08 billboard in his truck. Kinda distrurning, cause I couldn't seem to get away from the guy.
The Obama camp will probaby do well again on Tuesday.
And, God willing, we will too.
Will keep you posted on our efforts.
Angela
I guess with a couple of more losses, Kleneex stock will rise, as she will be weeping away,
@D, don't feel too bad...the pundits are saying that Huckabee winning the nomination is a mathematical "impossibility." ...yet, I really like how Huckabee responded, "I didn't major in math...I majored in miracles!" which caused me to speak in tongues, "Hey___, see-my-tie, see-my-tie!" Yall will have to forgive me, I went to the early service.
Barack Obama and Mike Huckabee are elevating US politics to another level.
Yeah, Huckabee can't win outright, but he can make it awfully difficult for McCain to sew things up now and begin to focus on the fight against Obama.
So are you suggesting that because McCain will put this country's security first, that means that he doesn't care about the lives of "real people?"
Could've sworn keeping this country safe was something that affected ALL of us...
Tonight, we're organizing to get some semblance of a plan for Hagerstown on election day. We're a bit overwhelmed and having to adjust to the reality of exceeding expectations regarding the number of volunteers (3 times what I was hoping for).
And Barack is coming to Maryland tomorrow. I figure this is the closest he'll come to us, so I'm going to go to the rally. That should be fun. In the afternoon, more canvassing. Same on Tuesday. Most volunteers wanted today off to do things like grocery shop--many are taking Monday and Tuesday off for Barack and will do anything to help us out. Truly a great bunch that pretty much spontaneously arrived with the campaign.
An important thing for the long-term health of the party is to keep these people involved on the local level. The party here has been decimated since 1994. Keeping the people involved in this campaign involved will only help us elect better representatives to town councils, etc. Some may argue that this is the real power of the campaign--even if he wins. It appears to be spawning a movement that will help at the grass roots.
If "destruction" hasn't befallen this country through slavery, Jim Crow and all other elements of American apartheid, it's not going to be destroyed by Barack Obama. Yes, a few superior white egos will be "destroyed"; yes, a few Black folks will have their patriarchal white hero images "destroyed", but for er'body else, life's gonna be alright.
How is a man who has been a community organizer, state legislator, and is a first term Senator with 2-3 bills to his name more qualified than a man who had already served his country for 20-plus years before Obama was even born? Democrats might win the "experience" arguement with Hillary, but not with McCain.
Everybody wants the presidency for the prestige of it, and Obama is no different.
And no one's playing on fear. What people need to realize is that there are people outside (hell, inside as well) of this country who want our way of life destroyed. Rest assured (and I've said this before) that somewhere in Wazristan, bin Laden is observing the Obama ascendancy with a smile. Why? Because he knows that Obama's election will give him the time and space to regroup, and will give him a propaganda victory much like that Clinton I gave him in Somalia.
Would you be proud to wake up the day after election day and tell people that you cast a vote for our country's defeat and demise? I wouldn't.
Get back to me when McCain and any of the other Republicans offer something to those who don't look like them or have the coins they do.
Until then, I'll go with Obama, a man with a vision for ALL Americans and will not cast a vote for McCain or HRC under any circumstances, and, most certainly out of the lies they tell about how we should all be quivering in our shoes, since that is how the country ended up with the most inept President in history, GW Bush.
I'm not spewing hate and divisiveness. We can talk about fixing immigration, healthcare, and education all day....but if our democracy is destroyed, none of that stuff is gonna matter. Nothing I said about bin Laden was to make you fear him (since it's becoming clear that you care less); just to get you to see what's really on the line here.
What, specifically, is Obama's vision? I hear two things from him: that he was "against the war from the start" (which may well just be political posturing, since no one cares how long he's been against the war), and vague notions of "hope" and "change." Say what you want about Clinton (who I can't stand), but at least she's given the specifics of her brand of socialism. Where's Obama's?
The same way that Abraham Lincoln was--a short-term state legislator, one-term Senator, and a hack lawyer--was more qualified than his competitor.
At the time of that election-unlike now-the country wasn't at war.
and, since you are question Obama, how about answering me why is it that none of the GOP will even address or go into the black community for a vote or to explain why it is the wa they are? sorry, I am not one of those who has will be duped into another 8 years of being an invisible American, except when it comes time to bash blacks to get someone on the Supreme Court.
And, nope, I don't fear bin Laden, I fear that average "conservative" Republican in the USA more, as they are the ones who run this show, and, are determined to keep things the way they were in 1950. So, a vote for McCain is a vote for two things, the 100 year war in Iraq he supports, since I guess now that Afghanistan is a lost cause as the Taliban has more or less gotten back in contorl outside of kabul, and, that last seat of right winger on the Supreme Court, so, sorry, nothing the maverick stands for is for me.And, seeing all those "save amercia vote for Ron Paul" makes me think he must be the new "maverick."
Like I said, I think he is a decent enough man, but, hardly one worth my vote, never voted for him here, and, never would for WH. And, the same is said about HRC, didn't vote for her husband, and, won't vote for her. Sorry being in office due to the fact you have more money than anyon who wants to run for 20 or 30 years hardly equates "qualified."
Because SOME segments of the black community aren't going to listen. There are some of us who can't see outside our circle or past our own individual problems. Some of us don't see Iraq and its parallel to the war on terror; all we see are the trappings of the "prison-industrial complex," inadequate health care, and a "failing" educational system. It's part of our "me first" mentality. So the GOP doesn't go into every black community and try to preach a message that falls on ears that are deaf even before the messaage is spoke. It's a wasted effort.
Now, I disagree with that practice, but I understand it.
And, with over $750 million a day wasted in Iraq on this alleged war on "terror" when people here can't get the basic services here in 2008, sorry, is there any reason why people wouldn't be concerned with their "own problems?"
Black citizens need to demand that the GOP listen, and, not only with the paid few they have on TV and news to try and sell their message, whatever it is, since hope isn't part of it. This country needs a viable third party, the GOP refuses to treat all citizens fairly, the Democrats, are useless, and, hence, no choice, and, when a voice of change and hope comes along like Obama, the response is muted, and, dismissed, the plantation mentality is sadly alive and well.