TAMPA BAY, Florida (CNN) – Barack Obama told voters here the tenor of the campaign is only going to get worse but that apparently he had found an ally in the fight against Republican attacks: GOP vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin..
“We’ve seen it before. And we’re seeing it again. Ugly phone calls. Misleading mail and TV ads. Careless, outrageous comments. All aimed at keeping us from working together, all aimed at stopping change,” he told a crowd of thousands at Steinbrenner Field. “It’s getting so bad that even Senator McCain’s running mate denounced his tactics last night. You know, you really have to work hard to violate Governor Palin’s standards on negative campaigning, you’ve got to work hard. ...
“What we know is that change never comes without a fight. Power concedes nothing without a fight. In the final days of campaigns, the say-anything, do-anything politics too often takes over,” Obama said.
Watch: Obama mocks Palin for speaking against her campaign's robo calls
Palin told reporters Sunday that if she were in charge of the campaign there would be more time spent one-on-one with voters and less time on “the old conventional ways of campaigning that includes those robo-calls.”
The Obama campaign descended on Florida Monday, the first day Floridians could vote early. The Democratic nominee and Hillary Clinton were scheduled to campaign together in Orlando. Clinton held a solo event earlier in Ft. Lauderdale. Michelle Obama and New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson will headline separate events across the state on Tuesday.
Polls have shown the state all but tied and the Obama campaign aides think if “sporadic voters” can be mobilized to cast a ballot early, that may be the edge they need to win.
“I want everybody after this rally, if you have not already voted I want you to go vote. Don’t wait until November 4th you don’t know what might happen on Nov 4th. Your car might break down, you might have an emergency, you might the alarm might not go off you don’t get to work on time. So take the advantage of early vote,” Obama implored the crowd.
According to Steve Schale, the Obama campaign’s Florida state director, estimates are that over 40 percent of the state’s residents will either vote early or vote absentee. Schale also said the campaign is estimating that as many as 9 million Floridians will vote in this election.
Schale said he had a “fairly decent level of confidence” in the ability of election officials to handle the expected Election Day voting crush. But he did concede some concern over how recent state budget cuts could impact local election boards, saying this first day of early voting is a “big test.”
From CNN Politics
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EPIC WIN: "You know, you really have to work hard to violate Governor Palin’s standards on negative campaigning, you’ve got to work hard. …"
Keep up the good work Obama, You are almost home baby. The tides of this war are about to cease.
Obama/Biden 08/12
OBAMA
BELIEVES THERE ARE MANY WAYS TO HEAVEN BUT YOU NEED TO COME TO THE UNDERSTANDING THE SCRIPTURE JOHN 14:6
Palin is so clueless that she can't even keep a consistent thought or message in her head for more than one campaign stop. She's so lame that she can't even convincingly make fun of herself on Saurday Night Live. What a bore and a dunce in one seriously flawed package.
Things get a little tighter in the polls, undecideds start saying who they will vote for, and the Obama's ground game comes into play.
I don't think Mccain supporters are quite as ready to vote as Obama supporters are.
Go out and VOTE!!
Two weeks and Caribou Barbie goes back to the Klondike!
Palin is saying again that she will continue to tie Obama to terrorists because he has not told the truth about Ayers. Two weeks to go – why don't McCain & Palin come right out with what they have if it he poses such a danger. There is nothing there so all they do is plant the seeds of doubt that will sprout into accusations and flower into accepted mythology.
If they have the goods on Ayers/Obama they must spill the beans. If not, move on...
McCain/Palin/Rove/Schmidt/Limbaugh – how much lower can this country go? None – they are scum beneath scum.
actually Palin said the robo calls are irritating people. this sums up the entire McCain campaign irritating. Nov. 4th cannot come soon enough.
Race no so close as the media is trying to play it Barry. Lets face it, you gots lot's of questionable dollars but you will loose by 3 states. You been at it for 2 years but nobody wants a liberl balckman in the W.H.
So true, Senator Obama! Palin disagrees now with the top of her ticket on both the gay marriage bill and the robo call issues. A house divided cannot stand, Sarah. I cast my early vote ballot on Saturday to bring Obama and Biden and the change we need to the White House!!
YES WE CAN!!!
I've already voted early for THAT ONE and i am proud to say that i try to tell everyone to vote early also. Mr. McNasty and his running mate should not have a chance to get their ugly message out on the robo calls that spread hate, devision, and violence. We know who tried to stay above the low tatics that they have tried to convince the voters of, is the kind of President that we want in Our White House.
Floridians: Please vote early because the hurricane season is not officially over. We would not want you to stay home on the 4th because Mother Nature is on the prowl. As to the in-house feud – that's what happens when nobody is in charge and the elbow is confused with the derriere.
Here, here! Early voting is a key. Here in Texas we are fortunate to have early voting. It started today. I will take advantage of thissprivilege this Saturday bright and early.
Brack, you have my vote, my confidence and my support.
My candidate for president is superior to the competition and you would have to be an insane foo to vote otherwise. My candidate has the best campaign this nation has ever seen. My candidate is going to win this election. My candidate is Barack Obama...YA DIG?!?
The McCain-Palin campaign is disorganized decietful and filled with hate. Our campaign is about Hope, Change and bringing this great nation together. Their campaign is still talking about Obama, ya know, "That One".
The Democratic Party as a whole will be charged with fixing the problems brought on by 8 years of republican rule. And the vote America casts on the 4th of November will present a solid unified and direct call for change.
VOTE FOR DEMOCRATS
VOTE FOR OBAMA
THAT ONE '08
Vote early. I already did.
Hey Mccain, you just won the NEGATIVUS Award.
You are in third place only after the negative campaigns your mentor BUSH ran against you and John Kerry
This person has no idea which end is up or down. So very sad how McSame has exploited her & her family.
Leadership and temperament!
Early Vote!
Obama/Biden'08'12
Early voting is the way to go.
Registered Republican "voted" Obama/Biden 08
Palin is a joke & so is McCain. But I feel sorry for McCain than I do for Palin. McCain is being led down the wrong part by those idiots he call campaign managers. The reason why the Republicans will not wins is because America has seen how ugly, mean & racist they can be. Not just to black people but to everyone that does not look like them! All the negative racist things in the news are all by a republican...why is that? They are a disgrace to America!
"Goonies never say die!"
Did you know that the star of "W" is Josh Brolin, the older brother in Goonies?
This Goonie is voting for Obama.
It is hard to believe that Palin made a statement that makes sense. We need more leaders like General Powell to say there is enough of this foolishness. I am sure there are more people that want to see this country move forward.
obama you need to tell biden.to watch what he says.this telling people you will be tested.hard in first six months sound like he is working for mccain.camp.we hear enough scare tactics coming out of mcbush .camp biden dont need to be using scare tactics.against his on campaign. MAYBE YOU SHOULD HAVE PICKED HILLARY
BEN BERNANKE IS NOW A SOCIALIST!
Yep, the Fed chairman now agrees with the nasty socialist Democrats and that nasty socialist Senator Obama that the federal government needs to actively stimulate the economy.
OR – maybe chairman Bernanke ISN'T a socialist – and neither are the Democrats. Maybe what they REALLY are is PRO-AMERICAN PATRIOTS!!!!!
We've got your back Barack.
Vote O/B08