Clinton concedes ND to Obama (not huge, but every delegate counts)

[geek tragedy]

http://www.bismarcktribune.com/articles/2008/02/02/news/local/147872.txt

New York Sen. Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign does not intend to put any staff on the ground in North Dakota ahead of next week's caucuses, but announced Friday that it would be launching television commercials here.

The commercials, a cheery national spot called "can do," will be airing between now and Tuesday. Clinton spokesman Isaac Baker would not say how much the campaign intends to spend here.

Clinton is locked in a tight battle for the Democratic nomination with Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, who has broadcast commercials uncontested for the last week. Obama's ad includes a similarly cheery spot and a North Dakota specific ad where Sen. Kent Conrad speaks his colleague's praises.

The Obama campaign has staff in Bismarck, Fargo, Minot and Grand Forks, and has been organizing events across the state to galvanize support.

[styersc]

1. Now that Barak has come out as the candidate of God and ....

... the 2nd Amendment, North Dakota was a natural fit. Congrats to the candidate.

[ursi]

7. aw, the candidate of God. Did He tell you that? I hadn't heard it.

[Alexander]

17. No, lying Shillbots made that up, like they do everything else.

Thankfully after the summer they won't be around to grace us with their presence.

[sab3rX]

20. And what's so bad about at least listening to what the other side has to say??

If Democrats aren't willing to at least listen to why traditional Republican voters vote the way they do, Democrats will never win red states. Howard Dean recognizes this and has been making a concerted effort to at least listen and support certain red state issues. Back in 2004, he said this:

"I still want to be the candidate for guys with Confederate flags in their pickup trucks,"the former Vermont governor was quoted as saying in Saturday's Des Moines Register. "We can't beat George Bush unless we appeal to a broad cross-section of Democrats."

[knowledgeispwr]

2. I like the attention paid to states like Idaho and ND...

if democrats did that more in the GE, we'd be more competitive.

[papau]

5. What is the point of winning delegates in States that will in no way vote Dem in Nov.?

[knowledgeispwr]

8. With that attitude there is no way any such state will EVER vote dem

We need to build up support in all the states.

I don't know enough about ND and Idaho specifically, but I do know that states like Virginia and NC could actually be competitive for dems (especially in an election like this one) if anyone paid them any attention.

[papau]

14. Virginia I agree could be competive - but it is unlikely - and getting Gore states again is more

important that attempts at 12 new states that are all close but not a win.

[Kittycat]

21. So just because you and HRC don't feel they're worthy of her attention

that makes it okay?

I for one LOVE the 50 state plan. ALL of america matters. And if presence in the state turns heads - then change begins.

[sandnsea]

15. I agree, change minds to change votes

I've been saying we should go into those states for years. I don't know why people get pissed off that we can't get the votes in the Congress, and then support a Democratic strategy that ignores the states where those stupid votes are coming from. It is completely illogical.

[K Gardner]

3. OTOH, I just got a phone call from Hillary here in E. TN asking me to vote for her on

Tuesday and stating "it's going to be very close". It was a robocall, of course. Which left me no way to tell her I'd already cast my vote for Obama :hi:

Looks like TN is not the cakewalk it was supposed to be. Local polls and media are trending favorably towards Obama. Of course, Huckabee is getting a lot of press, too !!

[geek tragedy]

4. How active are the two campaigns there? n/t

[K Gardner]

11. Barack has a lot of grassroots/community support, tons of churches and Univ of TN students

going door to door, haven't seen anything on the ground for Hillary.. didn't even see a yard sign or bumper sticker anywhere. No signs even at my early voting place except for Ron Paul. So really, not very active at all, although we do have lots of Obama TV ads on cable and local and some Hillary ads on the teevee too !

[sunonmars]

6. with 13 pledged delegates, she'll probably get 6 for just being on the ballot

[Infinite Hope]

13. My bet would be 8-5 or 9-4. n/t

[Infinite Hope]

9. Take it from someone who's lived there: she couldn't win there no matter how much $$ she poured in.

n/t

[geek tragedy]

10. Against a liberal guy named Barack Hussein Obama? n/t

[Infinite Hope]

12. Yes.

(All generalizations)>>> North Dakota is anti-Clinton country. They're reform-minded. Obama isn't any more liberal than Clinton who, to NDans, is seen as among the ranks of Ted Kennedy. Their senator (Conrad) endorsed Obama. Not only is that significant there among Democrats, but he wouldn't have done so if it wasn't as politically expedient as it was his own view.

[knowledgeispwr]

18. It's amazing how some underestimate the anti-Clinton sentiment

in certain places and confuse it with being completely anti-democrats.

[geek tragedy]

22. I grew up in ND.

I think Obama plays better there because he's seen as a straight-shooter and a down-to-earth guy.

[Infinite Hope]

23. Precisely.

The heartland is an area that demands candor. It's a place where many families still sit and eat supper as a family. A down-home place where a premium is placed on common sense governing - public service above partisanship.

[Major Hogwash]

16. She conceded Idaho too.

She's never even been here.

[Herman Munster]

19. just because Hillary doesn't have paid staff there doesn't mean there isn't organization

You have to remember Hillary has union support in all 50 states. AFSCME alone has 1.4 million members. If you add up all her union and association endorsements, they approach 10 million workers.