Obama encourages Ford: "They called me Alabama (and) Yo mama, and yet here I am."

[DeepModem Mom]

WP: Underdog Ford Gets a Little Help From His Illinois Friend
Monday, November 6, 2006; Page A08


Democratic Senate hopeful Rep. Harold E. Ford Jr., left, worked the crowd yesterday in Nashville with the help of Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.). Though Republican Bob Corker leads most polls, Ford has made the race close. (By Alex Brandon-Associated Press)

NASHVILLE -- In his race for U.S. Senate, Rep. Harold E. Ford Jr. (D) has been outspent by millions, and his image has been battered by a barrage of negative ads, including the now-infamous spot with a blonde floozy that has been pulled off the air. Several polls show him trailing.

But being an underdog has its own righteous appeal, and the campaign used that status yesterday not only to rally voters but as evidence that God had looked with favor upon the Democratic campaign....

***

Ford probably needs the help. In his contest against Republican Bob Corker, a wealthy businessman and former mayor of Chattanooga, Ford faces formidable challenges, some of them purely demographic. He is a Democrat in a state that has been friendlier to Republicans. He is African American, and if elected he would be the first black senator from the South since Reconstruction. And his family members, including his father, have been the subject of political scandal.

It is one of the oddities of the campaign that no one seems too sure about what the polls are saying, because while they generally have Corker leading, the margin has differed widely. Some have suggested it is too close to call; others have shown Corker -- who campaigned in Nashville last night with Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) -- ahead by eight points or more. While acknowledging what the other polls say, Ford tells crowds that his own polling shows him ahead by one point.

"There are some folks who still think he can't win," Obama told a diverse crowd at a downtown rally Sunday. "It doesn't matter how big the crowds are. . . . When I ran for office, folks said, 'He seems like a good guy, but let's face it: You can't elect somebody named Barack Obama.' They couldn't even pronounce my name. Called me 'Alabama.' Called me 'Yo mama.' And yet here I am."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/05/AR2006110501272.html?nav=hcmodule

[bunkerbuster1]

1. And they put you up against Alan Keyes

Not exactly an analogous situation, but thanks for the good work anyway, Barak!

[Radical Activist]

6. There's a reason they couldn't recruit anyone better than Keyes.

Every credible candidate knew they didn't have a chance.

[beaconess]

8. That was AFTER Obama kicked everyone's ass in the Dem primary

He won over 60% of the vote in a 7-way race.

No wonder the Republicans didn't want to throw too much into that race.

[Turba]

2. Well Kennedy called him Osama

He should be more upset about that.

[DeepModem Mom]

3. Welcome to DU, Turba!!!

[saracat]

4. What an odd first post .Enjoy your stay!

[AspenRose]

9. "But Ted Kennedy...." "But Bill Clinton....." "But Robert Byrd...."

They should try not being so obvious next time....

[kath]

12. His stay was very short. Already tombstoned, poor baby.

[sandnsea]

5. Democrats have a sense of humor

And can even differentiate a real botch from a real joke.

[KingFlorez]

10. How interesting hmmmm

[AtomicKitten]

7. kick

[Clark2008]

11. I sport a Ford sign on my Ford

Go Harold!!

Candy Crowley hasn't sung....

YET!