Star Power
He said all the right things for the crowd—expressing his support for universal health care, for better public schools funding, for a defense of the nation based on diplomacy as well as military might. His biggest applause line came when he reminded the crowd that George Bush would not be on the ballot in 2008.
The pictures were great—there will be ads on the air soon from this event (the Obama staff had three cameras working it). But the candidate went on—and on—and toward the end seemed to leave the crowd less pumped up than Oprah had made it.
If Obama is to be the Democratic nominee, let alone president, he needs to stoke the emotions of the black community. In the crowd here were many African-Americans, unlike Andrea Perry, teetering between gratitude and loyalty to the Clintons and the gathering hope that one of their own might make it to the White House.
Obama needs to convert hope into votes here in the South Carolina primary on January 26. If past is prologue, half of the voters will be African-Americans, and Obama needs a strong vote among them if he expects to win.
A new poll in Columbia's The State newspaper, out today, shows Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton clinging to a slim 28 percent to 25 percent over Obama in South Carolina, with former Sen. John Edwards still in the running with 18 percent. Hillary leads among women, 34-21 percent; Obama leads among blacks, 37-21. He has to expand that margin if he hopes to win.
Some African-Americans came here wanting to get a sense of whether the Obama campaign was as big-time as advertised. The sense was: if we invest out hopes in this guy, we want to make sure it is the real deal. "We want this thing to go, so we want to see if it's done right," said Damon Wilder, a car salesman who drove three hours with his girlfriend from Georgia. "I can't quite get over the Clintons, but I'm here to see if I should."
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Member Comments
Posted By: timcorkern81 @ 02/16/2008 6:42:00 PM
Comment: Haha. Troy from Brooklyn can't even spell minorities. How's THAT for an education system? People are ignorant to vote for Osama (I mean...Obama) ONLY because he's black. As certain women are ignorant enough to vote for Hillary ONLY because she's a woman. Every major candidate that has a chance at winning scares the crap out of me when I consider one of them running my country. Some more than others. God help us if Obama or Hillary gets into office. Heard of goin to hell in a handbasket? That's what's comin.
Posted By: JMZ $.02 @ 01/19/2008 4:36:46 AM
Comment: Many of the comments posted are purely ignorant. With our nation's public education failing tomorrow's leaders daily, I am not surprised. Be careful with the finger pointing. This failure began long before President Bush. Please educate yourself before you speak as if you see the full scope.
How many of you have actually served your country in support of OIF or OEF? Have you ever had a mother show whole-hearted gratitude to you for giving her child medicine because she thought they were going to die? Have you ever been told thank you by an Iraqi man in a wheel chair for helping his country stand on their own? Who are you to disrespect the men and women who have gaven their lifes by speaking of a situation you know nothing of?
Do you know what the differences are between the baseline beliefs of Muslims, Christians and Jews? Do you know which of the distinctions following the book(s) of God has the most violent history? And I am not referencing the extremists in this regard. I reference the head of the distinction sanctioning violence as a standard.
Do you know the questionable backgrounds of some our nations 'greatest' leaders? Are you basing your vote on what's best for our country? Do you know the history of each candidate's political decisions? Or are you basing your vote on some feeble connection to the dream of being a 'part' of history?
America, wake up! The decision we collectively make this election will significantly shape our future. Make your part of that decision based on the right reason...the education reason.
Posted By: nubianking11 @ 01/08/2008 12:04:38 PM
Comment: I feel that it's time America has a black Democratic President. I will vote for Obama,and all blacks,minoroties and even whites should vote for Obama. He will do a much better job than Bush,and he will help all working class people,not just us blacks. He is against the Middle East War too. I agree with Obama 100%!
Troy N. Brooklyn,N.Y.