December 17, 2007
Posted: December 17th, 2007 10:00 PM ET

Obama's campaign is touting education in a new South Carolina TV ad.

COLUMBIA, South Carolina (CNN) - Sen. Barack Obama's campaign will launch a new television ad in South Carolina on Tuesday that promotes his education plan, its second television ad buy in the state.

A version of the 30-second spot, called "Chances I Had," has already run in New Hampshire. The ad includes snippets of Obama's biography along with elements of his education message.

"My parents weren't rich," Obama says in the ad. "My father left me when I was very young. The one thing I was able to get was a great education. We should give every child the same chances that I had."

Obama says investing in teachers alone is not enough to fix education, and that "we need parents to turn off the television and instill in our children a sense of excellence."

An Associated Press poll earlier this month ranked education as the fourth most important issue to Democratic primary voters in South Carolina, behind Iraq, health care and the economy.

Obama briefly ran a television ad here in late November called "Hope and Change."

Former Sen. John Edwards has run four different TV ads in South Carolina and has seen his poll numbers climb slightly as a result. Sen. Hillary Clinton has yet to run a television ad in the state.

A CNN poll of Democratic primary voters released last week showed Clinton leading in the state with 42 percent, followed by Obama at 34 percent and Edwards in third with 16 percent.

– CNN South Carolina Producer Peter Hamby

Filed under: Barack Obama • South Carolina


htp,seattle,wa   December 20th, 2007 7:22 pm ET

Mr.Obama, I supported you right at the get go until Oprah came into the picture. Oprah and your wife overpowered you and made you look like a freshman in college. It makes me wonder from that day if you're really prepared for the job. Our country desperately needs someone with experiences to tackle the crisis that we are facing…trillions of dollars in deficit, less allies and more ennemies in the world, the middle class americans are suffering of high rise cost of living and much more…
You're a very likeable and inspirational candidate but may be not now…may be nine years from now??? Our country can not afford to train another president.

Bob, Delaware, OH   December 18th, 2007 9:37 pm ET

Oh, and let me tell you this too Obama people (it's a dirty little secret): Racists can dish it out, but they cant...(guess). lol

LQ, Rochester MN   December 18th, 2007 9:00 pm ET

lianette, please, check your spelling and grammar before posting. It's really almost impossible to understand what you are trying to say.
Or maybe you do need another course in English?
You say:
"we the people who you need our votes care of what's going to happen to our country. We are very realistic. We are smart voters NOW. We are intelligent voters. We can no longer vote with emotions. We will vote for the best of our country.

So far………Hillary has those qualities………experienc, knowledge, tough, determined. I am so gald that she is running for President. I know Hillary will do everythin in her power to change and rebuild our country."

I agree that Hill is smart, tough and determined, but please explain to me what kind of experience she has. How is she more qualified than Biden, Dodd or Richardson?

T., Huntington, Indiana   December 18th, 2007 8:31 pm ET

Unfortunately white people feel that we can not afford to have an African American President, for one, white people are not allowed to represent or display their heritage or it is considered discrimatory. Secondly, white people do not have all these activists or civil rights committees ready to back them up when they are discriminated against. We need an intelligent President, no more unqualified people need to represent our country. We need a person that will focus on our country, not Africa!

Bob Delaware OH   December 18th, 2007 2:13 pm ET

Obama needs to openly and very agressively reject racism for the evil that it is.

lianette   December 18th, 2007 12:53 pm ET

I have not against to Obama but He is not the best qualified to be the president. Obama does not have the experience to do the job. Our situation right now under this administration is critical. We stained our face around the world. We need someone who can do the job the first day of office. We cannot afford to run this country of what the advisers will tell you what to do as soon as you start the office because you don't have that experience. To be a President is very serious position. We cannot afford advisers to run our country. Look what happening now under this administration. Controversy from firing US Attorneys to destroying tapes to wiretapping to leaking names......and so on.

I am really sorry but we don't need soemone with no or less experience. Our lives are at stake.........we the poor people.........the middle class people. Rich people do not care but we the people who you need our votes care of what's going to happen to our country. We are very realistic. We are smart voters NOW. We are intelligent voters. We can no longer vote with emotions. We will vote for the best of our country.

So far.........Hillary has those qualities.........experienc, knowledge, tough, determined. I am so gald that she is running for President. I know Hillary will do everythin in her power to change and rebuild our country.

seith,iowa   December 18th, 2007 12:41 pm ET

John Edwards knows you can't bring the selfish – greedy – and cruel intentions of 'Special Interest' to the table because they do not have the interest of a common solution. John Edwards is the person that will represent US in Washington DC. It's about time we had representation. We need barack!

Beth Chicago, IL - HILLARY '08   December 18th, 2007 11:55 am ET

YAY HILLARY '08 :)

Independent in IA   December 18th, 2007 5:25 am ET

Unless whatever administration comes to power drastically changes the entire educational system from the concept of 'get-'em-in, get-'em-out' mentality, hope and 'turning off the television' aren't worth the powder to blow them to hell.

'Dumbing-down' the system has become the watchword in many districts. Drop-out rates are climbing among minority youth because it's easier to slide along on both the welfare system and illegal profits to be made from dealing dope and other crimes.

Grandiose rhetoric is fine in the fantasy world Obama lives in, but in reality the system will never be changed simply because it won't be allowed to. Congress fights amonst themselves and the Executive Branch and the Executive Branch holds the threat of Veto. Ego and politics override common sense as we have seen all to often in past years.

Pedro, Las Vegas, NV   December 18th, 2007 3:44 am ET

I've pretty much tuned out all CNN polls, seeing as most other polls hint at the contrary. In fact, on an average of all polls, Obama and Big Sister are tied at 31%. CNN neglects to report on this for obvious reasons. I remember after the 2004 elections, that douche Bill Scheider instantly alluded to a Hillary run in '08... It's ridiculous. She will not get the nomination, and if she does, it will only result in another Democratic loss–even if the Republican nominee is someone like Huckabee, I still see any Republican coming on top.

Anom cal   December 18th, 2007 12:23 am ET

Obama is smoking Billary in the polls
Hahahahahahaha

I don't hear Billary cackling anymore!

Tony Clark, FL   December 17th, 2007 11:56 pm ET

I'm so tired of people asking if we're ready for a african american president. We've been ready for u, and not because of your RACE, because we are all so ready for CHANGE. No more BS, No more flip flopping, so no more Clintons (:

hey allons,tn   December 17th, 2007 11:50 pm ET

hey you got a great Education we should give every child the same chance I went to a 85% black school and all they wanted to do was to beat the Dixie out of me just because I was from the south and white I want a president for all the people see I have been there clinton or Edwards 08

KEITH JAMES LOUTTIT   December 17th, 2007 11:27 pm ET

Hey Barack: Maybe you should get emotional next time you're viewed in public, I think Hill and Mitt have you playing catch-up! Maybe you could talk about how badly you feel every time you think about all the money you take home from our taxes, and somehow don't seem to be able to show anything beyond your own personal ambitions for a result of your hard work while in the Senate? I'm sure you might even garner some support from someone? We all like tear-jerker stories, and haven't yet heard yours, except maybe how you grew up with a less than perfect tennis coach or maybe an older car to be driven to school in?

Talk to us, Barack, talk to us like we're not half as stupid as you think. We might really fool you and vote for you.

Sue, Macungie, PA   December 17th, 2007 10:34 pm ET

Hillary Rodham, Clinton,
Be proud, you are loved, you are honest, you are the only person who can save us from these venomous, vicious, slanderous men, and the destructors of our happy families. They are seeking office for money, fame - YOU are seeking office to create a better world.
HOLD ON HILLARY – THO THE MAN WORLD MAY DEFEAT YOU – YOU WILL ALWAYS BE OUR ONLY TRUE "NEW BEGINNINGS"person.
You are and always will be an honored person. HOW Dare the men make this a sexual battle!!!!!

S.K.M. Boston Mass   December 17th, 2007 10:34 pm ET

If Obama wins IA and NH, then he'll have SC in the bag. Even if he doesn't take one of the first two, so long as he has a strong showing in the second I think he'll go on to take SC. SC is only going for Clinton because they think she has the best chance of winning. Theoretical matchups pitting HRC or Obama against the Republicans has Obama winning more decisively. Oh, and CAN YOU SSSSSMEEEEELLLLL... what BARACK... is cooking...?

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