Hoosier voters know that, when it comes to presidential politics, Indiana is red, red, red.  Often, we joke about how the polls close at 6:00 p.m. on election night, and then at 6:05 the state turns red on the national map.  Because of this, Indiana is typically ignored during the presidential race.  So, I am so pleased to see that Barack Obama is running television ads here, has opened 6 campaign offices in Indiana and now plans to hold a national security summit at Purdue this Wednesday.

Bill Blomquist, a political science professor at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, said it seems clear that Obama is not merely trying to confuse the McCain campaign by devoting resources to what is typically a red state, but is instead trying to redraw the national electoral map.

I really appreciate this attitude that Indiana is NOT irrevocably red.  There is a lot of complacency among Hoosier voters because of this notion that their vote won't matter, but through efforts like these by Obama, I believe that complacency can be overcome.

Jim Bopp, a Republican National Committee member from Indiana, doesn't think McCain should devote many resources here, and can't understand why Obama is either.

"I don't understand the strategy," said Bopp, a Terre Haute attorney. "I just don't think Indiana ultimately will be competitive for Obama. A strategy where (Obama) would focus on Indiana is a bit wasteful and pointless."

Hmmmmm.  Maybe Obama is devoting resources here because he doesn't take voters for granted.

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

Could my red state turn blue?

In an election today in Indiana, Barack Obama takes 48% of the vote, John McCain 47% of the vote -- a statistical tie -- according to this latest SurveyUSA poll conducted exclusively for WHAS-TV Louisville and WCPO-TV Cincinnati. Obama's 1-point lead is within the survey's 4 percentage point margin of sampling error, and these results should be reported as a tie. Among men, McCain leads by 5; among women, Obama leads by 7 -- a 12-point gender gap. Among voters age 18 to 49, Obama leads by 5; among voters 50+, McCain leads by 3. Obama leads by 22 points among voters under age 35. 16% of Republicans cross over to vote for Democrat Obama; 19% of Democrats cross over to vote for Republican McCain; Independents favor Obama by 7 points. Among those voters who say they have already made up their minds, the two candidates are tied; among the 25% who say they could still change their mind, Obama leads by 2.

I know this is close and it is early, but typically in Indiana the Republican presidential candidate would be enjoying a head and shoulders lead over the Democratic candidate. 

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

Who do you think Obama and McCain will choose as running mates?

John McCain:  Well, I hope he chooses Bobby Jindal (Governor of La.), especially after learning that Gov. Jindal abandoned his Indian name and changed his name to "Bobby" in homage to Bobby Brady and that he performed an exorcism with a group of college friends.  That's good stuff!

Barack Obama:    My personal favorite is Mark Warner.  Actually, Mark Warner was my early favorite in the presidential race until he dropped his campaign.  And, in a nutshell, here's why I like him:  Mark Warner was one of the founders of Nextel (now known as Sprint Nextel), a hugely successful corporation.  And he was a very popular two-term Governor of Virginia.  With his credentials as a successful businessman and governor of a red state, a Warner VP pick would really speak to the many Americans feeling economic stress (and who isn't?).  Also, he was born in Indianapolis, so there is a Hoosier connection!   And, his wife , who was the first Virginia First Lady to keep her maiden name, is pretty cool too. That said, Gov. Warner is currently running for Senate, so that could be a roadblock, I guess ... Nevertheless, I'll keep my fingers crossed.   

Mark Warner Ad: "Budget Mess"

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

Victory

I can't wait for the first Obama/McCain debate!

I Can't Read the Teleprompter!

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

The Democratic Primary is coming to an end.

And Hillary Clinton will acknowledge Barack Obama as the nominee.

Let's Celebrate!

Praise you - Fatboy Slim

Here's to the end of a spirited contest!  Now, let's unite and win the White House!

Clink!

Update:  Wait.  What?  Oh well ... I'm still celebrating the official end of the Democratic Primary!  Salute!

PS to Terry McAuliffe:  Stop!  

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

I am growing ever so tired of the claims of sexism on behalf of the Hillary Clinton campaign.  And, you know, I'm female with some working knowledge of sexual harassment/discrimination matters, so I think I can detect sexism when I hear it or see it, and in the context of Hillary Clinton's campaign I don't even get a whiff of it. 

As a woman, and mother of a daughter, I would LOVE to see a woman elected President someday, just not Hillary Clinton.  And, if Hillary is some sort of champion of women's rights, that is news to me.  In fact, as this article articulates so well, I don't even think of Hillary as a woman candidate, probably because she's doing her best to act like a man.  And I just don't think that's good for women.  

Hillary has proven that sometimes the best man for the job may be a female posing to be a man. In other words, Hillary has simply clothed herself in men’s tactics and strategies. She can nuke with the best of them. Hillary not only authorized the war in Iraq but she repeatedly continued to do so for several more years — up until the time she began running for president. She allowed, along with Bill Clinton, the egregious trade blockade against Iraq as hundreds of thousands of children starved to death after the ‘91 war. She more recently has supported Israel’s terror bombing of Lebanon and has newly endorsed “the total obliteration” of Iran.

When Hillary became a US Senator, I saw that as a perfect opportunity to set herself apart and handle things with a cooler head and a gentler touch.  It could have been oh-so-effective.  And it was so disappointing when she started toeing the Republican Party line. 

Hillary is a sexual decoy. She looks like a woman but is not a feminist nor does she speak for or on behalf of most women. She speaks for white people while identifying with her gender, as a woman. But she has trumped herself here. If a female prepares to bully the rest of the world with war and white privilege hopefully we — the big “we” — the “we” that spans across our differences will defeat the political forces she represents. And this means building a coalition for the November elections that makes sure that a non-misogynist agenda is part of the anti-racist politics of the Obama campaign.

Isn't it sort of funny that Barack Obama is coming across as the softer, gentler candidate?  I don't know about you, but I'll take calm and controlled over bombastic and belligerent anyday, and most especially on Election Day!

Send to a friend

Take John McCain's age.  Times it by 1,000.  Add the number of times Bush has mispronounced the word "nuclear" (approximately 4,000), and THAT's how many people turned out to see Barack Obama in Portland, OR yesterday.  Amazing! 

Holy Crap! That's A Lot of People!

As for me, I was home in Indianapolis, raking up the dirt in my soon-to-be vegetable garden.

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

This story will undoubtedly lead Rush Limbaugh to make a "Feminazi" reference.  

Obama says he's sorry for ‘sweetie’ comment

Democrat leaves voice mail for TV reporter saying he meant no disrespect

The Associated Press

updated 11:54 a.m. ET, Thurs., May. 15, 2008

 

STERLING HEIGHTS, Mich. - Barack Obama apologized Wednesday to a Michigan TV reporter after he called her "sweetie" and dodged her question about autoworkers.

WXYZ-TV's Peggy Agar shouted a question to the Democratic presidential candidate during his appearance at a Chrysler LLC plant in this auto-making suburb of Detroit.

Agar asked Obama what is he "going to do to help American autoworkers."

"Hold on one second, sweetie," Obama replied. "We'll do a press (availability), thanks." He did not reply to Agar's question.

On the air later Wednesday, the station played a voice mail message Obama left for Agar. In it, Obama apologized for not getting back to her. He also told her he has a bad habit of calling people "sweetie."

Obama then said: "I mean no disrespect, so I am duly chastened on that front."

The New York Times reported Thursday that the senator had used the word "sweetie" once before when addressing a female factory worker in Allentown, Pa.

Whatever ... I know a few ladies who would pay to have Barack Obama call them sweetie!

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

Variations on "Yes We Can" in no particular order:

For Obama: "Si Se Puede Cambiar" by Andres Useche

Yes We Can International

Yes, We Can- Barackapella

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

After a weekend spent playing "Where's Barack?" and after the surge of elation I felt upon hearing of his Indianapolis Rally, I missed it.  Can you believe that?   I'm so lame!  I realized that if the gates opened at 7:30 and with the line extending down to Louisville ... the odds were not good that I would make it home before 10:00.  And that's pretty late for me to be out on a week night.  Plus, I felt the magnetic pull of my sweet little girl, and I would have been bummed to arrive home after her bedtime.  I did visit the scene of the rally briefly and that was pretty cool, but I guess it's official:   I am a fuddy-duddy. 

The Crowd Started Pouring Into the Park As Soon as they Opened the Gates

This is Where Ali Velshi Has His Makeup Done

This morning at my polling place, I had to present my license three times.  Then, when I was handed my ballot, I got all misty-eyed.  I can't believe Indiana ... INDIANA can make a difference in this historical election!  C'mon Hoosiers ... VOTE OBAMA!

Read and post comments | Send to a friend