KENNEDYS ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL IN TEXAS
With all eyes on Texas, and the decisive effect the state’s March 4th primary will have on the outcome of the Democratic presidential nomination, we’ve seen several Kennedys pass through here in recent weeks.
Unfortunately for the Clinton campaign, the only Kennedys campaigning in Texas are Obama supporters. Senator Edward Kennedy and Caroline Kennedy traversed the state last week, and yesterday found Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s mother Ethel and brother Maxwell on the campaign trail in Houston.
While RFK Jr., his sister Kathleen Kennedy-Townsend and sister Kerry are for Clinton, we have yet to see them campaigning for her in the Lone Star State. Considering that next Tuesdays’ primary is one Hillary Clinton simply cannot afford to lose, we hope to see a few Kennedys from Camp Clinton pay us a visit over the weekend.
Below is an account of the “Obama Bobby Kennedys” trip to Texas yesterday, from the Boston Globe.
KENNEDY AND CHAVEZ TRIBES CALL IT A QUEST
By Sasha Issenberg
February 27, 2008
HOUSTON. — The Chavez-Kennedy tag-team battle for the hearts of nostalgic liberals continues in Texas.
Hillary Clinton’s campaign has been prominently airing an ad in the state featuring testimonials to her as a “champion for the voiceless” from Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and Cesar L. Chavez. Today, at its Houston headquarters, the Obama campaign responded with an RFK son and Chavez grandchild of its own.
“Our families are entitled to pick who is the best candidate,” said Christine Chavez, a former union organizer and gay-rights activist, noting that both clans had split between the two candidates. She appeared at a press conference with local labor leaders on Obama’s behalf.
Inside, Max Kennedy, accompanying his mother Ethel, interrupted a training session for Obama precinct captains to offer a pep talk — although the family tradition he invoked to inspire the volunteers was not idealism but tribal politics. Recounting how his ancestors went from penniless immigrants to masters of an urban machine, Kennedy said, “In 1890, the Irish took over the city of Boston and we maintained that control due to hard fieldwork.”
Ethel offered little more than a faint “Si se puede” on Obama’s behalf, but Chavez said it was hearing Obama invoke that phrase — “Yes we can” – that lured her to support his candidacy.
“Those were our first words as a baby,” she said. “To hear him say that was very moving.”
More coverage from the Houston Chronicle:
TWO OF THE KENNEDYS IN HOUSTON TO BACK BARACK OBAMA
The widow and son of Robert F. Kennedy urged volunteers today at the Obama campaign office near downtown Houston to continue working hard to win votes for their candidate.
Max Kennedy congratulated the crowd of about 40 Obama faithful for their untiring effort and reminded them they would have to continue to canvass neighborhoods right up to the minute polls open for the primary election March 4, knocking on doors and speaking with voters.
“We will win this election,” he said. “We will take over this country and we will change the United States.”
READ FULL STORY AND WATCH THE VIDEO AT:
http://rfkin2008.wordpress.com/2008/02/28/bobbys-brother-and-mother-campaign-for-obama-in-tx/
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