Plouffe: McCain's DHL Deal A Critical Moment Of Campaign

Barack Obama's presidential campaign claimed that the general election had reached a critical turning point this past week after it was revealed that John McCain and his campaign manager had helped facilitate a merger that could result in the loss of thousands of jobs in Ohio.

On a conference call with reporters, Obama's campaign manager David Plouffe said news of McCain and Rick Davis' involvement in the DHL deal was "the most important development of the entire campaign this week" and would convince voters in the critical swing state that the Arizona Republican was far from his maverick image.

"He was there a month ago in this community and was asked a question about this DHL issue and did not say one word about his role in this or the role of his campaign manager. That is the furthest thing from straight talk that we can imagine," said Plouffe. "John McCain can become an emblem for people about what is wrong with Washington. He released an ad this week about how Washington is broken and how he will strive to fix it. He didn't mention that he has been enmeshed in a broken Washington culture for 26 years or that his campaign is run by the most powerful, now former lobbyist in Washington."

Prior to the press conference the Obama campaign released a harsh new radio ad blasting McCain for his role in helping "foreign-owned DHL buy a U.S. company and gain control over the jobs that are now on the chopping block in Ohio."

On Thursday, the Republican presidential candidate called on the Justice Department to launch an investigation into DHL's plans to puts its packages aboard the planes of a rival, United Parcel Service. If that deal is to go through (with UPS flying its cargo out of Louisville, Kentucky) DHL's shipping hub in Wilmington, Ohio would be effectively closed, eliminating up to 10,000 jobs.

On the conference call, Plouffe was forthcoming about the political advantages that he believed the revelation presented.

"He has spent several days now dogged with questions about this," said the campaign manager. "His appearances in Ohio were completely overshadowed by this. And by November 4 in the Cincinnati and Dayton markets this is something that is going to be known by every voter in this area."

Comments

[harriscrl3]

They say Obama should attack McCain. Of course he attacks he just doesnt do it often he does it in strategic areas like Ohio and Nevada and HE KEEPS IT TO THE ISSUES. So those folks offering Obama their two cents saying he should attack they need to be quiet because thats how much their advise is worth. Obama is running a very strategic and tactical campaign one that is inspirational and positive with tactical strikes when necessary. The bombs are not destructive or fatal in their strikes because he doesnt want to destroy everything in its path after all he is fighting on US soil this is an opponent not an enemy so its just enough to severely weaken the opponent while keeping everthing else strong. Its the right balance so that he doesnt become like his opponent. I blame McBush for forcing me to talk in militaristict terms. For someone who has never been in the military Obama sure knows a heck of lot about tactics and strategy Sun Tzu would be proud.

Carol

[YunekFlava]

Write on Carol.

[checkitout]

Hi Carol:
I think people are just getting nervous about a repeat in history (aka - what happened to K erry) I believe you are right about O being strategic. I think is is saving his campaign $$$ for the time after the convention and before election day. I have a feeling we are going to be hearing a lot about M cCain and his corrupt antics then. So far O has run a brilliant campaign - "It seems like these guys pride themselves in being ignorant".

Positively brilliant.

[Charmed]

checkitout­.....that is my absolutely favorite line "these guys pride themselves on being ignorant".­.......(PR­ICELESS).

[surfcitysteven]

And just how did this work out in 2004? It appears to be the same strategy. This is America, Carol. there is no respect for the meek.

[cariintexas]

Maybe surfcity, however the meek shall inherit the earth.

Psalms 25:8

[w&cheneysuck]

Awesome! Well done!!!

[CaptSmash]

You right Carol!

Hey Obama has this new ad in Nevada this will win him this state hands down. Obama is attacking the issues state by state. His staff knows how to play hard ball.

http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0808/Obama_Backyard.html

[wanj]

Blast this video! A must see...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdJUCU1UH2w&eurl=

[Boboday555]

The M.I.C. needs bad guys to stay in business.
And with a sawed off little pitch man like the punk from Arizona the M.I.C. will have all the bad guys it needs to justify our 1/2 trillion dollar military budget.
My favorite part about these filthy republicans, who see conflicts all over the globe is that they still refuse to re-institute the draft!
If the filthy republicans did reinstitute the draft, the yellow bellied sons and daughters of the corporate executive who own Mr. McCain would have to fight.
And the last thing filthy republicans want is for their Kussai and Udia sons and daughters to risk their lives for their filthy daddy's multi-million bonuses!

MCCAIN AIN'T MCABLE!

[SMP]

POWERFUL..­..........­..TRUTHFUL­.....

[CaptSmash]

Great video I wish this was palying all over America

[londonrainbow]

We need to spread this video all around.

McStrain literally repeated himself saying there will be more wars.

[evolution1223]

Wow! BLAST IT!

[kiddo418]

Let's see, when McCain picks Romney as his veep they both can brag they helped thousands of people lose their jobs. These two republican eletes are job busters plain and simple. Is it 2009 yet? Vote Obama.

[theone718]

Once "Mittcare" comes out McBush will have to switch running mates.

[kimk3]

Well, I hope Obama can get a message across about this -- it should be a no-brainer. But there are so many no-brainers to run against McCain, I don't know why they're not doing it. I can't believe he's now going along with the offshore drilling because the media has put the fear into people that's it's going to help when anyone with half a brain knows that it's not going to get us any more oil any time soon, and even then it's going to be sold on the world market, like everything else. Why don't the Dems make a big map of the U.S. and have little red flags on all the leases the oil companies have already -- and aren't drilling on? What are they waiting for... $200 barrel?

[SurrealPumpkin]

Obama isn't "going along" with offshore drilling. what he's doing is governing. The Neo cons have tried to con us into believing that if you compromise you're a weenie and wimp. They're wrong. Compromise is what democracy is all about. So you give a little -on offshore drilling- and get a little -in alternative energy incentive packages-.

For the record I'm against off-shore drilling. Or further on-shore drilling for that matter.

[norkas]

There is a peak for the amount of oil then the world can produce. It is foolish to think about off sure drilling.. The peak is not far away but those results are published. We are fools not for force the goverment to start using solar engery NOW for building etc.

The electric efficent auto that will cost effective for consumers will be out next year and the years after. Every year ther will a better efficent auto produces.

Goverment has to provide tax rebates for those who build a house and use solar engery. Also for those who purchase electric autos and other excepted none fuel autos.

This is not rocket science the problem is politicians have made to many deals witht he oil companies

We can force them to do ALL of this because it is good common business sense. We Republicans and Democrats petition congress and senate to do this. They will not say no .

[SMP]

Obama has not definitively said he would go along with off shore drillling.­...he said, he would consider the bipartisan bill on energy because it will have more to do with alternative fuels ,global warming, and helping the automotive industry than off shore drilling..­..off shore drilling 50 miles off shore..not 3 miles off shore....

Please try to not get stuck on just one or two words

[KQuarksSuperKollider]

Greatest spoof video. Boosh surveys the disaster that is known as the Boosh presidency. How did you survive?

http://www.theonion.com/content/video/bush_tours_america_to_survey

[Seattlelite]

Camp O you've got a silver bullet here - Fire away!! It will be interesting to see how the MSM tries to bury this.

[theone718]

Can't wait for an ad from the Obama campaign about this to be running in Ohio, they already have a new ad out in NV, McJobkiller won't be liking that one.

[thefringecenter]

Enough of the Ohio hysteria. The votes have already been counted. McCain won.

[DragonFly]

Huh?

[KQuarksSuperKollider]

One word Diebold.

[jamaica4obama]

Nothing worst than a dishonorable person pretending to be an honorable person

http://www.vietnamveteransagainstjohnmccain.com/cin_declassified_landing.htm

[Liberoservative]

The most awesome interview of O that I have seen yet!

Thank you Dan Rather

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZa1KIR5o-U&feature=related

Pass it around!

[GwenElle]

Agreed. Great interview.

[OldKnute]

Thank you Liberoservitive,

That Interview was surely prophetic, on attacks that McCains heaped upon Obama.

We see how McCain looses it, goes ballistic, in his foaming at the mouth tirades.

Obama was right. What has McCain focused on? Celebrity, Obamas Faith, his Skin, his being raised by a single mom, blaming Obama for the words of his Pastor, his youth, his newness to American Politics, his being schooled in Indonesia, at 6 years old.

If we see how horrible McCain is in public, the screaming, the cussing, the ranting, fuming, over-the-top, out of control, nastiness, just think what McCain is like behind closed doors.

Just do a Youtube on McCain and Anger.

Now McCain is busy making deals that put Americans out of work???? NOW? With the Economy so bad?

The article points to Business as usual McCain. The Lobbyists that run his campaign, the Big Oil folks donating, the dodgy Healthcare, donation from Pharmaceuticals, affairs, trophy wives, (Nice Lady though), I do like Cindy, she is a Champion. Admitted that he, McCain, doesn’t know a thing about the economy. Sub-Prime Rape of America, Payday Lending at 500%, Hospitals that turn your bills over to Credit Companies, at 34%, Credit Cards, more FEES than lending, Car Loans they LIKE to default,, just sell the Car again with another, HUGE Down Payment, Loan Fees Interest. Healthcare costs that are breaking the backs of American Business.

More of the Same,,,,, Screaming,,, McCain

All the best

Knute Neo-LIB

[wanj]

Blast this to everyone you know... especially people in those states that McLiar is running the straight lies ads -

http://www.newsweek.com/id/151621/page/1

[Liberoservative]

Great article...­. why doesn't MSM blast the surrogates with the facts?
Why do they just perpetuate the lies instead of doing their job as "investigative" journalist­s....

[JamesInDenver]

WOW!!! Without doubt, the Obama Campaign's DHL advertisement is the best political ad of 2008. Lets also not forget McCain's involvement in awarding the air-tanker contract to European Airbus. Lets see 9,000 jobs lost in Ohio, and another 9,000 lost in Washington. Hey Mac, look who's the Job Killer now.

[OldKnute]

Yes, James,,,I saw that too.

The Airbus give-away was horrible. McCain really screwed up.

LOOK,, what made me worried, is now we are getting our defense contracting by others on Foreign. Not that Airbus is a bad company, but what about a disgrunteled work that has it in for America, fixing something, OR NOT fixing it.

Can anyone say,,,, National Security????

The workers at Boeing were just about to get raises too, and then they got Pink Slips instead.

Oh and Try to open a new small business under the McCain proposals. Bill Gates couldn’t open a Small Business under McCain Regulations. Sorry, Small Business account for about 80% of all NEW Jobs during a recovery in Economy.

Obama loves small Business and is working hard to streamline opening, taxes, regulation and Build HOPE for Small Business owners, NEW GREEN American Business. The Small Businesses,, Backbone of the American Economy.

What does McCain do?

Shuts down companies, sends our work overseas.

Sorry,,,,, our economy needs every job we have and every job that can be created.

Now McCain makes this all about Skin????

Hate, Fear, Smear,, Drama, Lies, Twist and Spin??

More of the Same,, McCain.

K Street,,, Bought and Paid for.

JMO

All the best

Knute Neo-LIB

[BaltimoreSteve]

What about the heiress McCain who supported and benefited the sale of Budweiser to a foregn company. McCain and the GOP is all about the selling off of America.

[DaOne]

Good background article on Mayor McCheese

http://phoenixnewtimes.com/content/printVersion/848709

[bosshogg]

ok i don't know if this is sad or funny b u s h rep. us http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZ_YhM4OGkU