Photo: Getty Images
Before Super Tuesday, I was in Seattle and crossed paths with Idaho's Democratic Party vice chair, Jeanne Buell, which yielded a number of interesting insights.
Perhaps most poignantly given Obama's growing momentum, our conversation really brought home his strategy of redrawing the political map by paying attention to smaller states and red states while Clinton was focused on the big enchiladas like New York (288 delegates) and California (441 delegates).
Buell was ecstatic because Obama was scheduling 3 hours of time to visit Idaho, a predominately red state with only 23 delegates, on the Saturday before Super Tues (he ended up drawing a crowd of about 14,000). Buell, who is a superdelegate in Idaho, had promised that she would pledge her vote to whichever Democratic candidate would actually visit Idaho before the caucus. "I never dreamed any of them would show up," she told me. When asked why Obama would spend several hours in a state that only offers 23 delegates, she said, "I'd like to believe it's because he cares about the people of Idaho." Pressed further, she added, "I think it's smart. Do you know how much press the man's going to get?"
Few people are questioning how smart it was now. Idaho Democrats chose him over Clinton by a margin of 80% to 17%. Clinton almost didn't make the 15% threshold she needed in order to be eligible for delegates. Obama's efforts in Idaho -- he also opened an HQ there last November, far in advance of any other candidate -- are an example of the type of ground game that has led most recently to his string of eight straight wins in February.
Hillary's campaign has taken note. On a press call today (2/13), Clinton's senior advisors promised that the campaign would have paid staffers in all remaining states that have yet to vote. "We are recommitting and redoubling our efforts to make sure that we have the most effective and largest grass roots operation in these states moving forward," said Guy Cecil, the campaign's political and field director. Whether those efforts are too little, too late remains to be seen.
On a separate note, Buell is part of Idaho's women's caucus and had attended the DNC's diversity summit in Las Vegas last summer, where over 100 LGBT activists also attended to represent the community. In the course of networking, Buell met some LGBT participants and spent time talking to one transgender activist. "I had never met a transgender person before," Buell said. "I had no idea what type of turmoil they go through." Buell came away from the summit with a better understanding of the queer community and now wants to start an LGBT caucus in Idaho.
I don't know if Hillary will have much luck in the red States. They don't know the difference there between empty smears and factual reasoning. And their minds have been pretty well poisoned by 16 years of cheap shots in the media. In educated places like NY and CA, low blow insults are water off a duck. But here's hoping. http://a-civilife.blogspot.com
Posted by: Will | February 14, 2008 at 08:16 PM
The Comeuppance of Deceit
By Woody Anderson - 2008
Yes brothers – the election is over – the radicals won – liberal ambition beat conservative value; face it our world will change, not betting on better though. Yep, the table has been turned – what’s cooking is a new ration of liberalism so you better work on your chewin’.
Many have pleaded there case that “God is still in Charge” – right, He is and always will be; now the clincher – He also doles out the penalties for all the deceit – lies – and underhanded politics that has raged in the fire of the left wing camps for several decades in the U. S. political arena. Now the gloves come off and the truth will have to be reckoned with – like it or not.
Everyone that believes in the sovereignty of Creator God must now believe that justice will reign on the perpetrators, no matter who they are – the truth will be exposed and the deceit buried in the annuls of yet another corrupt election year nightmare. This year the process was marooned long before Election Day – it was bought – plain and simple by foreign investments in our country, not willing to manage itself on its original creeds.
Some call it a black n’ white issue – not so, this is a truth and dare issue. American citizens were mesmerized by a smooth talking plant that doesn’t even have the courage or decency to salute the very flag that tolerated his quest to be free of bonds, yet know his greed and disgrace is on his shoulders – soon all will see the failing of yet another man of deceit. Pray for the equal justice system that has failed this country for many years; pray that sound minds can bring justice to every legal citizen.
Posted by: Woody Anderson | November 10, 2008 at 11:54 AM