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

[firewmn]

....Barack will... W.I.N. Montana

This Red state is Turning BLUE in the fall..

Barack has been here 4 times and I have seen him everytime.. I love it and I love the strong, smart and genuine campaign he brings..

Yes We Can....!!!

[S1m0n]

I'm sure that by now, few political professionals underestimate the strength of the Obama Campaign's commanding ground game the way they did before 'the streak" in the primary. He must have a lot of local republican incumbants and organizers sweating.

[nellie]

When the press is doing everything it can to tank your campaign, go around it.

[Gma11]

Excellent point, nellie.

Coming from rural Wisconsin, the version I've learned is - If you're walking along and come to a pile of horses*it, walk around it.

[cjk002]

I think the biggest untold story of this campaign so far is the fact that Obama has a huge lead in the electoral college. Everyone seems to forget that Obama beat Hillary not by focusing on the big states and the national polls, but instead by winning the smaller, more conservative states that no one thought would matter. This is exactly what he is doing now. Everyone is focusing on the horserace and the wildly varied national polls while ignoring the fact that Obama is handily winning the ground game.

If he wins this thing, I think it will be because of those seemingly insignificant states whose electoral votes will ultimately end up being his margin of victory.

[citizenactivist]

As far as McCain attacking Barack Obama goes, I don't really worry about it too
much. DOGS DON'T BARK AT PARKED CARS.

[WinnetkaDem]

Obama has such a strong grassroots presence in North Texas that the national campaign is only sending a few people to help out. Watch for Texas to be a key state in November.

[DieHardObamaSupporter]

Just as I figured, O is going to win this on the grassroots level.

This is the news the majority aren't hearing about on MSM. National/Cable are all about tabloid sensationalism which equals ratings.

If it weren't for Keith Olberman and Bill Maher, I would have mine shut down.

This race isn't as close as they are claiming with the polls. Plzzzzz....who do you think are buying the polls. You get what you pay for based on your agenda. O is much farther ahead than they are claiming.

[nellie]

Great post.

BUT

Turnout is so important. Because all this bad press and close polling is a set up for election theft. We have to overwhelm the cheating that's already in place. EVERYBODY HAS TO VOTE. And bring yer friends!

[Frenchy9]

Very true! Americans, be careful at election time!
And one other reason why BO might not be higher in the pools is that many people (12% or so) still believe the smears that he is a Muslim.
So, "Americans for Truth", you have to get active on your email and other ways to dispel this lies!
In Europe, and the World, like you, we love Obama; not for the celebrity stupidity, but because we can easily inside him that he is a real politician, ---with the noble meaning that this word carries from its origin (serve the people!).
So, ...bon courrage à tous!

[Perla]

You touch upon something I worry about, Nellie. Is the Obama campaign -- and are the Dems in general -- doing everything possible to make sure all our votes will be counted this time? The 2000 election was thrown in FL, as we all know, and arguably the 2004 election was thrown in Ohio. Perhaps we should invite international monitors in 2008.

[raceebee]

"...EVERYBODY HAS TO VOTE. And bring yer friends!"

This can't be stressed enough or repeated often enough!!!

There was a depressing piece on CNN last night where they interviewed good old boys and gals in Tennessee. All but one brave soul were apparently proud to verbalize their beliefs that Obama isn't a Christian, etc. These are the people who will show up to vote and anyone who favors Obama...believes Bush, Cheney, Rove, McCain, etc. should be shown the door...better vote and take the responsibility to get their friends and family members to the polls.

[williamg]

Exactly! His ground game is ridiculously huge! Mc Cain's is nonexistant. Here is how Nate Silver at 538 put it last month:

"Amid on the ground reports that Mc Cain is outspending O bama on the air at least 2-1 in places like Missouri, we learn that O bama’s team is betting on a different strategy – overwhelming ground organization early and often.

In Missouri, O bama will have 150 paid organizers and maintain a 12-1 paid organizer edge in my native state. Show-me, indeed. In Michigan, O bama will put an unprecedented 150 field organizers on the ground. In Ohio, ...[O bama will have 300 field organizers] That sounds like a nice, absurdly large, round number.

This is the campaign equivalent of invasion with overwhelming force. In the coming days, we should be hearing more reports like these from other battlegrounds [...], giving us a clearer and clearer picture of each campaign’s voter contact strategy."

http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2008/07/shock-and-awe-paid-organizer-version.html

[dsbsh]

A few more items-- speaking from the ground in Missouri:

1. The paid organizers are actively recruiting local volunteers and giving them real responsibility. It's not just an "invasion;" organizers work with local volunteers, which works far better than bringing in "outsiders."

2. There's been a lot of talk about the excitement dying down, but these campaign office openings are an adrenaline shot, especially in places where the campaign didn't come during the primaries.

3. The campaign is combining the McCaskill strategy with Obama's organizational skills. They just opened a ton of offices, many of them in smaller towns like mine. He'll win by huge margins in Kansas City and St. Louis, but he'll win Missouri by cutting down the margin in the rest of the state. And Missouri isn't the only state where the ground game will put him over the top.

[wrathofcon]

I don't care if has 1500 paid organizers, Obama will lose in Missouri. The rural counties will not vote a front running, left-wing, empty suit who stands for nothing of any substance.

[TNT2008]

0bama will be the next President and Mc Achey will soon be playing the part of Mr. Mom and fetching Cindy her hot tea! I hope Arizona votes him out of the Senate! It's time for him to complete shriveling up and go away.......notice I said "complete". Some things shrivel before others. LOL

[GotRights]

"Mc Achey will soon be playing the part of Mr. Mom and fetching Cindy her hot tea!"

No. They have people for that.

[heal57]

Right on. This Arizonian is voting for Senator Obama. We tried to get rid of Senator Kyl a couple of years ago, but his opposition was weak and Kyl was re-elected. I say Arizona goes for Obama and next round McCain is out as Senator. Grass roots all the way.

Independent Arizonian Woman for Obama '08

[neesy08]

mcgrumpy is cash strapped. i read somewhere that the money he is receiving from washingon won't be dispersed until next month.

as far as not getting any love, i have only two words: a dog. they love ANYBODY

[NoblesseOblige]

Barney is a good example. Who else could love W like that dog loves him?

[Diogenis]

Ahh, you're assuming that Barney loves W? He pees on his leg whenever he gets a chance.

[marylandtravelinman]

But the GOP is not cash strapped, and if we think they are going to let this go without a horrible, ugly, nasty battle we are sorely mistaken. The would love NOTHING more than to beat a black man and say "America is not ready."

Thank God O is a million times smarter than McSame. Maybe it will carry us through.

[teacupsnpots]

McCain is going to win....

I do not like it but that is the unfortunate truth

[Mayoyo]

Now I know how he will run the country.....with discipline

[recruitgal]

And god knows we need some.

[dgscol]

I think US Blacks ought to be cautious. Barry, had Kenyan associates on his trip, and he sounded like a Kenyan talking out there. If they thought his candidacy made them special, perhaps they should think again.

In Germany, Barack stated : " We need to tear down all walls, all borders." We need to level the playing field. We are all one.

This sounds like a man who does not see the existence of the US. How can he run for our presidency?
So my fellow Blacks, are you citizens of the world, on a level playing field, or the equivalent of Cooleys, part of the blame for the way things are here in the US?

[silvertongue]

Huh?

[calchala]

Dude...what the heck are you smoking?

[nclayla]

Is it possible that you truly believe this drivel you are turning out? Either you are so grossly informed that it is pitiful or you are busily trying earn yourself some shiny McCain bucks. Either way, I doubt anyone will take you seriously.

[jeg]

You're supposed to *wear* the tinfoil, not eat it.

[ThunderclapNewman]

He was already wearing sheets.

[imusintheevening]

take a freaking pill and don't worry, I am sure not registered to vote anyway.

[dgscol]

I care, but I appreciate your statement. I have problems with MCain also. He acts like he is being blackmailed by Karl Rove. I was siding w/Obama, but then he adopted this foreign accent, and truly, I was afraid I did not know this guy. I think he dislikes American Blacks - fat, indolent, and undeserving just as the rest of the US middle class. This is why Jesse is where he is - stiffed. Aren't you afraid Obama is really not American enough to appreciate the position of US Blacks and the US middle class in general, but just adopting their lingo like Hillary does in southern states? He takes the money of Bear Stearns. He seems to want to ship our jobs without wanting us to feel bad about it.

[brizzle]

This article is an excellent follow-up report on comments coming from the McCain campaign. I applaud your efforts to perform real investigative journalism and urge you to continue this kind of reporting. Of all the nonsense I've read on this site today (both good and bad), this was the most complete story here. Keep up the great work!

[lisakaz2]

A little more love? C-B-S "fixes" his interview and AP publishes wildly ridiculous pro-McB--- bs about Iraq and he wants more? Talk about bizarro world...

[BobsNotWorking]

C-B-S is completely in the tank for McB. Remember? "Senator Obama, people are scratching their heads."

[MaeScott]

And over at political pundit ( A B C site ) I asked why not Beyonce or Mary J instead of Brit and Paris. I wrote the subliminal message was racial. My message was scrubbed.

[Trogenhorse]

McCain forgets to say his constant whinning is not presidential. The media covers Obama a lot more but delivers more negative statements about him. There is ~72% of what is said that's negative. How long do we have to pay for McCain's lack luster campaing that doesn't get all the coverage he wants?