Obama campaign shifts focus to general election states
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/05/12/art.obama.smiles.jpg caption="Barack Obama's campaign said they are campaigning in places to be competitive this fall."]
(CNN) - Barack Obama’s campaign says the Democratic presidential hopeful is now focusing his attention on general election battleground states, with plans to appear in Missouri Tuesday and the announcement of his first campaign stops of the year in both Michigan and Florida.
“Our schedule reflects the fact that we are still fighting for votes and delegates in the remaining contests but also that we are going to places that are going to be competitive in the fall,” Obama campaign spokeswoman Jen Psaki said Monday.
Voters in both Michigan and Florida went to the polls in January, but no delegates were awarded because of national party penalties for their early primary dates. None of the major presidential candidates campaigned in either swing state, and Obama did not appear on the ballot in Michigan. Hillary Clinton won both contests.
Obama will head to Macomb County, Michigan on Tuesday night and make two stops in the state the following day. He will also spend three days in Florida beginning on May 21, with planned campaign stops in Miami, Tampa, Orlando and Palm Beach County.
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OBAMA 08! whether people need to rethink party satus or not, a LOT of the votes for Clinton will go to McCain before they go to Obama. In case people have not been paying attention, the Independents are the fastest growing segment of the population, I have lived in MA and supported kennedy – carter – Clinton - but will absolutely vote for McCain before voting for Obama as barack is just not ready for this role – maybe in 4-8 years, but NOT now. we need somebody experienced in there to clean this up. I trust Clinton and would vote for her. I also trust McCain and would give him my vote is Clinton was not in the race.
Hillary should go to these 2 states also and let the people see that she is fighting for them. What Obama is doing is so cheesy since their votes haven't counted in the primary yet.
hey come on FL and MI broke the rules, it's not fare for the people of theses two states, but it's also not Clitons or Obamas fault that the two states broke the rule. the people of both states should take up the anger with their state officials and not the candidates. and ya lets face it if Clinton was ahead she would not want MI or florida to count same for Obama. its like wining a football game and saying oh let me lower my points to make the other team and thier friends happy.
All Hilary supporters please vote Mccain, My sons are in iraq and all I want is to have them in harms way even longer. This war is a joke and all you hilary supporters who say they are going to vote McCain can then look me straight in the eyes and tell me you did just that when I get that call my sons are not coming home ever again. We need to vote democrat whether its hilary or obama. We need to unite and stop the republicans from putting all americans in harms way, whether its with Iraq or with our economy.
Mr. Obama did not want to count Florida or Michigan... now he has not clinch the nomination and yet want's to ignore more voters. Mr. Obama there are 50 states and many other territories. Stop ignoring states that are not convinient to you. Is this a way to run a campain? I will vote republican for the first time of my life before voting for a looser like him.
I would like to know what swing states he is competitive in?
Hillary is polling better in FL, OH, WV, MO... oh, and AR will be a swing state for her.
By looking at Real Clear Politics, the only swing state he is competitive in is Iowa.
This is so funny. And I thought that the Superdelegates were intelligent.
Hillary 08
Operation Chaos is still running at full steam.
Have you noticed the dramatic increase in the number of "Clinton supporters" who will "never vote for Obama"? That's because they aren't Clinton supporters – they're republicans.
Don't believe the hype. The democrats will unite under a single nominee and do what's right for this country. Don't let yourself be fooled and turned against the party because of these lying weasels.
Democrat '08
This Obama supporter thinks this is being nice- that is why no TRUE Hillary supporter will vote for Obama:
KEY: "pretending to be a democrat"
Susan MO May 12th, 2008 10:57 am ET
Why are some of my fellow Obama's supporters so mean and angry Stop clinging to your computer with antipathy for Hillary.
We have won be nice. Remember she is still pretending to be a Democrat and her husband was a great President.
Obama is not about hate.
To early Senator Obama!
Florida and Michigan have not yet been counted and there are many superdelegates left.
YES WE CAN & YES WE HAVE!
It's time to move forward and prepare for the general election.
Obama '08
You Hill Will supporters can't seriously be considering voting for McBush or wasting your vote with a write in! How non-productive is that?
I'm an Obama supporter, but if Hillary would have WON the nomination (i.e. fair and square), I would still vote Democrat. However, if she would have stolen the nomination (I don't think that can happen now) then I would have stayed home come November. People – he is winning fair and square... against all odds!
C'mon! Let's unite the party and get the Reps out of the whitehouse! GO DEMS!!
I find it offensive that he even thinks he should campaign in Florida and Michigan after he campaigned to not have their votes count in the primary. He had people in the legislature in Michigan blocking the vote. Who does he think he is. What a bunch of bull.
To all desperate, write in/Independent Billary supporters –
WHEN was the last time any write in or Independent candidate has won a general election for President???
Do you really want four more years of a Bush/McCain White House??? Use your heads, please!!
David P., Santa Rosa, CA, the branch is broken...you just go down with Obama!!
There is no way a Hillary supporter will vote for Obama...I would say there will be MILLIONS of Democrats not voting for Obama. You think the people where you won in those Republican states are going to vote for you Obama....NOT.
Goodbye Obama!!
Hillary supporters wake up and smell the general election. Its obama or should I say president elect Obama. Come Clinton backers do the right thing lets take back the white house join the obama train. Before we have a third bush trem and u all suffer...
He picked up four super delegates. He is ready to lead this country forward from day one! Obama 08!
Jill American May 12th, 2008 3:06 pm ET
Interesting … Obama supporters say WV and KY don't matter because they are small states. So, only the big ones matter? Like New York, New Jersey, Florida, Pennsylvania, Ohio and CALIFORNIA?
JILL A you poor dear. You are so confused. The tactic of trying to put words in peoples mouths has been so worn out by Hillary even SHE doesn't use it anymore. It is ok if you just don't understand the process or where we are in it you ARE a Hillary supporter after all and it is said that you are the type that loves her the most but WV and KY DO count . It is just they will not make a DIFFERENCE now. Do you understand the difference pumpkin??
If California got to vote again I can tell you Obama would WIN! Hillary didn't show her true colors until AFTER California and the people of California got to learn MORE about Obama after our voteing here. I hear it everyday, male, female , Black , white , Latino and Asian that they wish they could have a do over because Hillary LOST their support with her dirty dishonest tactics. YOU cannot change that so just live with it.
I'm an Obama supporter, and I really try to respect Hillary supporters and their opinion, but when they claim that they'll vote for McCain in November if Obama is the nominee... really.
If you're one of those people, shut up and grow up. Yeah, it must be hard that your candidate lost, but do you really want another Bush term? Obama is a lot like Hillary, only inspiring as well. Please, if you dislike Bush, DO NOT VOTE FOR MCCAIN!
Obama '08
Give it a rest. Obama didn't block the votes from FL and MI, the local leaders who you elected thought it would be a good idea to move up the primary dates. Please stop blaming Obama for your local leaders idiotic decisions and the penalites you had to suffer at the hands of the DNC, not Obama. Also let's not forget, both candidates initially agreed not to campaign in FL or MI and both agreed that the delegates should not be counted. It wasn't until the numbers started to look scary that one had a change of heart.
To all those saying they are going to vote for McCain out of spite...so long! You won't be missed (or needed). Have fun being whining to each other for the rest of this election...maybe you can meet with your local highschool's emo clique.
Those of you who could grow a pair, admit defeat and see that the voters wanted Obama, grats!
Those who were with Obama all along, grats.
Those who were like me and stayed on the fence until they saw who both candidates were and then made their choice for Obama...well, good choice.
The NEW democratic party is full of vulgar, name-calling haters who think they are superior to and smarter than others so they put down fellow Americans.
They do not believe in democracy. They believe in installing their nominee by demand and by force.
I am leaving the democratic party. As an Independent, I will still WRITE IN Hillary Clinton.
To "Hill Will":
Fixed Elections? Hmm.. The way I see it, Clinton was taking victory laps in September 07. And had the endorsements of over 100 Superdelegates before Super Tuesday. Please. Who had the benefit of any 'Election Fixing' if there ever was any?
We have a long road to hoe, and a tough fight is ahead of ALL Americans in the coming 4 years. Womens issues, economy, foreign policy in war and peace, our children's future depends on us not making the same mistakes we have in the past. We can't lose any more time. I sure can't.
A wise man once said that the definition of insanity is continuing to do the same thing repeatedly but expecting a different result. This is exactly what has happened in Washington, but we can't afford to continue to waste time. McCain won't change anything, and Clinton has way too much baggage and is an example of Old Washington. Obama is the only LOGICAL choice if we want to move our country forward both here and abroad.
You all need to take a step back and take a look at yourselves. You Dems bashing Obama or Clinton, all you're doing is helping out the GOP by feeding the negativity.
The fact about Michigan and Florida is both states broke the rules even though they knew their votes wouldn't count. Yes I feel bad for the voters, but that's the way it goes. The states and the CANDIDATES (even Clinton) all agreed the results of the states wouldn't count. Drop the issue.
As far as CNN being biased, well both sides are saying the same thing, so what does that mean? CNN is against everyone?
Stop being petty and look at the bigger picture folks.
– Democratic '08. Either way.
It is not over until it is over!
Clinton 08!
Dear fellow Democrats,
You are all on the same team but seem to have forgotten that fact. This constant bashing of each other does nothing but hurt the party (something we've become quite good at). Is not voting because your candidate didn't get the nomination really worth four more years of President Bush's failed policies? Think about that before you sling mud at each other.