Obama Making Inroads In Clinton Stronghold Of Rhode Island

Washington Post:

While Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama have spent most of the past two weeks focused on delegate-rich Texas and Ohio, tiny Rhode Island -- with 21 pledged delegates at stake Tuesday -- is reveling in its unaccustomed position of relevance in a Democratic presidential nominating contest.

This state has long been seen as strongly favorable to Clinton. She and her husband, Bill Clinton, visited so often during their White House days that the former president once joked that he ought to pay state taxes. The senator from New York has also lined up the support of most of the state's Democratic establishment, including Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, who hosted a fundraiser for her last Sunday, and Claiborne Pell, the respected 89-year-old former senator.

Read the whole story: Washington Post

Comments

[EvoMan]

Senator Obama has a habit of outperforming his poll numbers. He'll win Texas by double digits, Ohio by 2-4 points and Vermont walking away. His opponent may squeak by in Rhode Island.

He'll win the delegate count. The inevitable will finally become apparent to his opponent on Wednesday and she'll gracefully withdraw from the race.

By the way, I might have voted for her had she admitted her war vote was a mistake say, oh I don't know, about four years ago.

[neocon43]

Obama loses Ohio by 8 points,Texas by 4 points,Rhode island by 25 points,wins Vermont.And the fight begins with lawsuits and President Mccain!

[AnninCA]

Not in NH, NV, or CA, he didn't.

How quickly those states are forgotten. *haha

[NewRiver]

A vote for change is a vote for hope...a vote for hope is a vote for change.

[Alessan]

Whatever change Obama claims he will make, Hillary Clinton will also change, only we know wha t the changes are that Hillary Clinton wants to make, Obama changes, that remains to be seen.
Keep on hoping you dlon't end up in poverty.

[BeyondGoodAndEvil]

Yeah, we know the choices that Clinton will make and they are all bad choices. She has no economic experience and she surrounds herself with lousy people. Look how badly she has managed her campaign. You know that Bill, was not "personally" responsible for the economic tech and biotech boom of the 90's. Maybe you don't... In that case, I won't bother to continue typing and spoil your delusions.

[horacekent]

To the great people of Texas, Ohio, Rhode Island & Vermont,

Please do us all a favor & finally close the door on the Clintons.

You're the Closers. Lets do this thing!

~HK

[CommittedDem]

Would you like the party to be united after this process is over or do you have no use for Clinton's supporters?

[nohat]

Horace is right.

If Clinton gets the nomination all by grabbing the democratic party by the throat and pounding its' head against a wall, the democratic party might unite around Clinton ANYWAY but the country won't unite around the democratic party. And that's because the country understands this next: a party that lets itself be strong-armed by one woman isn't a party that ought ever to govern. Too weak.

[neocon43]

Sorry Charlie.I am a republican and voted for Hillary and also am going to the caucass on Tuesday night to support her and the destruction of the democratic party!

[nohat]

Slam! And take the cat with you.

[Susan1968]

OBAMA STALLS?

Feb. 29, 2008 article:

Hillary Clinton appears to be putting the brakes on Barack Obama’s momentum in Texas. According to an exclusive 11 News BELO Texas poll, Clinton and Obama remain in a statistical dead heat, with Clinton ahead by a single point, 46 to 45.
Nine percent of likely voters remain undecided in the Democratic race. Our poll continues to indicate that the undecided voters tend to care more about the economy than voters that have made their pick.

That could be a good sign for Obama, because he leads Clinton among voters who believe the economy is the most important issue in this election.

However, the undecided voters also tend to be more heavily Democratic than those who tell us they have decided – which is good news for Clinton. She is leading among people who describe themselves as strong Democrats.

Most of the trends we have been following held steady between Wednesday and Thursday, when the calls for this tracking poll were made. However, one key indicator for Clinton surged upwards.

Her support among Hispanics has jumped 11 points, to 67 percent to Obama’s 27 percent. On Thursday, this number was 61 to 32.

http://www.khou.com/news/local/politics/stories/khou080229_tj_poll229.dfb36d8.html

Rassmussen reports daily Presidential trackings on Democratic nominees -- notice who's going up and who's going down the last three days:

3/1 Clinton: 43% Obama: 45%

2/29 Clinton: 42% Obama: 47%

2/28 Clinton: 40% Obama: 49%

http://rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/daily_presidential_tracking_polling_history

Pollster Scott Rasmussen made interesting points in an interview on TV.

-"Obamamania" has already peaked and is slowing down throughout the country.

- Obama's poll surge has stalled in Texas and Ohio.

- Barack Obama is unknown commodity by most Americans and he would either win big or lose big in the general election.

[indyny]

^ Again - More of the endless drivel from a known Clinton campaign surrogate.

[Susan1968]

I'm a "known Clinton campaign surrogate."

Really?

Who am I?

I mean, you claim to know, no?

[EvoMan]

As an antidote to Susan's cherry-picking polls that support her position, here's a link to all the polls:

http://pollingreport.com/wh08dem.htm

It was a done deal when Senator Obama's opponent didn't knock him out on Super Tuesday and failed to plan for what ended up happening.

[apresdeluge]

I am so sick of HuffPost's chearleading for Obama. Arianna assumes that we are mindless idiots who can't make up our own minds about who will be the next President.

There is an article on HuffPost (almost hidden) about Hillary's rally in Fort Worth today. It was a make up rally for the one she canceled the other day when the police officer was killed in her motorcade.

The grace and dignity which Hillary Clinton showed in the aftermath of the police officer's death is an indication of the type of person she is and the type of President she will be. She put her own campaign on hold in Fort Worth, attended the officer's funeral and upheld her pledge to come back for the rally (which by the way was attendind by more than 10,000 people). She is a great lady and doesn't deserve the shameless hate filled bashing she is getting from Arianna and Obama's supporters. Shame on you all.

[indyny]

Don't be fooled by a "left-leaning" site like the Huffington Post. It is in the business of making money, and the money is with Obama. The masses are following their leader, and the media is following the masses, and the masses = money. It's called capitalism.

[Jacee]

1st, why are you here if you hate Huff Po so much?

2nd Clinton has demonstrated spite and rage. It is why she is loosing.

[AnninCA]

Then he should blow her out. :)

[kevenseven]

I understand that Michelle Obama cheerleads for Obama. Do you object to that?

And I do not understand why you would read a blog that so infuriates you?

I don't read the corner of freeper or little green snotballs. Why would I? But you don't see me bitching about them.

I am utterly unashamed of my support for Obama. If you don't like it, tough. Go over to Tayor Marsh, if you don't like it here.

[CommittedDem]

Sadly, you're wasting your breath. This site is in essence an anti-Hillary site, and worse yet an anti-Hillary supporters site. What she did for that officer was very classy, although a large number of people still found the time to blame her for his death. The stuff on this site is disgusting and despicable. I'm always shocked at the new lows people when they claim to want unity and hope.

[nohat]

I just can't agree that she is a great lady. On the other hand, I don't think of her as the anti-Christ, as some seem to. I don't believe that a great lady would have gone after her husband's lovers in as ruthless a manner as Hillary did. If what I've read is true, she pursued them not so much as rivals for her husband's affection but more as objects that blocked the view. Of the Oval Office. That she wanted to occupy. In the future.
Even if that's not true, some of us just don't want her in to be president. She might be passable, as presidential material goes, but Obama is promising---that's my view. Don't be upset.
Sure, it's hard to hear criticism of the person you support---but we who support Obama have to hear all kinds and sorts of things, on this site and against him. Awful things.

[Susan1968]

If you actually read the source article it's a whole lot of nothing.

Yes, Obama gave a speech in RI today, lots of college kids showed up.

But CNN's pollster pointed out a significant portion of those college kids are registered to vote in other states.

He found many came just to hang out at the event.

[cmrinc]

Is this where the liberal traitor terrorist supporting anti-Americans hang out?

[naschkatze]

Yup, and I'm one. Julie Hussein B.

[cmrinc]

Nice to meet you

[Tyrione]

How pathetic. The man's moment in Texas and Ohio is waning and now suddenly he's making in-roads within Rhode Island?

I suppose you don't grasp the fact that over half of RI electorate is Catholic and she owns that vote?

[naschkatze]

The Clintons' problem has been that they have assumed that they've owned a lot of votes. I supposed the next thing you're going to tell us is that the Catholic bishops and Bill Donohue are ready to endorse her.

[Dragon5616]

Clinton's Lead is down to 9% with 11 % undecided. She will likely win, but not by much.

http://resources.wpri.com/Sales%20Packages/RI%20Politics/Poll_Results_Page2.html

[neocon43]

She will win going away in Rhode island!

[Alessan]

The undecided will vote for Ralph Nader, or stay undecided and not vote in primary.

[timesarechanging]

You just don't get it do you?

[BikerJim]

I am catholic and she does not own my vote. OMG, if she loses or even barely wins RI, then it is truly over for her.

[AnninCA]

I think she'll concede if she doesn't rack up some wins on Tuesday.

[HumeSkeptic]

Ever since she declared her candidacy, conventional wisdom said that Hillary would get the nomination. She had the name, close association with a successful Presidency, and the most powerful and well-oiled political machine.

Then appeared a young Senator from Illinois, called Barack Hussein Obama.

Obama took conventional wisdom and threw it out the window. Masterfully, he redefined the game in a way that best suits his strengths, and marginalizes Hillary's.

In this new game, he declared, Hillary's experience is irrelevant. Worse, a liability. And he pointed to her vote for Iraq war as a glaring example.

By the time Hillary campaign realized that the game had changed, Obama handed them a crushing defeat in Iowa.

Obama is a masterful politician. He has run a masterpiece campaign. And he has made the old Clinton machine obsolete.

Obama went against one of the most dominant political force of recent years and neutralized it. He now has the Hillary campaign all tied up in knots, still trying to figure out how to play the redefined game, running out of slogans, still unsure on what to run.

Hillary campaign is in total disarray. Chaos.

[Alessan]

SO WHAT!.

[AnninCA]

The disarray stories always accompany a candidate who loses the lead.

Not important.

If her campaign was even as close to being in shambles as these stories suggest, believe me......he'd be blowing her out in the polls right now, nevermind on Tuesday.

So that's just the usual "momentum" BS stuff.

The actual question for Democrats is ask, "Why ISN'T he blowing her out?"

By all of these accounts, he should be. He's outraised her. He's vastly outspending her. He's got women throwing their panties at him.

So what Is going on?

He needs to either deliver a KO, or we Democrats need to knock off the BS and admit that we're highly divided as a party.

It's no longer legitimate to suggest that nobody "knows" him.

He's just not winning over a large portion of registered Democrats.

So now what?

[HumeSkeptic]

From the main article:

"Hoping to deal a morale-crippling blow to Clinton, Obama opened an office in Providence a little more than two weeks ago, with 25 paid staffers working out of a prime location on Westminster Street. One of the staffers, communications director Caleb Weaver, came here from Missouri, where Obama was able to eke out a victory by just 10,000 votes on Feb. 5. "

-----------------------

Holy macro! I feel bad for Hillary. Let Hillary keep Rhode Island, for heaven's sake.

Jeeez!

[naschkatze]

Nope, because her man Wolfson is going around saying that Obama has win all four states on Tuesday or he's in trouble. If he doesn't win RI, that is supposed to mean, according to Wolfson, that people are already starting to show buyer's remorse. I hope Obama sweeps all four, but I am not really expecting it.

[AnninCA]

RI isn't in the mix. Wolfson's point is legitimate.

His ground forces are as good as hers in Texas. He's got more money. So he really should knock her out.

If he can't? Why not?

[dattexas]

Bullshit! Obama and his black church following are no friends of gays. Huffington doing its best to ruin Hillary. Arrianna, jealousy isn't pretty!

[JohnJames]

Not all black churches are bigotted against gays. Most are, but my understanding is that Obama's is not.

[naschkatze]

It's not a black church.

[HumeSkeptic]

Read this, then eat shit.
---------------------------------------------------


Obama's liberal church under the microscope
RELIGION | Presidential candidate to speak at group's convention

June 21, 2007
BY SUSAN HOGAN/ALBACH Religion [e-mail]
Presidential hopeful Barack Obama belongs to the United Church of Christ, one of the country's most racially diverse and liberal Protestant denominations -- the first to ordain an openly gay minister and to call for equal marriage rights for all people, regardless of gender.

The UCC prides itself as being "out front" on social justice issues, battling civil rights, women's rights and gay rights ahead of the mainstream. One Sunday hymnal equally celebrates male and female images of God.
...

http://www.suntimes.com/news/elections/437415,CST-NWS-obama21.article

[Democratdoc]

Guess I'd rather eat shit than guzzle down the groupie koolade you're quaffing.

[SeekerOne]

Thanks, Hume.

[Alessan]

Sounds like a man made cult church disguised as chistian, I think he better find another
church to go to if like the christian religion. Obama is a fake he should admit he's
an atheist like his mother was.

[morticia]

BLACK CHURCH???What`s that about??

[LeftLeanWing]

black churches are institutions that we created because for most of the history of our great country we were not welcome into white churches. none are discriminatory ; so walk right in, take a seat and praise the Lord,

[SeekerOne]

That's about the intolerant lamenting intolerance.

[OhPlease2007]

* Barack Obama's Wrong Judgment on the Iraq War *

1.) Obama: “No difference” between Bush position on war and his own (Chicago Tribune, 07/04)

2) Obama: “Doesn’t know” how he would have voted on war vote (Chicago Tribune, 10/04)

3) Obama: , Obama praised newly-elected President Bush's new nominee for Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld. ( WTTW11:Chicago Tonight, 01/17/ 01)

Obama's "selective memory" regarding his positions/quotes on the Iraq war/Bush Administration aren't fooling anybody and are *STILL* part of the public record; it is all too clear that Obama *DIDN'T* always have the right judgment on the Iraq war. The Iraq card is the only card Obama has to play but since his own words don't jive with his so-called being right from the beginning, the only card Obama has to play is ... the joker!

Sources:

The Hill

http://pundits.thehill.com/2008/01/08/barack-on-iraq-war-%e2%80%98not-much-of-a-difference-between-my-position-and-george-bushs-position%e2%80%99-%e2%80%94-july-2004/

Huffington Post

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/01/30/obama-in-2001-rumsfeld-i_n_84103.html

[TheSecularist]

O-BA-MA! O-BA-MA! O-BA-MA!

Emily "Hussein" M.

[HumeSkeptic]

Bunk.

Obama has been anti-war since before the war started. Hillarys has consistently sided with the NeoCons.

BTW, did you read this:

Iraq War De-Escalation Act of 2007
___________________________________
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from Iraq War De-Escalation Act)
Jump to: navigation, search


On January 30, 2007, Barack Obama introduced the Iraq War De-Escalation Act of 2007 (S 433). The plan would stop the planned troop increase of 21,500 in Iraq, and would also begin a phased redeployment of troops from Iraq with the goal of removing all combat forces by March 31, 2008.

Obama announced the Iraq War De-Escalation Act after President Bush announced an increase in the number of troops fighting in Iraq, and after the State of the Union Address. Obama released a statement saying, "Our troops have performed brilliantly in Iraq, but no amount of American soldiers can solve the political differences at the heart of somebody else's civil war," Obama said, alluding to Michael Scott Doran's essay "Somebody Else's Civil War" published in the Foreign Affairs journal in 2002. "That's why I have introduced a plan to not only stop the escalation of this war, but begin a phased redeployment that can pressure the Iraqis to finally reach a political settlement and reduce the violence."

...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraq_War_De-Escalation_Act
-----------------------------

This is important because of the persistent claims by Hillary supporters that her positions on the issue of war are similar to those of Obama.

The fact is that Hillary has consistently sided with the NeoCons.

[Democratdoc]

I guess that's why she wants to end the war and bring the troops home in a phased withdrawal? Yep, she's a real neocon all right, just like you're Albert Einstein.....right.

[Alessan]

Really I am sick of Obama and his I was against this war crap, it's getting old like Guilliani and 9/11. Some Senators and congressman in the Senate at the time
voted against the invasion of Iraq, I mean they actually voted. OBAMA WAS NOT IN THE SENATE, WHEN THE VOTE TO INVADE WAS TAKEN, he was ordinary civilian, he had
no ;power whatsoever, but now for the last three years he could have been constitant
voted against funding like Dennis Kuninich did. HEY DELUDED OBAMACANS WAKE UP.

[AnninCA]

Sorry, one speech?

Followed up by admission that he wouldn't be sure how he would have voted had he been in the Senate?

This is hardly profoundly anti-war.

This last debate he says he'll reattack Iraq if Al Qaida establishes a base after we pull out?

And you wish to think he's anti-war?

This is followed by his comments to invate Pakastan, which were so provocative that he elicited a warning that his position would be considered an act of war.

And you still feel at ease here?

I say you're nothing more than one who likes rock stars.

Because you've been given actual evidence that Obama is not at all someone who is anti-war.

That's his attack point, yes.

But in reality, he's given you plenty to consider.

If you're ignoring all of this? You probably have no real interest in electing someone who will not get us foolishly into combat.

You're all about the "hope" koolaid crap.

[EvoMan]

Wow, two quotes and a reference taken out of context. You've scored a hat trick.

On quote one, you left of the preceding "At this point."

On quote two you failed to mention that he went on to say "But in my opinion, the case wasn't made."

On reference three, most folks thought Rumsfeld was a pretty good appointment pre-911.

Glad I could supply the context for you.

[Dragon5616]

Here's the link:

http://mediamatters.org/items/200711110004

[neocon43]

Actually Hillary had the right vote to start out.She should embrace the war because it is why Mccain will be the next president!

[nepat]

Eleanor Clift/Newsweek:

"The much vaunted Clinton campaign operation, billed as the biggest, baddest game in town, had no post-Super Tuesday strategy because its leaders apparently didn't think one was needed. Whether that's due to arrogance or ignorance, it's the campaign equivalent of what President Bush did in invading Iraq without a post-Saddam plan. The primaries are in a very true sense a practice run for the White House, and if you emerge with high marks, as Obama has, it's a pretty clear statement of the kind of government you would run. Obama has shown a steadiness in demeanor and message. Clinton has blown through $120 million dollars, and her persona is more confused than ever. A USA Today cartoon captures the shifting moods with a political weather map and a "Five-day Hillary Forecast: Monday…Friendly; Tuesday…On the attack; Wednesday…Complimentary; Thursday…Hostile; Friday…Conciliatory." "

[ChimpmasterDJ]

That's pretty bad, coming from Eleanor Clift, who has been a notorious Clintonmaniac cheerleader for as long as the Clintons have been around.

[willowbarcelona]

Someone had to do it: "Barack Obama, ready on ring one."
http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/2008/02/barack-obama-ready-on-ring-one.php

willowHusseinbarcelona

[TheSecularist]

I see Hillary has finally begun to try to run a better campaign, although she seems to be copying Obama's every move. Too little too late.

Emily "Hussein" M.

[Didi47]

The Secularist:

If Hillary was copying Obama's platform, she'd just be repeating her original stuff Obama stole. I think you're on the wrong track trying this ruse Secularist. Everyone knows all he does is parrot her platform. It's on film so no trying to pretend with that lame pundit.

[nohat]

And here we go again.