Obama Strategists: We Are Dominating the Field

Sen. Barack Obama is off the campaign trail, but his top aides are running hard today.

Obama's senior strategists held a national news conference by telephone today, bullishly arguing that the campaign is on offense and surging in red states, while Sen. John McCain is scampering to Pennsylvania for an unlikely "pathway to victory," as campaign manager David Plouffe put it.

Field guru Jon Carson, ticking through numbers on early voting, contended that Obama is building an early lead with new, first-time voters. In Colorado, he said one of five Democrats voting by mail have never previously voted in a general election, auguring a surge of new support. In Nevada, early-voting data suggest an edge for Democrats, he added, where 40% of Obama's early-vote support is from new or sporadic voters (who only vote in presidential years), while 30% of the GOP's early-voting bloc are from new or sporadic voters.

Obama's edge among new voters is based not only on his appeal, the aides noted, but also his persistent outreach. Counting only live conversations as voter contacts -- not voicemails or robocalls -- the campaign touted its large footprint in the field:

1.3 million contacts with Florida voters since Labor Day

1.5 million contacts in Ohio since Labor Day

Currently averaging 400,000 contacts a day across the country

On pace to make 1.2 million contacts this weekend in battleground states alone

Finally, the strategists emphasized that Obama's large rallies are the ultimate organizing tool. Citing the two events that drew 175,000 people in Missouri last week, the campaign noted that within one day of those events, the state's field operation swiftly filled 35% of its volunteer shifts.

During Q&A, Plouffe largely demurred on strategic questions from reporters -- including an inquiry about Obama's "closing argument" from NBC's Andrea Mitchell -- while stressing his operation's field prowess. (Another reporter asked, seriously, whether the campaign would win Florida.)

Plouffe did pivot from a strategic question to argue that at this juncture, newly converted Obama supporters may be more pivotal than undecideds because new Obama supporters seem "sticky" and look solid for mobilization. If newly identified supporters are soft, by contrast, field operatives worry that they will end up mobilizing people who ultimately back the opponent. (That was part of Howard Dean's Iowa collapse in 2004.)

"If anything, enthusiasm for Obama is increasing as the election draws near," he added, because late-breaking voters are embracing the Democratic nominee.

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From The Washington Independent.

Comments

[wagthedog1001]

Do you want to wake up on November 5th and have 4 MORE YEARS of Republican control with the SAME policies? Only on November 5th we will have John McCain and Sarah Palin laughing at us and saying, "I knew they wouldn't be able to do it. They never do."

[jeanrenoir]

Just vote, everyone! Especially the blacks and young people who have let so many Democrats down in the past through sheer laziness, obliviousness, or whatever. Obama lost both the Texas and PA primaries because, incredibly, he got a smaller turnout from inner-city blacks in places like Houston, Dallas, and Philly than Kerry had. I'm not making this up. Something happened. Let's NOT let it happen again!

[S1m0n]

Obama won in Texas. What universe are you from?

[Clavis]

I don't care for your characterization or your presentation.

[YouDisgustMe]

VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE

[roshni]

You guys are the best, but didn't Barack tell us not to get cocky???
First we need to get everyone to vote, prevent fraud and theft by the rethugs and win the election. Then we can celebrate how great we are.

[ExxonMcBushCo]

vote.

[Synnerman]

Please don't get overconfident. Please don't get overconfident.

[chelosagar]

See? When Obama takes a few days off, he doesn't "suspend" his campaign. Michelle, Biden, Jill, and the Clintons are campaigning for him.

You can always multi-task and not suspend your stupid campaign...

You hear that John McCain?!?!?!?!?!

[roshni]

McCain takes naps even when he is "actively" campaigning.

[itsjustmeee]

well worded... that's exactly what i was thinking!

[LemonMeringue]

The voter suppression fix is in. We'll have to have a huge Obama landslide to overcome it. But the downticket races will be affected too.

Getting the word out is the only way I know to fight back. Go to YouTube and find Blocking the Vote, where Rachel Maddow and Bobby Kennedy Jr. talk about what the GOP has already done in the battleground states. We need a huge lead to overcome this.

[Oregon Ivy]

Meanwhile, the Rethugs are stealing our votes, and purging and intimidating legitimate voters. This shouldn't be happening in America of all places! We shouldn't have to worry about rigged elections or if our votes will count.

Generations of young men and women have died to keep America free, and Rethugs are calling themselves patriots?

I'm just sick.

[Oregon Ivy]

If you don't vote, you don't get to be a part of history. The day that "real" Americans finaly stood up and took back democracy from hate and fear!

I voted yesterday for Obama/Biden. This is the first time since I've been eligible to vote (and let's just it's been a while, okay?) that I actually CRIED with happiness and felt as if I could make a difference in my country's future.

GET OUT AND VOTE FOR HOPE!

IT FEELS GREAT!!!!!!!!!

[XME]

Tomorrow I and others will be out "dominating the field" in SW Virgnia for the campaign. No Democrat has carried Virginia since 1964. Hopefully this year will change Virginia!

[Independent-for-Obama]

One of my sisters voted early for Obama in Ohio today after attending Michelle Obama's rally in Akron.

I voted for Obama by absentee ballot earlier.

[indi1216]

Can anybody tell me where I can get a BO sign?

[LemonMeringue]

Go to BarackObama.com and find your nearest campaign office, or find your nearest Democratic Party office.

[indi1216]

can some one tell me where I can buy an O bama/ B iden sign?

[19iowa62]

Go to Barrack's website and find his nearest campaign office to you. It won't cost you anything.

[LetMeUnderstandThis]

Remember when we were Generation X! I'm ready to give my answer now!


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Vote Obama/Biden Nov. 4 08!!

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