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Obama, Biden Storm Into Battleground Virginia
FREDERICKSBURG, Va. -- Less than 24 hours after the first presidential debate, Barack Obama was already campaigning in the battleground state of Virginia and telling the crowd, "We just might turn Virginia blue this time!"
It is evidence of Obama's ambition and high hopes for Virginia. He believes he can win here, even though Virginians voted Republican in 10 straight presidential elections. But this is a purple state now, and Obama is just one percentage point away from the threshold of northern Virginia voters considered necessary to win.
On Saturday people stood in line for three hours to participate in the Obama-Biden rally at the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg. "I didn't wait in a line this long to see the movie E.T.!" said one Obama supporter. Over 26,000 people of all ages came together in this quintessential college town, the site of an 1862 Civil War battle. Roughly 12,000 lucky people were admitted to the campus green, where trees were just beginning their autumnal color change. Another 14,000 supporters stood outside the barriers, most within earshot of the PA system.
A gray-haired gentleman walking slowly to the back of the mile-long line stopped to implore a group of young people to vote. "It's your future," he said. "Your vote has never been more important." All along the sidewalk students sold tee-shirts and other souvenirs. One student cried, "We're accepting bailout plans here!"
Giselle Rosario, an undecided voter from Puerto Rico who now lives in Dumfries, Va., is waiting to hear what Obama has to say about the Wall Street bailout. "I'm a homeowner with an adjustable rate mortgage. I want to know if he still plans to help me," she told OffTheBus.
Michael Cobb, an independent voter who lives in Fredericksburg, is waiting to hear if Obama has changed his mind about funding affordable health care. "I own a small business and spend over $1500 a month on health insurance for my family, and we're all healthy. Imagine what it would cost if we weren't," Cobb told OffTheBus. "I'd like to see Hillary Clinton put in charge of health care reform. She could get it done."
What did Cobb think of Obama's performance during the debate? "He didn't need to say "That's right, John" so many times. Obama should be tougher on McCain during the next debate."
Campus officials stopped letting people into the campus green, called Ball Circle, around 5 pm, because no more standing room was available. Soon after it began to rain steadily. Virginia State Senator Ed Houck (D) took the stage around 6 pm and told the soaked crowd, "Virginia is a key commonwealth. We need your help. There's a tremendous amount of work to be done." Then Houck ran for cover.
The crowd wasn't so lucky, and no one appeared on stage for the next hour. Pouring from the sound system was a musical playlist that included Beautiful Day by U2, Celebrate Good Times by Kool & The Gang, and Ain't No Mountain High Enough by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell.
Ankle-deep in mud and now wearing an orange trash bag as a rain poncho, OffTheBus spoke with several people in the crowd about the huge military vote in Virginia, which historically swings in favor of the Administration. The overwhelming support for a new-and-improved G.I. bill sponsored by Virginia Senator Jim Webb (D) -- which provides post-9/11 veterans with comprehensive educational benefits -- will reflect well on Obama. Also, Michelle Obama has been speaking to military wives in this state.
"Military men and women appreciate Obama's leadership in the wake of the Walter Reed crisis, too," campaign spokesman Clark Stevens told OffTheBus. Military retiree Sehree Mercer, an independent voter from Stafford, Va., added, "The military is broke! We need a CEO who will restructure it -- and put it back on its feet."
Obama strikes these people as someone who is "real" and who will do more than John McCain to keep military families together by improving the economy, creating more civilian jobs, and making college tuition more affordable.
Just after 7 pm, Barack Obama and Joe Biden took the stage just minutes ahead of a second cloudburst. Biden asked the cheering crowd, "Where was John McCain a week ago? A month ago? A year ago? Tethered to George W. Bush's economic policy. Now McCain wants to stand up and say, "Me, too, I want change!" Well, that's what we Catholics call an epiphany."
Barack Obama reminded the crowd that McCain didn't once mention the middle class or the working class during the debate. "In 90 minutes, John McCain had a lot to say about me, but had nothing to say about you." As the drizzle turned into a steady rain, Obama removed his jacket and said, "I'd offer to pay for everyone's dry cleaning, but we need the money for Virginia."
The candidate also drew cheers when he said:
"If we don't act soon to clean up Wall Street, your life savings will be at risk."
"I will make sure Wall Street gives every penny back once this crisis is over."
"I will keep my promise of affordable health care for all Americans."
"I will make sure every young person in America can afford to go to college."
After Obama's speech, OffTheBus spoke with a young girl practically bubbling over. "When he left the stage, I leaned over the grandstand railing and called to him -- Senator Obama, Senator Obama, would you please shake my hand?" said Angela Petroutsa of Fredericksburg. "He paused for a second, then walked over and shook my hand, and I just kept shaking his hand over and over because it was so surreal."
Up close, the presidential candidate looked just a little bit tired on Saturday. Still he was able to energize the crowd. Malinda Langford, a campaign canvasser from Alexandria, Va., told OffTheBus she can feel that same energy whenever Virginia volunteers get together. "Last week 300 volunteers knocked on 10,000 doors! Even volunteers from Maryland drove down to help us. It was awesome."
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The Bush Boy has screwed up sooooo badly and exsposed many of the " Republican Brand " characteristics to be a sham ( such as resposible federal spending ) , many Republican strong holds will flip to the Democrats this November. The military vote in Virginia will be a prime example of this coming sea change.
----Nostrodamus
See Diane Tucker's Profile
The last day to register new voters is October 6th. To find the VA/Obama canvassing office near you click on: http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/vaoffices. Go get 'em!
By the accepted and time-tested and proven dictum that Democrats are doing whatever they accuse Republicans of doing, one can expect much voter fraud from ACORN and other groups in close states--the closer the vote, the more the voter fraud.
Wasn't Obama working for ACORN for a long time? Has anyone investigated whether he was registering fraudulent voters or blackmailing lending institutions to give shaky loans to people who didn't qualify?
See Diane Tucker's Profile
Here's the link to an OffTheBus post on ACORN:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-atlas/acorn-under-the-microscop_b_112503.html
Thanks for reading!
I accepted the invitation to google ACORN and Obama that one of these Rove/Republican mouthpieces issued. What comes up are blogs that make critical allegations. And when you follow the links to the "authoritarian" news reports and fact-based articles, guess what: the ACORN offenses (paid people, some with criminal records, and a few in a few disparate places fraudulenty registering people, getting caught and fired by ACORN before the authorities had to step in) don't have a thing to do with Obama. They're kind of similar to the problems that have plagued petition drives in California and elsewhere.
So get off it. Another manufactured piece of misinformation by the Republican propaganda machine circulated by people who are willing to circulate trash in order to damage Obama.
But do they have "nothing to do with Obama" because nobody's investigated what Obama did for ACORN? I mean INVESTIGATED, as in having hundreds descend upon the area as with the hordes in Alaska investigating Sarah Palin?
If there has been no serious investigation, how could one conclude that Obama had nothing to do with such? Just asking...
HuffPost's Pick
I was one of those volunteers from Maryland mentioned in the last line of the article that drove down to Virginia to canvass this last weekend. The turnout was fantastic and the energy and optimism at the Maryland meeting point and the VA campaign office were palpable. I was encouraged by the level of interest and civility of those who took the time to speak with me at their front door. Taking into consideration the general tone of the voters I spoke with, I think McCain is being tone-deaf with his relentless ad hominem attacks on Obama and his derisive and condescending tone. People may be angry and anxious but they still want vision and plans and solutions, and instead all McCain keeps spouting is snarky attacks and insults.
WashPost independent? analysis (seriously, they favor liberal/democrat) found that it was Obama's ads that were unrelentingly negative, 77% or so, compared to a much lower number for McCain. But don't let FACTS get in your way!
you lose
They call negative any ad that talks about the other person....it does not have to be a lie or angry...just naming the other person.
They found that McCain's ads were more false.
Obama/ Biden ready to help us turn this mess around! No way McCain/Palin!
I've never been so engaged in an election - and I'm almost 60. I'm out registering voters and being vocal with my support. (It's amazing what you can say when it is said with civility and respect. I take my cues from our candidate.)
This one is too important, too pivotal, not to be involved.
OBAMA/BIDEN '08
I just got someone new who had never voted to register Dem and will vote for Obama. One vote at a time. I've never been this poltically involved. This time is very different.
I'm voting straight Democrat this time and its been the first time in my life I've done that. I've been voting since 1972 and I've always looked at the candidate not the party affiliation. This time I've had it. I can't stand anything associated with the Republican party.
I'm done. Not republican will get my vote.
Are Americans are really ready to vote for change? If you blieve McCain when he says change is on the way, I have ocean front property to sell you in Arizona. We need to earn back the respect of our allies and if we continue to vote Bush policies, we will continue to look as stupid as Bush and McCain. Let's not forget that McCain supported almost every Bush doctorine. He is trying to distance himself, but in the debate Fri. night he proved that it is HE who doesn't get it. He continues to focus on Iraq when the problem all along has been in Afganistan and Pakistan. Obama never said he was throwing in the towel in Iraq, he just said that we need an intelligent exit plan, we need to reduce troops and focus on finding Bin Ladin and holding Pakistan accountable for supporting the Taliban. As far as our economic problems, don't get me started. One day McCain says our economy is sound, yet Fri. he said it is a disasterous. He keeps changing his position when he thinks he is losing ground. He forgets what he said the week before. He says he will take care of the vets, but his voting record proves the opposite. If one of our elderly relatives acted like this, we'd be calling the nursing homes to see if they have openings. PLEASE America, prove to us and the world that you really love this great country of ours.
If you care about our veterans and this country of ours...
...Don't vote for John McCain.
McCain voted against our troops MANY times in the senate.
John McCain voted AGAINST 20 million dollars for veteran care facilities.
John McCain voted AGAINST $322 million for safety equipment for our troops in Iraq.
John McCain voted AGAINST $1 billion dollars in new equipment for the National Guard.
John McCain voted AGAINST Jim Webb's G.I. Bill.
John McCain voted AGAINST $430 million for veterans outpatient care.
Barack voted FOR all of these troop support initiatives.
They deserve better than McCain.
We deserve better than McCain.
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS AND VOTE FOR BARACK OBAMA FOR PRESIDENT
Obama VS. McCain: Who Should You Vote For?
http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/matthewhencke/gG5tH5
If You Are Thinking About Voting For John McCain/Sarah Palin...
...First Ask Yourselves These Questions:
http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/matthewhencke/gGxVK9
If you care about veterans vote for McCain
By The Numbers: What Barack Obama's No Vote Could Have Meant For America's Veterans:
ﾃす $595 million for medical facilities
ﾃす $228.982 million in additional funds to treat veterans of the global war on terror
ﾃす $20 million for vet centers and re-adjustment counseling
ﾃす $30 million to establish at least one new Level I comprehensive polytrauma center
ﾃす $9.4 million for operations costs associated with the establishment of new polytrauma residential transitional rehabilitation programs
ﾃす $10 million for additional transition caseworkers to work with separating veterans and their families
ﾃす $10 million for rehabilitation programs for vision impaired veterans
ﾃす $100 million for enhancements to mental health services
ﾃす $20 mi llion for substance abuse treatment programs
ﾃす $8 million for poly trauma clinic support teams
ﾃす $25 million for prosthetics
ﾃす $250 million for the administration of the VA health care system
ﾃす $32.5 million for medical and prosthetic research
ﾃす $83.2 million for general operating expenses
ﾃす $326 million in construction funding for VA-identified needs
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS AND VOTE FOR BARACK MCCAIN FOR PRESIDENT
!!!! NOBAMA !!!!
Vote for Barack McCain? I sense a Freudian slip .....
You have five weeks to make the right choice for veterans and America ...
Wrong.
Veterans grade McCain at 20%...Obama at 80%.
So you tell me, if you care about Veterans...who would you vote for?
http://gawker.com/5055857/veterans-for-obama
Maryland? Maryland is solid Democratic, though I imagine there's still registration and turnout work to do. I hope DC and Maryland volunteers concentrate more on Virginia once registration is done!
I volunteered at the Obama Rally here in Jacksonville, FL on Sept. 20th, and when I tell you that we had at least 13,000 people inside the Metro Park and another 12,00-14,000 outside wanting to get in, I'm telling the truth! I was helping with the ADA to escort disabled supporters in and got locked out myself, but it was well worth it!
I have to report at 7am, and there were at least 50 suppoerters milling around to get in at 12:30 that afternoon!
Obama has WAY more support than what's being reported. I am young and I am SO proud of my fellow Americans, young and old, who are taking this election seriously.
I know exactly how Angela Petroutsa feels. When Senator Obama came to Allentown PA in March I had the opportunity to shake his hand. Later I had to laugh at myself because when he gripped my hand I gripped his back, but I kind of forgot to let go. I guess the excitement got me. I could feel him trying to gently extricate his hand and then I let go. Those kinds of moments are silly, in the grand scheme of things, but it was a memorable experience. He has had my vote since Feb 2007.
Thinking about all those people in the pouring rain - in Allentown we stood in the rain for hours till we could go inside the gymnasium - reminded me of the primary campaign events in the winter, when people walked for miles through snow, and stood in the cold for hours. Someday children will read about this in history class. Hopefully, they'll also read about the brilliant work done by the Obama administration 2009-2017.
Obama volunteers are a classy lot - I know from the people I've worked with. I think the focus must now be on GOTV. Any McCain supporter who STILL backs this pathetic candidate, simply cannot be dissuaded. After the virtual collapse of the financial sector (the DOW is down about 550 as I write this); a deceitful Iraqi war (that McCain loves) that has now been fought longer than the Second World War; stagnant wages for most Americans with the Billionaire class exploding; huge numbers of jobs sent overseas and arguably the worst VP pick in modern history - if that doesn't move you to vote for a brilliant, committed, thoughtful guy like Barack, then, brother - you are unreachable. GOTV. That's where it's at from now until November 4th. Keep up the great volunteering.
inditer you are absolutely right. I was working the phone bank in Sevrna Park Maryland for the Obama Campaign, and the group of volunteers I was working with on my shift were awesome.
The air was electric with excitement and the time went so fast, befor I knew it the next shift had arrived.
It is the most exciting thing that I have experienced.
I was at the Fredericksburg event and was very impressed by the neo-Woodstock spirit of the crowd. They put up with heavy rain, and even when Republicans paraded by with a huge, crowd-baiting "McCain-Palin" billboard, nobody got bothered. But looking back, somebody should have confiscated that "McCain-Palin" billboard and put it to better use as cover from the rain...
Michelle & Jill were @ Florida A.M University Saturday. I volunteered to work the event. It was awesome!! Michelle is so cute & down-to-earth. It was great!! This is the LAST week to register voters, people. Get Busy!!!!!
It is inspiring to see these two accomplished, smart women as the candidates' partners. Each is impressive in her own right.
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