Obama's Field Domination Plays Out In Local Press

Late last week, as Barack Obama's trip abroad was dominating national media coverage, John McCain's campaign issued a retort for pundits who wondered if the Arizona Republican was getting lost in all the hoopla.

In an email to reporters, McCain's director of regional media Jeff Sadosky claimed that a majority of Americans actually get their news from "local and regional newspapers and local television news programs" that had been covering McCain all week long.

The purpose of the memo was two-fold: first, to pressure big media to show McCain a little more love, but secondly, to argue that McCain's freeze-out perhaps wasn't such a big deal after all. Featuring numerous clippings from four states the presumptive Republican nominee had visited while Obama was abroad, Sadosky's implicit claim was that the campaign was winning the media war where it really counts, closer to home.

But the local coverage wars are not so clearly tilted toward McCain's advantage. A review of reporting in local papers finds a slew of coverage of Obama's active field operation, mostly hooked on the dozens of Obama campaign offices opened in recent weeks.

This week in Montana, for example, the Helena Independent Record led its story on local organizing with a Obama staffer's line: "Republican presidential candidate John McCain is taking Montana for granted..." The paper noted that the Illinois Democrat currently has six state offices in action to McCain's zero. In a July 31 Bozeman Daily Chronicle story headlined "McCain campaign manager expects big victory," the paper pointed out that a Obama's advantage in paid field staff may be yielding dividends -- citing a Rasumussen poll that showed McCain down five points despite the fact that President George W. Bush carried the state handily over John Kerry in 2004.

Montana isn't the only Republican stronghold where Obama's unprecedented field operation is inspiring positive local coverage. In The Oklahoman, a recent report detailed how a gang of enthusiastic Obama volunteers opened the first office of either campaign in Sooner State. After noting that Obama's national campaign was finalizing plans to open their own official site, the paper reported that "U.S. Sen. John McCain, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, has no immediate plans to open an Oklahoma campaign office."

Battleground states are also interested in reporting on Obama's superior ground game. Ohio's local ABC affiliate WTVG reported last week that, even while Obama was abroad, he was also dominating in terms of local outreach.

"And while [Obama] spent more time in Paris today than he has in any part of Toledo this summer, Obama has opened a campaign office in Toledo with dozens of young enthusiastic people pushing his message," the station reported, adding: "McCain does have a headquarters [in Ohio]," the station added. "It's a regional office in Columbus that covers both Ohio and Pennsylvania. Meanwhile, Obama has satellite offices open all over both states."

In Michigan, papers in Macomb and St. Clair counties gave prominent coverage to the openings of new Obama offices. And in McKeesport, Pennsylvania, The Daily News reported this week that Obama has 10 to 1 advantage over McCain in terms of state offices.

So while McCain has a valid point that the national media may navel-gaze from time to time, by electing not to match Obama's investment in field offices, his may also be losing the race to inspire the positive local coverage they cite as being important.

Comments

[wrathofcon]

Any time the msm ask Obama a tough question, they are in the tank for McCain? What a joke.
If it were not for talk radio, I would not even know McCain was running...­..........­....

[Mike4Obama]

The turnouts for grassroots operations here in NOVA have been amazing. It's a great way to meet like minded people. But lets not get ahead of ourselves. Volunteers are always welcome.

If you're interested in seeing what kinds of events are going on, I suggest you go to www.barackobama.com, scroll down about half way to where the map of the U.S. is and the states listed to the right. Click on your state, and scroll to the bottom of the page. On the bottom left you'll find links to the Largest groups in (your state here). Click on one of those groups that looks like it might most fit your geographical location, and click join. From that point forward you'll begin receiving emails for coordinated campaign activities for your groups.

Another way to help out is to go to click on find events on the www.barackobama.com website on the right side, enter in your zip code, enter the radius (depending on your region and how dense the population is, you may want to keep this to 5 miles.)

There's loads of other ways to help out too through the website, you've got the neighbor to neighbor tool, phone banking from home, creating an account and setting up events through his page.

Have fun all.

[maidenofdforest]

McCain, that insecure old grey guy along with the Republicans are gritting their teeth with envy. Just watch their hoopla over nothing but a desire for ATTENTION.

Instead of hitting on Obama, he should just order his campaign to open offices in Oklahoma and Montana where people are complaining he has none. With all that money and a Rovian style of negative campaigns, i do not think there will be much to look forward to a McCain presidency.

His charges against Obama is just plain ludicrous bordering on the petty while appearing to be serious about it. Your think tank Mr. McCain shows a lot of promise in mediocrity. So will your presidency, just exactly like Mr. Bush.

I pity you and your campaign. Cry babies! XD!!!!

[mistlesuede]

Don't worry. All this hard work and outreach and campaigning won't get anywhere, because the MSM is doing a spectacular job of attacking Senator Obama. So much so that they've lost him any advantage he had at the beginning of this week. It doesn't matter what he does, the corporate media wants a horse race and another useless Repugnican President that they can bitch about for another four years. They don't want a happy country. What the hell would they talk about 24/7 to make money for advertisers and keep the talking heads employed?
It is disgusting what is going on. All of this hard work will be for naught.

[JLee]

Oh, I wouldn't be so quick to write off this campaign. Even if O loses, his campaign will have had a huge impact on the political map. You'll see.

[uvymopkq]

I would'ent call a 3 point lead domination.

[loria]

Just wait until everyone really gets to work. Did you see what Obama did to huge leads by Hillary during the fall? While the national polls consistently go towards Obama, they mean little. It is going to be won or lost in the individual states. That's where the ground force will come in. The true measure of where this campaign will be is the number of volunteers who are willing to go out and work for their candidate. Reps aren't enthusiastic about McCain, so how does that translate to volunteers? I would love to see a comparision of the number of Obama volunteers to McCain volunteers - 50 to 1, 100 to 1?

What is being ignored in the number of people on the ground registering new voters and registering any change of address. It won't stop there. There will be follow ups with the newly registered and on 11-5 that will be a huge number of people working to get out the vote. Organizing comes in handy. Obama knows how to do it. His supporters know how to do it. McCain? We'll just have to see.

[UnknownSoldier]

I wouldn't call anything reported by the Mainstream media when it comes to democrats accurate

[Dreamers101]

The truth of the matter is that you tro//s won’t realize what happen until it’s all said and done.

It’s a wrap!

[nolaman]

As a Vietnam vet who opposed that war after returning home by supporting Eugene McCarthy for president, I am heartened by this and other accounts of the Obama campaign's extensive and efficient field organization.
I vividly remember my bitterness with McCarthy when I realized that he had done none of the gritty,local, boots-on-the-ground work that wins any election.
Bravo Obama, and thank you John Dean for the brilliance of the fifty state strategy you devised for the Democratic Party!!!

[JLee]

Howard Dean! John Dean is a great guy and prolific author, another conservative who'll probably vote O come November--but he didn't come up with the 50-state strategy. :-)

[aurelio23]

Senator Obama Meets General Petraeus
I knew it would happen soon! Finally, a meeting was arranged between Senator Obama and General David Petraeus in Baghdad. I was lucky to be invited since I was traveling with the Senator as his Bowling Adviser.
“General Petraeus, I have been waiting for this moment to meet you. To meet the man who single handed has liberated not only a Middle Eastern country but also the tremulous consciousness of the American electorate about to be seriously damaged by a war run by incompetents!”
General Petraeus smiled and replied:
“Always a pleasure to have you visit us here in Baghdad. I have heard a lot about you, mainly from our good friend Senator McCain!”
“Oh! Has he been here? Was it recently or before World War One?”
“What would you like to see?”
“How about the banks of the Euphrates ?”
As they reached the historic river, Obama pointed at a large cathedral-like building across the river. He said:
“That is a lovely building, what is it?”
“A new center for Historical Studies. Would you like to visit it, Senator?”
“Yes. It would be fitting to get a touch of the historical reality of Iraq. Which boat is going to take us across?”
General Petraeus smiled and motioned the Senator to follow him. He grabbed him by the hand and they both started to walk on the water in the direction of the temple across the river!

[loria]

What?

[FastMovingCloud]

Really. What?

[UnknownSoldier]

LOL

[sandals]

I was at the campaign office opening this past Saturday, in conservative Grand Rapids,MI.
We had at least over 200 people young,old, white, black, Hispanic.
I went out for the first time and registered voters get out there and volunteer! I also gave my monthly donation a few days ago.
This thing is not over it is a long way til November, right now we need to go after the MSM for not going after McCain and all his flip-flops.
Remember we can't seem to question anything McCain does but boy let us go after every word Obama says. McCain brought in the Race card not Obama, he just made the same comments that he made in the primary, so let us start getting the facts out it seems that the Drudge Report is were the MSM is taking their talking points from instead of doing real reporting.

[Sloopydrew]

Does Barack Obama buy a certain kind of tie that is likely to blow around in the wind? I've seen so many pictures of him where his hands are in his pocket and his tie is blowing around in a heroic fashion (can a necktie be heroic?). One of three things must be happening here: Obama's in a lot of windy places (he is from the windy city). Obama buys ties that are likely to blow around. Photographers like pictures of Obama with his tie blowing. It does give him an iconic, heroic sort of look, but it's a bit overdone.

[dollars2donuts]

hmmm, interesting thing to notice. You sound like my pop-in-law, who has a tie fetish. Maybe the press carries a wind machine around with him, or maybe McDumb wears lead ties.
LOL

[Ayreon]

Or he just doesn't like tie clips.

[eXcommunicate]

Anyone else make a donation to O's campaign for July? I sure did (and I am unemployed). :)

[recruitgal]

Then that is especially good of you... :o)

[pupbayer]

OR especially irresponsible.

[BillForObama]

I contributed, too!!! (looking for employment, too)

[FastMovingCloud]

Me, too. Three times.

[JLee]

Yup, won't start working till September (out of this country, no jobs to be had here) but donated in July. Just wish I'd donated more. I mean, you don't really need three whole meals a day to survive, right?

[Awakenedcitizen]

Ya know, posters, I love ya. But we can't be complacent. Act as though we are the underdogs with a 15 point lead by McCain. Anything else is courting disaster.

[OldKnute]

Well, here in our city,, it is all local new that gives Barak the fair shot too.

When he was in town,, they covered the whole goings on and the throngs of people that showed up to meet Obama. The national news focused on Hillary and McCain,,, Not one word was ever said about the HUGE turnouts to just shake Obamas hand. One local reporter said, a young fellow, said; “This is what my father said it was like when John Kennedy came to town.”

I listened to the folks in line too, Some were praying, some were hugging each other and thanking God for Barak Obama. They put one lady on the local news that night that was in tears. I am talking sobbing TEARS! She said; tears of joy.

On the national news,, NOTHING! Not a word. Not a Peep.

Folks,, if you don’t believe me,,, just wait till Barak Obama comes to your city. It is AMAZING TO SEE! It is amazing to experience.

Oh,, and that was just during the primaries.

WATCH and see for yourselves.

My advice to Obama,, take it on the ROAD,,, ON THE ROAD,, the people love you there.

All the best

Knute Neo-LIB

[JLee]

The national press is just part of the Washington power structure. It's smart of O to take it right down to the roots.

[Tulka2]

I hope someone is working on the Obama family tree...? Obama said in Springfield, Mo, yesterday that one of his Kansas family's stories is that Old Wild Bill was a cousin. My husband's family claims the same thing! We would be THRILLED to find Obama a colateral relative! Really it would be better than Wild Bill. We do recognize Obama has that old family charm. :) He has the tallness and the charm. He's fast too. Barrak should know however that whenever the old folks in this family talked about Cousin William Hiccock, it was always noted that he was, "The biggest liar in the west". ( It was his family's opinion he never could have killed as many people as he claimed.) I'm just sayin'.

We have no doubt, as Sen. Obama, claimed yesterday, that he could easily best McBush in tax-duel.

[JLee]

Nice. This is truly a grass roots campaign. With this kind of structure in place the momentum is going to be unstoppable once it reaches critical mass. I'm also happy he's opening offices in states he won't necessarily carry because it's going to be extremely beneficial downticket. Howard Dean on The Daily Show said it best: It's a sign of respect to ask for someone's vote, even if you don't get it. It also keeps McC fighting in states he wouldn't otherwise have to defend, so it's good both long-term and short-term. I just get the warm fuzzies about where my donation is going everytime I read stories like this.

[geha714]

Even with the crap they're throwing at him, Obama's ground game will be the decisive factor on November. All over the country and even overseas, it's the commitment to real change the key to victory.

It won't be easy (as these days has confirmed) but the ones more committed wins. A step back and it's over. The only way is forward. 96 days remains.

"...the time for game-playing is over."