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Obamarama - Gearing up for the big day, polling and Web complaints * Updated x1 *

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It looks like Obama will be having two announcement events this weekend, one in Springfield on Saturday and another in Chicago on Sunday. Plus, there’s a party Friday night that you might want to check out. From an internal e-mail…

Obama Presidential Announcement in Springfield

That announcement starts at 9 a.m. outside the Old State Capitol on Saturday, February 10. Tickets will not be necessary. I believe the speech will start later at about 10 a.m.

For Springfield, Dan Shomon and a bunch of folks are hosting a pre-party on Friday, February 9 from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. at Alamo at 115 North 5th Street (5th and Jefferson). Cosponsors include Amy and Chris Martin, Julie Mirostaw, Julie Foehr, Scott Kennedy, Mia Phifer and others.

No tickets will be necessary and people are asking about parking but who knows.

The Obama presidential announcement in Chicago will be on Sunday, February 11 at 4:30 p.m. at UIC Pavilion at 525 S. Racine. Tickets will be distributed but not required for UIC.

Want to know what an Obama event is like from the crowd’s perspective? This may give you a little idea…

The person who posted that vid noted, “I almost went deaf.”

Meanwhile, Mark Blumenthal at Pollster.com takes a look at early polls that show Hillary Clinton leading Barack Obama among African-American voters. Blumenthal has a warning for anyone who might think that this automatically bodes ill for Obama…

Yes, he has been covered extensively and is well known to political junkies. But never underestimate how remote most political coverage is to everyone else.

Having polled for one of Obama’s primary opponents in 2004, I can tell you that whatever doubts Illnois African-Americans may have had about Obama prior to the 2004 primary race, they faded fast as he began to run television advertising, move in the polls and receive routine coverage on media outlets (read local TV news) that reached real voters.

He is exactly right about this. Obama’s numbers with black voters weren’t great at all until he started running TV ads and got some other free media bumps.

Tom Bevan adds…

Having watched Obama in the 2004 Senate primary, I agree with Mark Blumenthal that whatever misgivings or doubts African-Americans have about Obama are likely to fade pretty darn quick as he emerges, especially if he acquires the look of a winner with some early momentum.

And on another topic entirely, the Democratic blog AmericaBlog says that Obama “has a lot of catching up to do” when it comes to his Internet operation. He points to how quickly other candidates posted their speeches from last week’s DNC cattle call, but by Saturday…

Obamaâ€™s website and YouTube donâ€™t have his speech up there - a substantial missed opportunity with no excuse. When people talk about an â€œinexperienced candidateâ€ itâ€™s not just the gaffes that they make on the campaign trail, itâ€™s failure to quickly capitalize on opportunity also.

*** UPDATE *** According to The Hotline blog, John Edwards is in Bloomington today, but I haven’t seen anything move on the wires.

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Feb 5, 07 @ 1:48 pm

Comments

Are you sure that’s the crowd perspective in the video. Sounds more like the media section to me.

Comment by Frank Booth Monday, Feb 5, 07 @ 2:35 pm
It is really too soon to start judging how well Senator Obama will do. There are so many questions and issues he will need to answer and address. With all the other major candidates out there vying for the same supporter base, any one of them dropping out will impact the whole.

The lefties are playing leap-frog over Iraq and moving the field further left from center away from the majority of voters. There are so many things that will happen in the Middle East that moving towards the left could be a dead end politically. Obama has already moved too far left on the issue already and has made promises he already couldn’t keep as he is not empowered at this time to end the war by April 2008.

Obama needs to be more than just the “black” candidate - and right now he is not seen in that niche, which is a plus for him. All this talk over the African American vote seems very to assuming that black voters are very stereotypic and unable to dissern a difference based on a candidate’s statements. These conversations seem very demeaning to black voters, doesn’t it?

Finally, we have a real problem with Obama’s experience. He doesn’t have any. Like Bob Dole’s age, Senator Obama’s situation is a real condition that will remain in the campaign. When the campaign hits a moment when a “lack of experience” could be used credibly to explain a mistake, this condition will snowball and could derail him. Right now we hear all sorts of clever comments about his lack of experience, but you can’t bury this one under a joke if it becomes a real issue, opposition candidate made - or self made in a snafu.

Lets continue to support our Senator on his gambit and hope for the best for him. A win for him is a win for Illinois, regardless of political stripe.

Comment by VanillaMan Monday, Feb 5, 07 @ 3:00 pm
It’s like the “BEATLES” all over again…….

Comment by Off the map Monday, Feb 5, 07 @ 3:13 pm
“A win for him is a win for Illinois, regardless of political stripe”

No, it isn’t. What has this Senator done for Illinois? What makes you think he’d do any more if he was President?

Just because someone is from your home state doesn’t mean you should willy-nilly back that person for President. If that was the case then Al Gore would have won TN (well, bad choice there because now we’re going to have to hear bitter Dems carp about the “stolen election” blah blah blah)

You should vote for the person you think will do the best job. Obama, in my opinion, is FAR from that person.

Comment by Bomber91 Monday, Feb 5, 07 @ 3:16 pm
Let me be clearer. I voted for Obama twice, but I will not for president. The presidency is not a entry-level position. That said he does us all a favor by running. There would be no democracy without candidates. You will be unable to curse at him if he doesn’t run, nor could you vote for him either. He is taking the risks, not you or I. We need to recognize what these people are doing, whether you like them or not.

There has been too little respect in politics. It is time to change that. As one of our own runs for the White House, there is no benefit in name calling or mud slinging. Lets see what he can do and hope for the best. If he isn’t the guy, we will find out.

Comment by VanillaMan Monday, Feb 5, 07 @ 3:21 pm
Will the Obamallac be at the PreParty? That would clinch it for me

Comment by Reddbyrd Monday, Feb 5, 07 @ 4:10 pm
Yes, but I won’t be riding in it. lol. I’m afraid to even let him park it at my house.

Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Feb 5, 07 @ 4:13 pm
U.S Senator Obama â€œhas a lot of catching up to doâ€ when it comes to:

Government Corruption and Ethics!

Comment by One_Mcmad Monday, Feb 5, 07 @ 4:47 pm
vanilla, no one is prepared to be president. even this president bush was overwhelmed. the job, the media, the people who all want your attention — no one is prepared for that…

Comment by bored now Monday, Feb 5, 07 @ 4:52 pm
Vanilla Man,

Whether someone has more or less experience than our current president all that really matters to me is that they have a better grasp of reality and the will and smarts to implement a positive vision … and 60+% of Americans agree with me.

Let’s take a look at the conservative front runners’ “experience”:

1. Sen. McCain has plenty of experience as a senator. His statements on Iraq (just one example) change by the minute.

2. Rudy Giuliani has experience as a mayor. Let me repeat: a mayor. In fact, on the day of the worst disaster in his city, he ran away from the scene and got the heck outta dodge. He also has plenty of other experience on the home front, but that’s grist for a soap opera….

3. Mitt Romney has experience as a governor. His positions change by the campaign. First he’s left, then he’s right, up, then down… Even what should be Romney’s own base calls him a phony.

The only person with the most appropriate experience has not yet decided whether he will run or not (it’s anybody’s guess at this point). If Al Gore runs are you saying he’ll automatically win? He does have 8 years experience in the White House after all (fat load of good it did him in 2000).

VM, “experience” (like “electability”) is a hollow concept … changeable depending on the partisanship level of the person you’re talking with.

As bored now allues, once you’re in office you have it but the Catch-22 is you don’t until then.

After 8 years of “the CEO president” America appears ready for quality, not quantity.

Comment by NW burbs Monday, Feb 5, 07 @ 5:28 pm
Sorry to have to straighten you out bored now.
There is a candidate experienced, prepared and able to dael with the media horde. Hillary Clinton.

Comment by chalkline Monday, Feb 5, 07 @ 5:51 pm
I was at the Edwards event tonight. He looked and sounded great, totally different from the last time I saw him speak. He’s very comfortable in his skin this time around, that obvious political calculation that turned me off last time and was apparent in every speech he gave in ‘04was gone, here was a candidate unencumbered by the awful Kerry campaign and was staking his position out as an unabashed liberal crusader. There were about 45 people there, we all got copies of his book, he spoke to everyone, gave a great 30 min speech, very informal, mostly focused on Iraq and his health care proposal, and without saying it he was bashing Obama and Clinton for not sponsoring a binding resolution to get the troops out. Looked like they raised a lot of money. That said I’m still for our hometown boy, Obama’s going to excite the rest of American just like he did in Illinois. Those primary voters don’t know whats about to hit’em. See ya all Saturday.

Comment by ISUDEM Monday, Feb 5, 07 @ 9:50 pm
Some differences between what happened in the Illinois Senate Primary in 2004 and the current national playing field:

Then, Obama had no other opponent who could honestly compete for the African American vote. Now, Hillary (and Bill) Clinton are enormously popular and have street creds with the community to generate loyalty at the polling place.

Then, Obama had the entire Illinois black establishment, not to mention the money white liberal and media bloc at his beck and call - on a mission. Now, the pieces of the puzzle are a more complicated mosaic. Different players are already on different teams - very difficult if not impossible to get them all in his corner as he did then.

Then, true luck, inept and radioactive opponents. Now, well, let’s say the caliber and sophistication is light years aheads.

It’s a different world. Not saying any of this is insurmountable. But comparing the 04 Senate race to Obama’s current prospects is a hollow, silly analysis.

Comment by Bad Boy Tuesday, Feb 6, 07 @ 4:01 am
Some differences between what happened in the Illinois Senate Primary in 2004 and the current national playing field:

Then, Obama had no other opponent who could honestly compete for the African American vote. Now, Hillary (and Bill) Clinton are enormously popular and have street creds with the community to generate loyalty at the polling place.

Then, Obama had the entire Illinois black establishment, not to mention the money white liberal and media bloc at his beck and call - on a mission. Now, the pieces of the puzzle are a more complicated mosaic. Different players are already on different teams - very difficult if not impossible to get them all in his corner as he did then.

Then, true luck, inept and radioactive opponents. Now, well, let’s say the caliber and sophistication is light years aheads.

It’s a different world. Not saying any of this is insurmountable. But comparing the 04 Senate race to Obama’s current prospects is a hollow, silly analysis.

Comment by Bad Boy 2 Tuesday, Feb 6, 07 @ 4:02 am
Maybe he would get more votes if he started billing himself as Barry O’Bama… it’s worked for Chicago judges, right?

Comment by 'Lainer Tuesday, Feb 6, 07 @ 6:18 am
Al Gore should run.
In 2000 it was his 8 years with Bill Clinton that got him beat. The great silent majority was fed up with Bill ‘n Hill. Even Algore hated him! W stole it in 2000…. Give him Al a shot. I think he could win it.

Comment by Diego Tuesday, Feb 6, 07 @ 7:12 am
re: Edwards. I work in the media in the Bloomington market and we were never told he was coming. I was shocked to read this blog and find out he snuck in and out of town. WJBC radio is the only media outlet that I can see that had anything on it

http://www.wjbc.com/wire/08768_Edwards-in-Downs-2-web_054833.htm

This really isn’t a surprise. Last election Edwards came to town and wouldn’t talk to us or even address the hundreds of people who showed up at the airport. He went straight to David Dorris’ house (which is where he went this time), collected his money and left town.

Comment by RJ Tuesday, Feb 6, 07 @ 7:27 am
Obama is on Australian TV..weird:

Click:
http://video.news.com.au/?channel=World+News&clipid=618619

Comment by Old Obama Interview Tuesday, Feb 6, 07 @ 7:40 am
Yes, apparently the Edwards visit was for a private fundraiser in Downs.

Comment by YNM Tuesday, Feb 6, 07 @ 8:59 am
The Presidency is a tough job indeed. To believe that someone with only four years into one term as a US Senator could do the job is really stretching it.

Go ahead and talk pat nonsense. Face the facts. Obama isn’t ready, love him or not. If he continues to impress, he’ll have my support in 2012 or 2016. But stop dreaming. You don’t want the summer intern to become CEO because he has a nice voice and says nice things.

Let Obama grow up before you give him the keys to the car.

Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Feb 6, 07 @ 10:26 am
I don’t think any candidate has to notify the media whenever they are in town, it was a private event, one that you had to pay a considerable amount to attend, and he has a tight schedule. How many candidates for office all over Illinois and the nation go about raising money without notifying the media? I would venture to guess quite a few if not all. It’s not like Edwards is really going to contest Illinois in the primary anyway, so by him talking to what is generally a VERY conservative local media (re-the Slantagraph) what would he have gained?

Comment by ISUDEM Tuesday, Feb 6, 07 @ 10:45 am