Gustav forces Obama to curtail Labor Day politics

[Omaha Steve]

Source: Reuters Blogs

Posted by: Caren Bohan

U.S. presidential candidate Barack Obama, who had planned an economic tour through the industrial Midwest, is changing his schedule because of Hurricane Gustav. Instead of staying overnight in the battleground state of Wisconsin on Monday, Obama is flying back to his home in Chicago to monitor the storm.

He also called for a moment of silence at a Labor Day rally in Detroit in the afternoon, saying it was not a time for political speeches.

“I wanted to talk about organized labor as the backbone of our economy and of our country and I wanted to talk about how we sustain that middle class against all the challenges we face today and how we promote policies that honor the dignity of work,” he said.

“But I have to tell you that, as we meet today, I have to change my plans a little bit. Our neighbors and our fellow citizens in Louisiana and across the Gulf Coast are once again under siege from a terrible storm,” he added.


Read more: http://blogs.reuters.com/trail08/2008/09/01/gustav-forces-obama-to-curtail-labor-day-politics/

[elocs]

1. I don't think it "forced" Obama to do anything. It was his choice.

Being from Wisconsin, I thought Obama had a big lead in the polls here but he will have been here twice within about a week. I constantly see ads for both Obama and McCain. Wisconsin is a battleground state, but evidently both candidates consider it still to be in play (I don't know if McCain has been here much lately though).

[femmocrat]

2. Biden cancelled his appearance at the Labor Day Parade in Pittsburgh today.

He said the time wasn't right for national politicking. (paraphrase)

[Faygo Kid]

3. Obama was on fire tonight in Wisconsin. Just brilliant.

He sure as hell did not hold back.

Just great, passionate stuff; the crowd went wild.

[madmax]

4. Any estimate on the size of the crowd? n/t

[HDPaulG]

6. Was stated 20,000 were in attendance

[HDPaulG]

5. Obama in Milwaukee....

Yes his appearance was great, but he did hold back because as he stated, as Gustuv is devastating Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, tonight was not a night to Politic. Other politicians from our State declared his message of change; the Mayor of Milwaukee, Governor Jim Doyle, Senator's Kohl and Feingold, Congresswoman Moore, and the various Labor Leader's from the AFL-CIO. Barrack's message was to the point. The crowd was on it feet often.