Obama Primes Virginia Supporters For Potomac Primary

An estimated 18,000 people gathered in Virginia Beach to see presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama.

"This has got to be the biggest political rally in Virginia Beach history," said U.S. Rep. Bobby Scott, warming up the massive crowd squeezed in to the city's new convention center. Scott asked the crowd, "Is this going to be the first year Virginia elects a Democrat for president since 1964?"

Well, Democrats in Virginia seem to be on a roll.

Sen. Jim Webb proved that Virginia is not hostile territory for Democrats with his narrow victory over incumbent Republican George Allen in 2006. And, former Democratic Governor Mark Warner's approval rating was at record levels before he left office in 2005, paving the way for his current bid for Senate, and helping Governor Tim Kaine maintain the Democrats' hold on the Commonwealth along the way.

Kaine even took his turn pumping up the crowd, leading the rally with a chorus of "Yes, we can."

For many in attendance, it was their first time at a political rally for a presidential candidate. Reflecting the signage around the convention center, many Obama supporters referenced "Change" as the reason for their endorsement.

"It's a change--a big change from what the government's used to," said Jonathon Miner, a 23 year old Virginia Beach native who convinced his mom to come along with him to the rally because he got an email invitation from the campaign after church. "Bush, Clinton, Bush, Clinton? That sounds like a dynasty to me, not democracy," added Miner, who recently returned from a 15-month tour in Iraq with the Army's 134th Brigade Combat Team, and recently passed his tests to become a police officer in Virginia.

Miner's mother, Sheila, had seen one other presidential campaign before during her childhood in New York City--President Kennedy. "We saw the dream. We saw Camelot. We can see it again."

Renee Graves, a 23-year-old resident of Williamsburg, said that she was looking forward to having a president that "represents the people and what they look like, and is not just representing the majority." Graves said, "I wouldn't mind if the president used to work for McD's, at least we would know where they came from."

Many of the young voters at the political rally did not feel that presidential candidates needed to have experience to be qualified for the job. Kristen Wilson, a 2005 graduate from Roanoke College, analogized the "presidential experience" question to joining the work force right after college. "It's tough to get that first job because all interviewers look for is 'experience', but you can't have experience until you've had the job," Graves said, explaining the Catch-22.

But, in the end, there can only be so much discussion about "change" and "experience" and it comes down to the votes. By the time Obama took the stage, the election results from the weekend had all poured in.

Obama spoke. "We have now won on the Atlantic coast, we've won in the Gulf Coast, we won on the Pacific Coast and we won in between those coasts."

The Potomac Primary awaits.

Comments

[chowdertalk]

The Hope sellers wife thinks that running for a state senate seat and that of the running for the presidency are the same except that more people are going to watch you.Said today on Larry King Live
Come on guys, Bill is anyday better at the white house. Discount the cigars. The need to bring back the glory of USA is paramount and you cant mess around that position with a novoice.

[schoolmaster]

With the message of hope, Obama is adroitly fulfilling his hope of presidency. How about Hillary and her hope. Her hope is in conflict with that of Obama and why would Obama care? That is the point. Everybody has some hope or other. They do not require to be preached to keep hope. The question is how one would be prepared to give up his or her own hope to fulfil the hope of others. It is important that all should have hope in harmony with that of others, but not in conflict.

[robynuva]

Tomorrow I get to vote, for the first time in 47 years, for a person who has the idealism I was raised to believe defined this country. When I was seven years old my mom woke me up at 3 am to tell me that Senator Kennedy had been shot. Since then, no one has moved me to believe we can be better as a whole than we can ever be seperately. Barak Obam has made me believe again.

Yes We Can.

[deb813]

I'm from New York, I'm a 48 year old white woman and you just explained my vote for Obama last week better then I ever could. It's hard sometimes to watch the Hillary and not become cynical but when it comes right down to it Hope is a better emotion then cynicism. Thanks.

[Earl]

I just want to know who Monica is going to endorse.

[loisinthepink]

I'll say it again....if you want to know how either BO or HC will run the White House and hence, the nation, look at how they have run their campaigns.

I agree with 'justme'. HC has not shown leadership or good judgement in chosing those that are working closest to her. Seems like this is about the third time her campaign has has a redo.

Also, just because my husband was a basketball coach doesn't mean I have the skill or experience to coach basketball.

[johnnygoodwud]

here's a glimse into a typical nite in the clinton whitehouse. bill,'hi hillary how was your day'? well, hill my day was pretty good. i got a $2million 'consulting fee' today from xyz company. they make wigits for the defense industry. i think these guys are well hillary. you think you might help them out. thanks, and oh yeah, i won't be home tonight, i'm having a few brews with the boys, don't wait up honey pie

[evahartselftlanguages]

TO: Senator Barack Obama February 11, 20089


You once asked what was the mindset that led us into this wrongful,unjust War in Irag that has led to so many terrible deaths and tortures of our soldiers and Iraqis.

I feel the mistakes that were made are as following:

Firstly, War is Too Important a Decision to be Made by One Person. Congress Declares War. Vanza Devereaux The Government of a Free Nation '63

Secondly, President James Madison, Father of the Constitution, stated,"Because we cannot always trust all peoples in a government we need to put in the three forms of Balances and Checks to be sure honesty and truth prevail."

Thirdly, President John Adams was shaken off his Perch when he saw all the Courts destroyed by the British. President Adams at first felt we must use legal means to solve our differences with problems of society. He strongly advocated this. He came closer to his famous cousin Samual Adams who was leader of the Sons of Liberty. They went to the Governor's House in Boston,Mass and upset the Mansion. No violence was used however as the historian points out and of course we should not use violence to solve problems. We must know history as well. Improved Civic lessons are needed.

Before and during the War with Britian America had leaders who helped shape what America thought and did about the British. It's right and just to protest an unjust War.

In 1945 the U.N. began because people of many nations and America were heartsick that so many soldiers had died in WWII. It's right and just to protest an unjust War.

Eva Hart Christian Army 62-70 670 Eddy St. Sfc 94109 Rec job Sec of Def 64

[JUSTME]

It turns out Hillary had no idea how much money she had in her campaign coffers. Huh? What kind of money management is that? I don't have a lot of money, but I know what I've got in my checkbook down to the penny.

If Hillary picked someone who lied to her about her bank balance and who could not manage either the campaign or its finances, what does that say about Hillary's judgment in picking people for pivotal posts?

And when the chips fall, she picks a new campaign manager who is tainted by her (Clinton) White House experience as an accomplice to the raising of tainted campaign funds from an illegal donor? This is really NOT good judgment.

I've got to ask myself how many more bad choices she would make when the time comes to pick a cabinet or the chairman of the joint chiefs or the national security advisor or a new Supreme Court justice?

The fact that Bill could womanize and cheat of Hillary so publicly and so openly for so many years, does speak volumes for the disdain with which Bill treats Hillary and the lack of self-worth that she must feel for herself. No normal, self-respecting woman would put up with that kind of humiliation and enable such atrocious conduct. No amount of love would make a self-respecting woman overlook such betrayal and contempt. That she should continue to remain in such a bizarre relationship does not speak well of her at all.

[teahead]

You gotta remember...this is a woman who was duped by George Bush of all people about going to war in Iraq.

All of that experience and what does that get her?

Voting for cluster bombs/land mines, flag-burning bans, Iran terrorist labelling, bankruptcy bill, etc.

Why won't she release her tax records? Why won't she release the Clinton library records?

[Lalo]

He "PRIMES" his supporters... And they mindlessly, uncritically, unquestioningly, unthinkingly, march on. Like Zombies.

[ray3]

This is insulting to people who support Obama based on thoughtful considerations.
1)He has a plan to get us out of Iraq in 16 months.
Hillary does not
2)He had 1 earmark for disabled children during his senate career.
Hillary has 261 earmarks over 150 going to the defense industry in New York. It's in her finacial interest to keep us in Iraq.
3)Obama is a community organizer and wants to communicate to solve problems, his successful passage of Illinois state health insurance video taping police interrogations ect.
Hillary is top down and does not believe in talking to our enemies for the first year in office.
Obama 08

[Navy26Yrs]

Sort of like the Bushistas, only not as corrupt and warlike right?

[BikerJim]

I have studied both His and Hillary's position statements, I have a PhD and I have livied 53 years on this earth including some time in Vietnam. I think I am not mindless, uncritical, unquestining, or unthinking. What is really killing me is that the Obama Haters all (okay not all but it seems like most) always say that the Obama supporters are Clinton haters, and zombies....Hardly

[GhostOfSchlesinger]

I concur with many others.

It seems you've sort of run out of steam on actual arguments. Hence, these rather strange outbursts - understandable from Clinton surrogates, but inexplicable from an actual voter.

One would hope that you would take a step back and examine your positions. Maybe you've some questions to ask yourself as regards the vitriol that you've substituted for logic.

Is this, perhaps, personal to you as a result of some earlier experience in your own life; or are you perhaps parroting positions fed you by another?

I would argue that we're in a quite important political season - even an historic one. That's why I think it's important that we look a little closer and demand a bit more of ourselves this year.

The old politics of smear simply will not do.

Best wishes to you and to your candidate.

[Acebass]

Is he man enough to be President. We Edwards Democrats have our doubts...

[BikerJim]

oh come on, He was a union organizer in Chicago, how much more do we need to know??? He is tough enough.... And with John Edwards as his AG, the corporations will be shaking in their boots....

[ebbtide]

Being a man does not always mean being confrontational in a loud voice. What is up with Edwards not endorsing? He is not being a man with the convictions of his stands. He is playing a game and betting on a lucrative job, as far as I can see. He is being a slough. Sorry, I know he had a lot of supporters who believed in his message, defending the poor and the working people, but now? He is willing to drop it all if Hillary presents a proposition to him that will benefit him? Feh. So much for the swing around anything candidate who had a theme but how much of that theme was honest, I wonder. He got nowhere with it and you can blame the media and you can blame everyone else, but the fact remains his message went nowhere and he was in charge of his campaign. I do not doubt he is a good man, but come on, what is with this game he is playing with an endorsement that means nothing at all at this point?

[Ohg]

"Transparent" is a word that has been used of late - it implies openness - all things revealed. The transparency of Obama reinforces the color of water...
http://thefiresidepost.com/2008/02/11/barack-obama-the-color-of-water/

[Jellybelly]

I think Hillary should just give up now and pledge her delegates to Obama. She should know that the next president will be in for only one term seeing that we will be in a depression and that person in office will be blamed for it. President Obama will be just like President Carter.

[InOv8]

Experience? What do we really mean by "experience"? Too often, one's "experience" is the experience of having been insulated from the challenges that an ordinary citizen of a community or a nation faces or that which a "worker bee" faces while the "experienced" occupies an office in an ivory tower far removed from the reality of the workplace. If we as a nation value the experience of the insulated, we will never elect anyone who actually even begins to understand the challenges we face and what needs to be done to address them. As for me, I'll go with the community organizer who chose to be with the community he hoped to serve at the outset of his career. That for me is the requisite experience it takes to effectively lead as only then are the implications of policy fully appreciated. Go Obama!

[vegasobserver]

Well said...

[jacklambert]

Super delegates are not going to matter and it will make Clinton look even more foolish. The Clintons are running a campaign straight out of the Republican playbook and telling us that they would be more able to deal with Republican attacks.
One thing is for sure....'The People' are paying attention like they never have before. They know the game plan, they know the media game and they know the special interest game. politics as usual doesn't cut it any more.
The previous Administration has been a catastrophe and the so called elected Opposition is a joke (or would be if it was funny)
After this tsunami there will be elected Representatives on both sides of the isle out of a job.

[Countess]

Is the Clinton-Bush stranglehold really coming to an end? Super delegates or the undeserving party hacks could still steal it for the Clintons.

[BeyondKen]

Exactly how can less than 20% of the delegates 'steal' anything from a majority of more than 80%?

[BikerJim]

Easy if the 80% is split and both have 40% then the 20% could make a BIG difference....

[Ides]

Because there won't be a majority of 80%. There may be a majority of 55%, and if every superdelegate went the other way the one trailing would win.

[jacklambert]

Super delegates are not going to matter and it will make Clinton look even more foolish. The Clintons are running a campaign straight out of the Republican playbook and telling us that they would be more able to deal with Republican attacks.
One thing is for sure....'The People' are paying attention like they never have before. They know the game plan, they know the media game and they know the special interest game. politics as usual doesn't cut it any more.
The previous Administration has been a catastrophe and the so called elected Opposition is a joke (or would be if it was funny)
After this tsunami there will be elected Representatives on both sides of the isle out of a job.