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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Stop wining about Florida and Michigan: BARACK Obama did not BREAK the rules. I am so sick and tired of the people who say – like little babies...."I'm not voting for Barack, I'd rather vote for McCain...blah...blah..blah". ALL pundits have agreed that both Barack and Hillary have a similar political platform. So the question remains....why would you vote for McCain if his platform is the complete opposite of both democratics candidates?. Do me a favor....send me an email or your phone number so I can call you after Barack wins in November and childishly say "I TOLD YOU SO"....get over yourselves...this election is not about your democratic candidate...its about getting the democratic nominee elected...be it a male or female...or believe it or not...Black or White...America is changing folks so do us all a favor....GET WITH THE PROGRAM or stay out of the way! OBAMA/DEMOCRATS 2008
Yknow what? Any of your bitter Clinton supporters just take your sorry self and get out of the Democratic party if you're so bitter! You are absolutely the WORST kind of supporters – you're just as thick headed as your candidate. You would rather see the your party go down to defeat in the fall than stand up and realize that changes are necessary to be made. Voting for McCain (or not voting Democrat) is agreeing to 4 more years of the same kind of politics that got you into this mess! And you talk about Obama and his supporters ego???? Take a look in the mirror. You chose YOURSELF over the betterment of the country. Now who's unpatriotic? I thought so.
I realize he's got to shift gears but he's making a mistake in not campaigning in the remaining states vigorously. This will fuel the "elitist" argument and contradict his statement that all 50 states matter.
You Clinton supporters with bruised egos need to get your acts together. Stop acting like children and do what is right. We need our party unified so we don't end up with McCain. So what if some Obama supporters were mean, they don't reflect who Obama is and how much good he can do for the country. Honestly, take a second and think about what you are considering: voting for a republican because you want to "get even." I think the reason the voting age is 18 is because you are supposed to act like an adult when deciding who to vote for instead of acting like a 4 year old.
guess what, obama doesn't need WV and KY, or FL and MI for that matter. if all consistently blue states go to him and all consistently red states go to mccain, then obama needs only TWO swing states...like two states neighboring IL or two southern states. piece of cake. cakewalk. it's a lock.
Mark my words... If Obama is the nominee... McCain will be president!!!
I have never voted for a Republican... that will change if Obama is the nominee... I do not want another unexperienced president especially with an ongoing war and a bad economy !!!
Any of you disgruntled Clinton supporters that say they will vote for McCain or not at all should get an address to send sympathy cards to the famalies of all of the soldiers that are killed after you vote!!!
And he is wearing his American flag pin now - with its 57 states represented no doubt!
P.S. Whether you are a democrat or a republican or independent you can still be a patriot., Robert.
GO HILLARY 08 or McCain
I'm a Florida voter who will be switching my party affiliation if Obama is the nominee.
Big mistake democrats, and specifically Obama. At least Hillary had the good sense to thank the people who showed up to vote for her...
Forget me in February, now forget me in November.
Give it up, Obama! You will never be president, no matter how many states and people you try to kiss up to! Simply put.....you are not qualified for the job.
McCainocrat in waiting......
Democrats cannot let Obama become the nominee or they'll have to wait another 4 to 8 years after McCain wins.
This could be the most dangerous choice for the country as well to put an novice senator who is surrounded by a lot of strange people in the White House.
The superdelegates have to support Hillary to save their chances of winning in November and to put a real leader who is clean and intelligent in the White House!
A fool trying to kiss a– in states that he so brazenly ignored up to now. If Hillary is not at the top of the ticket, Florida and Michigan should turn in droves to McCain, along with PA, OH, CA, TX and all of the other battleground states that she won. Say NO to Obama, his empty words and the politics of Anti-Americanism!!
Hillary '08
He is going to sort out the (delagate) problem with the DNC since Hillary didn't want to agree with the previous solution they came up with.
I can't wait until Obama visits F.L.A.... There is plenty of support for his campain in the Tampa area. It is time we look toward the future and support one of the most impressive candidates since JFK... He has proven he has the ability to manage this country. He has inspired a entire generation of voters and will write history as being the first African American president... peace
OBAMA 08.... YES WE CAN....
Just say 'NO' to the elitist far-left liberal rookie.
The office of the US President isn't an internship.
Vote for experience. Vote for America
Vote McCain 08
If someone uses the word "Vitriolic" or "vitriol" in their comment, they are Republicans taking part is operation "Kaos" through Sean Hannity.
Dems, You've got to remember the strategy of the true opposing candidate. If you haven't paid any attention to the reverse psychology used by the far right Republicans (no offense to the Reasonable Republicans), listen up. 1)The RP wrapped up its nomination early on when Romney and Huckabee were convinced that there was no possibility of a comeback. 2)The far right RP then crossed-over, in states that would allow them, and voted for the DP weaker candidate. This began with the TX/OH primaries, remember? 3)When they saw that Obama was still winning because of his ability to bridge ALL-Americans together, they tried to reverse their reverse psychology to say Obama would be the candidate they would love to challenge in the PE. Now, think about this? Why would Rush ask Republicans to vote for Hillary in Indiana, then turn around and say McCain has a better chance of beating Barack? Don't be fooled and don't be discouraged by the number of McCain supporters stirring up conflict within the DP. Remember, they are trying to get you to believe that they are avid Hillary supporters that won't vote for Barack in hopes that you will choose Hillary in order to secure a Democratic President.
Obama and Hillary have more similiar views than Hillary and McCain. What sense does it make to vote for McCain if you believe in Hillary's views? None. So think, and let's wrap this thing up!
Bottom line is if Florida and Michigan were counted Obama would not be in the lead, and you know what, we will need both come this fall!
The majority of Clinton supporters will support Obama in November…
Some will not, but I think most realize the stakes, and put that above sour grapes and petty jealousy.
However, most of the folks who keep repeating they won't support Obama on this blog will probably stick to their word.
They can congratulate themselves if Obama loses, and smirk for a bit. They can also pat themselves on the back when the
US troop casualty count comes in each month, and feel proud they help perpetuate that. They can smile to themselves as
the dollar continues to weaken and friends and family can't find blue collar jobs in America, and know they had a hand
it that too. As more conservative judges are appointed to the supreme court, they can laugh to themselves and say "yeah,
but we sure taught the DNC a leason, didn't we?"
So be proud Obama haters, you are the true Americans aren't you?
Focus on the bigger things.
It is HILL-arious that people keep saying Obama is the one playing dirty politics when Clinton has been relying on fear and prejudice to support her cause that she is the more 'electable' candidate. Why is she more 'electable'? Is it simply because she believes the American people are all only uneducated, racist, backwoods country folk and white candidate is less frightening? What about the other huge percentage that do happen to be educated? Why would she not attempt to make that her supposed base?
All I have heard from Obama is the need for change, and for the country to unite. I haven't heard him saying that he is simply more electable but not citing why. Shes playing off of Americas fears stemming from a past about 50 years old.
Anyone in politics knows this much:
Obama was running just for visibility and to let voters come to know him. He would then have been the VP choice for Hillary.
But Obama tried to fast track himself and got greedy and went for the gold ring.
He did not care if this hopelessly fractured the democratic party and did not care if that mean't a loss in Nov.
So blame selfish Obama.
Wow. Why go to FL and MI now? I'd wait till after the convention.
Will these campaign events be open to the general public?
I'm thinking Obama will face some tough questions from the disenfranchised.
I'm sad that he didn't okay Rendell and Crozine's offer to fundraise for re-votes in both states.
Even if he didn't win, he'd still be the nominee. And he'll need happy voters in both states come November.
If Democrats unite behind our candidate, we will win in the fall. If they do not, we will not. It's that simple.
Do not be swayed by those urging a write in campaign. Obviously those people want McCain to win. They are not Democrats. Most likely, they are unethical Limbaugh Operation Chaos operatives.
Please follow Hillary Clinton's lead when she throws her full support behind Senator Obama.
I can't believe how dumb some Clinton supporters are. I figure Obama will pick up the intelligent ones but the ignorant ones will either not vote or write in Clinton or even not vote. Its a shame that the democrats have such sore losers.
Get rid of your notion that Obama is not electable. Hilla-cackle is?
Get rid of your idea that she is ready on day one. Oh-noez.... sniper fire!
What a laughable candidate and what sheep that support her.