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Obama strategy of not writing off caucus states has been brilliant

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book_worm Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Feb-16-08 08:15 PM
Original message
Obama strategy of not writing off caucus states has been brilliant
The Clinton campaign decided to emphasize only primary states, particularly in big states, but Obama from the very beginning has run a fifty state campaign including caucus states. This strategy has really paid off:

Iowa Obama 16 delegates HRC 15
Nevada Obama 13 delegates HRC 12
Alaska Obama 9 delegates HRC 4
American Samoa Obama 1 delegate HRC 2
Colorado Obama 32 delegates HRC 13
Idaho Obama 15 delegates HRC 3
Kansas Obama 23 delegates HRC 9
Minnesota Obama 48 delegates HRC 24
North Dakota Obama 8 delegates HRC 5
Nebraska Obama 16 HRC 8
Washington Obama 43 delegates HRC 15
Maine Obama 15 delegates HRC 9

Total Obama 239 HRC 119 (not counting Super Delegates)

I know that some HRC supporters used to post that how unimportant caucuses are but in Washington Obama won a net 28 more delegates than HRC, compared to say, NJ, a primary state where HRC won only 11 more delegates than Obama. In Minnesota Obama netted 24 more delegates than HRC, compared to a net of 17 she got out of MA.

***And of course his campaign hasn't been just caucus victories he has also won more primary victories than HRC at this point.
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Mojambo Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Feb-16-08 08:16 PM
Response to Original message
1. There's been little during this campaign that he's done wrong. n/t
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Ravy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Feb-16-08 08:18 PM
Response to Original message
2. I agree it has helped him.
I am not sure it is more of a strategy or just the amount of fervent grassroots supporters he has been able to energize, but it is making all of the difference in the totals right now.
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catgirl Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Feb-16-08 08:19 PM
Response to Original message
3. Thanks for this post

I imagine Obama will win in Hawaii as well.
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Botany Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Feb-16-08 08:22 PM
Response to Original message
4. Obama & his people are running a beautiful campaign.
It seems to me that they are 2 steps ahead of both the press & Hillary.

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Adelante Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Feb-16-08 08:24 PM
Response to Reply #4
5. It's one for the books
I'm so happy to be part of this.
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Glimmer of Hope Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Feb-16-08 08:28 PM
Response to Reply #4
6. Agree- I think he will fare well in the general election.
Edited on Sat Feb-16-08 08:30 PM by Glimmer of Hope
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ProSense Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Feb-16-08 08:31 PM
Response to Original message
7. Kathleen Sebelius Calls On Clinton Campaign to Stop Discounting the Votes of Red State Democrats
Chicago, IL – Governor Kathleen Sebelius today called on Senator Clinton and her campaign surrogates to stop discounting the votes of Red State Democrats.

“Senator Clinton and her campaign surrogates keep deriding Senator Obama’s wins in red states by saying that her victories in the ‘big states’ are the ones that matter,” Governor Sebelius said. “ The right Democrat, like Barack Obama, can carry red states, just like the 14 Democratic governors elected in states won by George Bush in 2004. We can’t tell people their votes don’t matter and then expect their support against John McCain in November. Senator Obama is reaching to Independents and Republicans because they desperately want to change our politics. I hope Senator Clinton will follow his lead and stop dismissing Democrats that don’t live in New York or California.”

link



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book_worm Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Feb-16-08 08:35 PM
Response to Reply #7
9. And Obama won 14 more delegates out of KS than HRC more than she netted out of blue NJ
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Diane R Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Feb-16-08 08:33 PM
Response to Original message
8. In retrospect, Carville's criticism of Howard Dean's 50 st. strategy makes him look like an idiot.
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book_worm Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Feb-16-08 08:37 PM
Response to Reply #8
10. I haven't taken Carville seriously for years.
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CoffeeCat Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Feb-16-08 08:47 PM
Response to Original message
11. Obama's ground game is absolutely...
Edited on Sat Feb-16-08 08:50 PM by TwoSparkles
...positively, unparalleled.

I was catapulted into it, in Iowa. The campaign is a history maker. It's as if Obama
is running a corporation in each state--tailored specifically to the unique demographics and
needs of each state.

I was torn between Edwards and Obama, when I received an email from an acquaintance
who was hosting an Obama house party. She was a disenfranchised Republican who was
previously apolitical, but today she was involved and hosting a party in her home.
That night, more than 1100 Obama house parties--were held simultaneously in Iowa--with Obama on speaker
phone at all of them.

At that party, I met Indies, Republicans who disliked Bush, centrists and progressives.
We discussed the sad state of our country and how we needed to galvanize and take back
the White House. For the first time, EVER, I sat with those who understood my outrage
about torture, Habeas Corpus, illegal wiretaps, Guantanamo, Iraq, Iran, the neocons,
signing statements, etc. It was like DU gathered around a fireplace, on a giant
leather couch!

After the house party, I still remained undecided. However, I received a few emails
from the Obama campaign, and a really cool Obama canvasser showed up in my driveway
when I was putting my kids in the car. He knew my major issues. He understood
my concerns. He drilled down to my concern about Habeas and informed me that Obama was a
Constitutional scholar, who taught Constitutional Law (and other law classes) at the University
of Chicago.

The caliber of people working on Obama's campaign, was so impressive. Kind, gracious, wonderful
people--who wanted to listen as much as they wanted to inform.

I continued to get emails and phone calls, until finally Obama called me. He listened to me
for a good 15 minutes. His phone died and he had to call me back! Isn't that hilarious?
I told him I was considering Edwards. He only spoke in high praise of Edwards and we discussed
Habeas, his background as Constitutional Law experts, and loads of other issues.

Let me tell you--I'm a stay-at-home mom from the suburbs, who is devoting everything to her
kids and family right now--but I have 15 years of experience in high-tech public relations.
I understand a genuine, class-act apparatus when I see it. We need it to kick Republican
butt in the fall. Obama has it. He organized the campaign from the top down, and his generous
spirit and optimism trickles down to his volunteers and those canvassers that show up in
driveways. He has the ability to inspire a major coalition of volunteers, precinct captains
and directors--which will coalesce an unprecedented ground game.

Extrapolate all of this onto a national election--and we're unbeatable with Obama.

I didn't start out an Obama supporter. I didn't make my decision after attending a speech.
In fact, I never attended an Obama speech in Iowa! I read his plan, and was impressed
with his background and experience--and I witnessed the strategic advantages his campaign
has over ever candidate--hands down.

I hear that the same person who led the Obama-Iowa ground game--is heading up Ohio.
No doubt in my mind, Ohio will go for Obama. It doesn't matter what the polls indicate now.
When any state meets the full force of the Obama campaign--and hears his citizen-specific
messages and plans--a win is inevitable.

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book_worm Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Feb-16-08 08:51 PM
Response to Reply #11
12. Thanks for the personal testimonial on the ground effort
Yes, I hear that his best person in in Ohio!
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Glimmer of Hope Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Feb-16-08 08:59 PM
Response to Reply #11
13. That is really impressive.
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K Gardner Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Feb-16-08 09:00 PM
Response to Reply #11
14. Save this for yet another wonderful OP ! I got absolutely lost in Obama's website last night and
was quite astounded with the length and breadth of it. I could see clearly that this is something that can and will serve to coalesce us in the months and years to come; to introduce us to our neighbors, to track and plan events, to alert on issues of concern. It is a true grassroots organizing tool, professionally and expertly done and maintained. I would not expect anything less from his campaign and am not at all surprised to hear it is meticulously managed and detailed. I agree about the inevitability of a win with the "full force of the Obama campaign".

I expect that to be true of the nation next November. :applause: GOBAMA! :applause:
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Botany Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Feb-16-08 09:49 PM
Response to Original message
15. Obama & his people are running a beautiful campaign. Part 2
It seems to me that Obama's campaign has & had 4 major parts

1) Play for a draw up to Super Tuesday .... for him a tie was a win
but to Hillary a tie was a loss. Her campaign had the plan that 2/5/08
would be the knock out punch.

2) A post super tuesday game plan in all the states ... to gain momentum

3) An old fashioned "ground game"

* leaders & paid staff geared to each state

* Volunteer recruiting and action plan

* GOTV & with real time data

4) The skill to transfer the power of his speeches into action that helps
the campaign.
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thevoiceofreason Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Feb-16-08 09:53 PM
Response to Original message
16. They will write Poli Sci and History books on this
I too agree that it is more credited to the Obama brilliance than the Clinton gross negligence as a "credit" for this history-making turnaround.
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stevietheman Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Feb-16-08 10:45 PM
Response to Reply #16
17. I christen him Obama the Adapter -- there's nothing that can be thrown at him...
that he cannot turn around into an advantage for his campaign.
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postulater Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Feb-16-08 11:22 PM
Response to Original message
18. Based on this thread
the strength of his campaign may be a major deciding factor for me in my primary vote.

I just want our candidate to be able to win in November.
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