http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/08/us/politics/08obama.html?_r=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=sloginSenator Barack Obama’s general election plan calls for broadening the electoral map by challenging Senator John McCain in typically Republican states — from North Carolina to Missouri to Montana — as Mr. Obama seeks to take advantage of voter turnout operations built in nearly 50 states in the long Democratic nomination battle, aides said.
On Monday, Mr. Obama will travel to North Carolina — a state that has not voted for a Democratic presidential candidate in 32 years — to start a two-week tour of speeches, town hall forums and other appearances intended to highlight differences with Mr. McCain on the economy. From there, he heads to Missouri, which last voted for a Democrat in 1996. His first campaign swing after securing the Democratic presidential nomination last week was to Virginia, which last voted Democratic in 1964.
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In one telling example, he is moving to hire Aaron Pickrell, the chief political strategist of Gov. Ted Strickland of Ohio — who helped steer Mrs. Clinton to victory in that state’s primary — to run his effort against Mr. McCain there. In another, aides said, he has tapped Dan Carroll, an opposition researcher who gained fame digging up information on opponents’ records for Bill Clinton in 1992, to help gather information about Mr. McCain.
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Recognizing the extent to which Republicans view Michelle Obama’s strong views and personality as a potential liability for her husband, Mr. Obama’s aides said they were preparing to bring aboard senior operatives from previous Democratic presidential campaigns to work with her, a clear departure from the typical way the spouse of a candidate is staffed. Mrs. Obama’s operation would include senior aides devoted to responding to attacks and challenges to her, particularly if she continues to campaign as much as she has so far.
To counter persistent rumors and mischaracterizations about his background, Mr. Obama’s advisers said they would also begin using television advertising and speeches in a biographical campaign to present his story on his terms. But they suggested that their research had found that voters were not that well acquainted with Mr. McCain, either, signaling that the next few months will see a scramble by the two campaigns to define the rival candidate.
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Mr. Obama’s aides said some states where they intend to campaign — like Georgia, Missouri, Montana and North Carolina — might ultimately be too red to turn blue. But the result of making an effort there could force Mr. McCain to spend money or send him to campaign in what should be safe ground, rather than using those resources in states like Ohio.
Obama is smartly going after their physical strongholds - actual states - as well as perparing for their GOP Machine. They're going to be in for the battle of their lives - and they're going down!
So, I ask everyone here - what are you going to do? No candidate can win on their own, not even Barack Obama.
So what will be your role in taking back the White House? And then...what about your senators and representatives, local and national? Let's remember -
we also need a Democratic Congress!I live in Arizona and I fully intend to help take McCain's home state away from him. And, yes, that's possible - check out grantcart's fantastic thread on this very subject for more info (
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=6220830). I'll also be phone banking to other locations and donating to the campaign. And, I'm a huge supporter of Harry Mitchell, my Representative, and he has several Republicans gunning for him right now. I'm starting off by attending his office opening next weekend and then doing whatever I can after that.
I think
now is the time for us all to ask ourselves: what can I do to help?
And, then, do it! GOBAMA! Go Democrats!
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