Obama Enters Enemy Territory: West Virginia

Los Angeles Times:

In Hardy County, Democrats outnumber Republicans more than 2 to 1. But there is little enthusiasm for Barack Obama in this mountainside enclave, a portent of trouble for the Illinois senator in next week's West Virginia primary and the general election beyond.

Nearly 97% white, the county is as conflicted as any rural and working-class Democratic bastion as it struggles to adjust to the likely prospect of the party nominating its first African American presidential candidate.

Read the whole story: Los Angeles Times

Comments

[harriscrl3]

So its enemy territory because its 97% white working class. I mean give me a break with this nonsense. Got love how this media slice people and put them into these categories. McCain is who is their freaking enemy. Why the heck would you have a headline that says Obama is their enemy he has NEVER been working against working class folks he is working FOR working class folks therefore that precludes from being their enemy and yet we still have this ridiculous headline.

Carol

[Missmn]

Huffington Post chose the enemy headline. If you read the story, you'd see that the LA Times did not label it such.

Obama will lose West Virginia and lose it big - by about 40% of the vote. He'll lose Kentucky by a similar margin. Obama has the same difficulty with these people that any progressive has and that the Democratic party as a whole has had for years and that's that these voters do not see the larger picture. They are fear driven and because of this, they allow themselves to be manipulated by lies and inuendo (Barack's a muslim, he wants to take our guns away, he's against the working man, and oh, did I mention he's black - and you know how "they" are) and consistently vote against their economic best interests. They are too lazy to actually do some research to confirm or disprove the rumors that they hear, and so no candidate that isn't selling themselves as a fellow hick will ever get their vote.

I appreciate that Obama is going there and talking to those who will talk to him, but it won't do him any good in the primary or in November, and that's ok. West Virginia voted for Bush in 2000 and 2004 and they'll continue to vote Republican as long as coal is their main industry.

[kas70]

Hillary has like a 40% lead over him there, I believe that's why it's considered "enemy" territory.

[harriscrl3]

That still doesnt make it enemy territory they are implying that Obama does not care about these people's issues but Hilary does. The media and politicians like Hilary and GOP although is there really any difference is who is FEEDING it. These are Obama's people not the latte sipping people that Hilary makes them out to be its poor working folks but the media buys into this description when its NOT true from the work he has done. But do they let the people of WV in on that little fact NO because its sexier for them to say he is entering enemy territory.

Carol

[hibbiejibbies]

Why is the DNC allowing the Clinton to sabatoge Obama's chances for the general election. I for one don't mind Hillary continuing her campaign, however enough is enough when her and especially her husband continusly tries to creative an unrepairable drift between Obama and the rural blue collar voters to the point they would rather vote for McCain in the general - the Clintons are directly causing this rift! The Clintons are basically saying if they can't win this 2008 election then no way in hell will they let Obama have the chance. Hillary really has her mind set for a 2012 against McCain. And the Mighty Clintons are bluntly doing in in front of everyones faces and the DNC wont do anything to stop this in-party sabotage. This will come back to haunt the DNC and undecided superdeligates if they don't stop this destruction right now.

[kay]

I agree with you. I think you have to be active at the State Party level to see the long-term damage, though.

A lot of State Party conventions are this month. That's "down ticket" time. That's where all the work towards state and local candidates gets done. This is a train wreck. Everyone's pretending it's not, but it is.

I think they don't "get it" in DC. I think they are falling for the media spin that this is FABULOUS for Democrats. It's not. There's a disconnect between the DC contingent, and the State parties.

They will "get it", later if not sooner. Trust me.

[QM2008]

"I've got 50-some guns, and I wasn't crazy about Obama's talk about small towns,"

It sounds like this is exactly the kind of person Obama was talking about. If this isn't clinging to guns, I don't know what is.

[tiredofhillary]

What the hell does anybody need "50-some guns"?

A lot of small town gun-toting folks do protest to much about Sen. Obama's statement. Usually that means he hit a nerve because his statement is true.

[Softnsweet]

If I was Obama, I would let her have West Virginia. It is no way that I would try to help a bunch those people. They are ignorant and you cannot tell them anything. Hillary deserves them and should build a home there.

[maxrebel]

Hill and Billy are joining with Rush on Operation KKKaos. West Virginia senator
Bob Byrd can break forever from his roots in the Ku Klux Klan by telling the state
to vote for hope and the future with Barack...

With the Klintons on the ropes, don't hold your breath for any hopeful message
from the guardians of the 20th century's political graveyard.

[DofG]

Well, if the people in West Va. think that Republicans are going to make their life better, after making it worse, then that takes even more faith than voting for Obama! My hat's off to them.

[newyawka]

Talk about ignorant . It's really looking true that W.V. is a backwards state full of uneducated unevolved. bigots. Already they're showing themselves as the stereotypical backwoods urchins for all the world to see. So sad. Somebody should tell them it's the 21st Century.

[GoodwithWood]

When Obama was referring to guns and religion he was talking about the GoP's wedge issue tactic of making people believe that the atheist devil worshipers want to take away their guns and political rights.
Get it right news people.

GWW

[kay]

Of course he was, and Democrats have been saying a version of that for years.

It's basically John Edwards's stump speech, albeit better worded.

Interesting how none stepped up to defend him, or how his remarks were mischaracterized.

Cowards.

[donaldw6]

You know what they say about wanting a friend in Washington.

[Softnsweet]

No use of trying to tell West Virgina what Obama's meaning was. They all deserve Hillary. Why is he going there. Tuesday is their primary, let them vote for Hillary. He will win the 3 of the last 6 remaining states. He may win 4 if Richardson goes to Puerto Rico with him.

[harriscrl3]

When are they going to see they are being USED by the GOP and Hilary Clinton GOP wannabe. They dont have the interest of these people at heart. They are Politicians who will say anything to get elected and then years go by and NOTHING change for the people of WV and yet they put them back in office.

They dont care about the little people gas tax thats what HIlary and JOhn McCain want to offer to help them and just for the summer. I mean GMAB people talk about Obama decieving and fooling people its people like Hilary and the GOP who are DECIEVING these people. You would think the media would do them a favor and help clue them instead they are too have to worry about corporate or they wont have a job. A lot of this can all be cured with informing people.

Carol

[raskolnikov72]

2 more generations and most of this voting from the amygdyla based on a persons "otherness" will be behind us .. there will be more fear that is engendered mind you, but hopefully, my children will see a more colorblind country ...

[NoahVail]

No question about it: panic mode from the amygdala will shut down the logic centers in the prefrontal cortex!

[mammaboy]

"And I’m going to hold it between my fingers and crush it, make every neuron pop and ooze its doubts, its dark veils, its void, its fear of death and life—its fear of my own flesh. And I’ll tell everyone there is no evil, no fear, there’s only the amygdala, and therapists... Therapists are the dark priests of the amygdala, its sentinels, keeping it whole and seamlessly joined to the human identity. But there is a new self, a new human struggling to abandon the amygdala’s antiquated lessons of predator and prey. And it will succeed, one day, in the far future of human evolution—it will succeed...and then therapy will be obsolete. And the new human self will have its age free of ancient animal wisdom."

SELF AT HAND, Jack Hanley

[amst]

You know, I won't doubt the experts who say he will lose this. I do kind of doubt though, by how much. It sounds as though he'll have a rough go of it in W.Virginia, BUT I'm thinking, because of how likeable/charming, smart he is he'll win some over. That, along with the fact that many may not even vote if they've been following the news saying how there is no way for Hillary to win. Some people (maybe a lot ,I don't know) won't even bother voting, thinking it won't matter anyway, making it less of a huge win for HRC. Just food for thought, not really a prediction.

Btw, (and sort of contradicting my statement above)watch HillDog build-up this win like she is in the running. People who are not like us political geeks here on HP may still think this is a possibility. Obama has so much of a lead, it's reported that even a huge win here won't make any difference.

[Tropiholic]

Obama can't counteract generations of inbreeding. It will take decades.

[Softnsweet]

Tropiholic, So True!!!

[notthistime]

I don't really care for the title of this article as if WV is some separate country filled with strange people. We all know WV majority won't vote for Barack and so what? It won't change anything. We have to just push that aside and get this Barack moved to the White House. I have no idea why the media is wasting space tracking this stuff. We already know the outcome and it means nothing. Change is hard but with the majority moving forward -- the remaining folks can choose to stay behind or catch up and move together into the concept of "One America".

[TroubleNYC]

He's going to lose this. He'll lose big. But it doesn't change the end result.

[BigBen]

Are they the bitter people he referred to on Snob Hill?

[kellygrrrl]

so it's OK to call us Californians icky names but ...

gee, that makes sense

[deminfla]

I see the ugly face of racism raising it's head. Closet racist are desperate to find a reason not to vote for Obama. I really hoped things had changed in this country, but apparently, I was wrong.

[HopeObama08]

I'm not sure that they are necessarily racists. i think they are misinformed because Hillary is exploiting their intelligence. They don't even realize that she is insulting them by saying that the "uneducated hard-working white people" will not vote for Obama. She is making them racists instead of telling them what she will REALLY do for them, like NAFTA, another war ... Do I need to continue?

[matthewhusseinsmith]

No, you are NOT wrong! millions of non-racists whites voted for Obama; that's why he'll be the dem nominee. Recall that the AA's only make up about 14% of the US population.

[Softnsweet]

Yes, he will lose but he will not lose Oregon and 2 of the other States for sure. He is going to be the next president. My husband has already predicted it and his predictions always comes true.

[knerd]

Obama needs to acknowledge West Virginia's misgivings right away. I don't see him making much headway if he campaigns alongside this elephant in the "living room."

Barack: Talk about it; ask questions; use your sense of humor.

[kay]

I agree. It's his first hurdle. May as well get going.

[PrObama29]

Well said.

[KMKY]

West Virginia has only voted for a Republican president four times in nearly forty years (1972, 1984, 2000, 2004). Obama's camp is going to need to focus on the growing grass-roots organization there in order to appeal to those voters in November. Ceding them to McCain is strategically irresponsible if the Dems plan on winning in the fall.

[coloradosiren]

There is only so much work a Obama can do in West Virginia. Let's face it. It is what it is!
They are who they are! They fight change and progress.

[mykindoftown]

So you're willing to write off an entire state due to the ignorant views of some backwards people? This former Chicago girl lives in West Virginia (very long story), and there are lots of us -- natives and transplants -- who are big Obama supporters. He was the keynote speaker for Senator Byrd's huge fundraiser in Charleston last year and the event sold out. His appearances have been packed. The state's leading newspapers have endorsed him. He has been endorsed by our Senator, Jay Rockefeller. If he spent more time here, he could move the needle. He is the "real deal," and if he had gone to the coal fields and rural areas, he could have had an impact. There are dumb bubbas everywhere in this country, not just West Virginia.

[KMKY]

They have voted overwhelmingly Democratic since the 1930s. They aren't fighting progressivism, and if Obama wants to win them over, then he needs to be on the ground proving himself to be worth their vote. The notion that all West Virginians who favor HRC are racist is absurd. He has over 20% of their support thus far, and so strategically, he will need to appeal to her supporters there to keep them from defecting to John McCain.

[SaltySaltillo]

What kind of spin are you working? West Virginia has only voted Democrat 3 times in the last 9 elections. That hardly constitutes a Democratic stronghold. The other day a Clinton surrogate had the nerve to say the Democrats CANNOT win in November without West Virginia and that Gore lost in 2000 because he lost West Virginia (actually, that point could be made about ANY state won by Bush worth 5 or more electoral votes - Ohio, Tennessee, Florida, etc)

People say the game is still on, this is the bottom of the 9th, this is the fourth quarter, and therefore Clinton should not quit because "anything can happen"... but that needs to stop. There is a fixed, predetermined, limited number of pledged delegates left. And if people vote the way they are expected to vote (even with the huge WV victory), it is not enought. The Sports metaphors need to stop - this isn't a sport, this is a chess match, and Clinton is in check and has no moves to make that won't put her in check. We all know that chess games don't end with the capture of the king, they end with the closing of the doors of escape... the king is never actually captured, just put in a move where no moves are winning moves. Clinton is almost in that position now.

[KMKY]

I think you need to reread my post. I am not talking about HRC or her campaign. I am talking about the fact that Obama needs to focus on wooing WV Democrats. You can also see in my parenthetical comment that WV has only voted for three Republican presidents: Nixon, Reagan, and Bush (and the first two were incumbents when WV voted for them). WV historically has voted Democratic. That is a fact. Dems need to figure out how to get them back.

[Softnsweet]

SaltySaltillo,

I am just going to go ahead and make your post HuffPo's Pick!!