Can Obama Take Bush Country?

The Politico reports that Obama will focus his sizable resources on fourteen states Bush won in 2004. Even in states he'll almost certainly lose, like Texas and Wyoming, Obama thinks he can help down-ticket Dems. Campaign manager Steve Hildebrand says:

"Texas is a great example where we might not be able to win the state, but we want to pay a lot of attention to it. It's one of the most important redistricting opportunities in the country . . . If we can register more Democrats, if we can increase the Democratic performance and turnout, maybe we can pick up a congressional seat."

The Chicago Tribune that it wouldn't be so hard for Obama to pick up nine or more Bush states:

A projection by the Tribune based on the results of the 2004 election shows that a turnout increase of 10 percent among blacks and youths--two groups that have demonstrated considerable excitement over the Obama candidacy--would offer a powerful potential lift to his campaign.

Two states that the Republicans narrowly won last time, Iowa and New Mexico, would switch to the Democratic column. The Republican lead in Ohio would plummet from more than 118,000 votes to fewer than 6,000. A host of Republican states would come into play, while Democratic leads would be substantially cushioned in major blue states that Republican candidate John McCain has targeted: Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota.

Comments

[gobarackgo]

George W. Bush: All hat, no cattle

Barack Obama: All hat and all the cattle you need

Watch out cowpokes, it's a Democratic stampede!

[Vyvjala]

Shoot low sheriff, the republicans are riding shetlands......................

[Vyvjala]

SHOOT LOW SHERIFF, the republicans are riding shetlands..................

[Phil123]

Nice hat. Who does he think he is, Imus?

[VivaZapata]

What a slew of lunacy (scroll down) I unleashed by thinking that Obama and Matthews' heads looked little under that hat. Check my profile prior to the date of the comment i made and you'll see that i have been a supporter of Barak's candidacy. That doesn't mean I have to agree with every political machination of his approach towards electability and ultimately and hopefully, election.

People accused me of being ignorant of black cowboy history. Did they miss the part about Matthiews looking silly in his ten gallon hat? As for keeping it real, I agree that he has been far more sincere than most politicians in our lifetime. however, donning hats one doesn't usually wear has a costumed effect and doesn't jive with keeping it real. i thought hillary clinton downing shots and mugs of beer in pennsylvania was also put-on looking, and i can't stand Bush's faux Texas accent, especially knowing he was Andover, Yale, and Harvard educated and Kennebunkport summered. I think it's a mistake for pols to project something they are not; there will always be a suggestion of insincerity, even if they are just having fun. they are after all major public figures, not just regular folks at a party. Obama and Mathiews are not cowboys; they are associated with Chicago and New York, respectively..

Sorry for the firestorm. I remain an Obama supporter despite being disappointed by the narrowness of perspective proffered by some of his supporters on these pages.

[Sarahjan]

That is one cool image!

[Oldtimer]

Now this is a great post. I've been saying for a while now that it is less important that Obama win in a
landslide if he does not win a super majority in the Congress. We all know how effective Orin
Hatch, Lindsay Graham and Mitch McConnel are at obstructing a simple majority. This election is
a generational chance to shift the country. Obama can unify better than the Clintons and so
Democrats must focus on picking up more seats while they can. If they win a super majority it will
be their turn to lead the country and address long festering problems. We should end the Iraq occupation and spend the money here on Universal Healthcare. We should produce more
doctors and end Big Pharma. We should launch an Apollo program to solve energy. Change
tax lasw to benefit the middle class, first time home buyers and small businesses, etc. etc.
Then the Democrats will win the White House for the nest 20 years!!!!!!!

[freshnotbitter]

Normally candidates don't look good in a Black cowboy hat but Obama looks like a stud.

[ropadopa]

Not the hat! No hats please. Remember Dukakis, hats are more likely to break you. One look at the picture and Blazing Saddles came to mind. LOL

[cindy4america]

It will be really interesting to see Obama take some of these red states. When a person votes for McCain, they vote or don't vote on the issues, but with Obama, there are more considerations. One has to consider do I agree with his policies, then do I agree with a minority becoming president and then do I feel threatened by that? So it is really interesting to me that Obama has three criteria verses McCain has one. There is no race issue getting into McCain's way. If Obama can beat McCain, he has really overcome a lot to me, because all of us assume that it is okay to vote for a white man, but we have to think about whether or not it is okay to vote for a black one.

[venicesurfer]

lol, he looks ridiculous.

[Janet Carter]

YES WE CAN turn Texas blue once again. AND WE WILL. Book it !!

[CamJam]

Your comment reminds me of an interesting short Youtube video from Feb 28 2008
called: Obama in Fort Worth TX : No Bush
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OV_eNTBJlZA

So...is Bush really going back to Texas after he's out of the White House?
I know some poor US State is going to have to have him. I just hope it's NOT Oregon! LOL

[GeeBee]

Damn I love that picture - it makes Obama look like Chuck Norris's buddy in "Walker, Texas Ranger"!!! Hehehe irony lives.

[pie8ter]

Thank you...I just couldn't put my finger on who O looks like with that hat. He looks exactly like Chuck Norri's Buddy, an irony indeed.

[pupbayer]

The hat does seem to hide his huge ears.

[thegreatgiginthesky]

McNap is toast

[pupbayer]

Gallup Daily: Obama, McCain Tied at 45%

http://www.gallup.com/poll/108376/Gallup-Daily-Obama-McCain-Tied-45.aspx

[kellygrrrl]

it is a brilliant plan to campaign in these states

and force Mkkain to spend money he doesn't have to waste