Obama Plans May (50-state)General Election Organizing Launch; With DNC

[tekisui]

Pivoting to general election mode, Sen. Barack Obama's campaign announced a 50-state voter registration drive that will kick off four days after the May 6 primaries in North Carolina and Indiana.

"Vote for Change" will summon the volunteer army that Obama has amassed in the 47 states and territories that have already held primaries or caucuses this year, along with the nine yet to come. Deputy campaign manager Steve Hildebrand described the effort as a "sustained 6-month campaign" aimed at driving up turnout for all Democratic candidates in November.

Obama's campaign has waged aggressive turnout drives in individual states, including Pennsylvania, where nearly 230,000 Democrats registered before the April 22 primary, most of them Obama supporters. New registrations have hit 165,000 in North Carolina and topped 150,000 in Indiana -- and unlike in Pennsylvania, both of those May 6 states open the primaries to unaffiliated voters (and Republicans too in Indiana), meaning they don't have to register as Democrats to participate.

The program's other aim is to signal to Democratic leaders, and in particular uncommitted superdelegates, that Obama is the stronger general-election candidate. His 50-state strategy may have cost him votes in big states like California, Hildebrand and others have long argued, but the result of having campaigned everywhere is a nationwide grassroots organization, unlike any ever created by a presidential candidate.

Hildebrand cited Wyoming as an example. The March 8 caucus state got little attention from Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, and it's a long shot as a Democratic pick up in the presidential election. But Obama, who beat Clinton in Wyoming easily, built a volunteer team there that can now be dispatched to aid Gary Trauner, who lost a 2006 race for the state's at-large House seat by 1,000 votes. Trauner has a better shot this year: the GOP incumbent who beat him, Rep. Barbara Cubin, is retiring. "We're looking for opportunities beyond the presidential campaign," Hildebrand said.

He confirmed that the campaign also is close to cutting a deal with the Democratic National Committee to conduct joint fundraising, an effort initiated by the DNC, which is seeking a similar deal with Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's campaign. "It is something that we're moving forward with," Hildebrand said.

link: http://blog.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/04/25/obama_plans_may_general_electi.html

[leftofcool]

1. Deans needs money

Between the lawsuits and lack of donations due to the Florida/Michigan fiasco, Dean is in a world of hurt.

[tekisui]

4. Yep. And all the Dem donor money is going to Obama or Clinton.

He needs it to be over, so he can start getting money back to the DNC.

And, he needs the candidate with the best fundraising ability to go against the puke slimers.

[democrattotheend]

9. That's why I sent more last month and am considering upping my Democracy Bond contribution

And other Obama supporters should consider doing the same. Obama needs money but so does the DNC...and if the DNC does not raise more money it will make a case for the Clintonites to oust Dean.

[saracat]

2. This is very wrong and an outrageous abuse of the DNC. Howard Dean needs to be removed.NOW. The DNC

is supposed to be neutral. Howard is turning out to be worse than Terry Mac and that took doing!

[tekisui]

5. They are working on a deal with HIllary, too.

[democrattotheend]

10. I am sure Hillary was invited to join. She probably doesn't want to pony up.

Since she has less money to spare, and she knows the money the DNC raises against McCain will most likely end up benefiting Obama in the end.

[mrreowwr_kittty]

32. She's too busy trying to flip FL and MI delegates.

It's all about her, not the Democratic party. :(

[newmajority]

11. Can you give up the pretense of "not" being a Hillbot already?

How is it "wrong" for the head of the Democratic party to support voter registration?

When John Edwards endorses Obama next week, is it going to send you into a meltdown?

[saracat]

12. I do support Hillary for the nomination since Edwards suspended.

And would you care to make a bet about that endorsement? John isn't going to endorse anyone and Elizabeth is out stomping for Hillary's healthcare plan as it was the same as John's. John hasn't forgetten the nasty stab in the back Obama did to him during the last Debate. What's wrong is Dean's blatant support for one candidate over another.

[cali]

24. really? Ellizabeth has been out stumping for hilly?

post a link to that story- and no not the rumor that she's going to do that. And you don't have a clue as to what JE thinks, so stop fucking bullshitting about it.

[saracat]

25. I said she was stumping for Hillary's "Healthcare Plan". Do you live under a rock?

She has been on every major AM TV show and written about this for the Center for American Progress, with which she is now affiliated. I did not say she endorsed any candidate. However John did say he would NOT endorse any candidate that did NOT have a "universal" health care plan and EE states that Obama's plan is NOT "universal". Make of it what you will. I do not think either will endorse anyone till after the primaries.

[cali]

27. lol sup on that thin gruel if you will.

neither candidate has a universal health plan and JE didn't either.

[saracat]

28. Nevertheless, Elizabeth states that Hillary has one and Obama does not.That is the point.

[tekisui]

15. John Edwards endorses Obama.

That'll be great.

I still think he will go to Obama. His drop before superTues. helped Obama more than anything. Had Edwards stayed in, Hillary would probably be the Nominee right now.

[saracat]

16. John Edweards endorses no one and justifiably so. Elizabeth Edwards endorses

Hilary Clinton's Healthcare Plan.

[Alii]

33. Jon Stewart

Did anyone pay attention to the answer Edwards gave to Jon, in that humorous interview, when asked about an endorsement? About Obama he said something to the effect...how can you go against HOPE. When it came to Hillary he said something like he didn't want to get bit by Carville. From the tone it was my impression that he will in fact endorse Obama...he will eventually.

I wouldn't want to get bit by Carville...rabies...maybe mad cow disease. Syphilis?

[tammywammy]

20. Did you only read the headline of the OP

"which is seeking a similar deal with Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's campaign"

[cali]

23. why not inform yourself before going off into a little tantrum?

There's nothing biased about this. The DNC is working on the same kind of cooperative deal with Clinton. Howard Dean has been a great chairman not a disgusting lying pos like McCauliff, hillbot. And your rage at Dean is simply hillbot nonsense. Oh, and tough shit, Dean isn't going anywhere until his term is up.

[saracat]

26. Interesting that you love to use abusive terms to describe those that

do not agree with you. I have not responded to call you a Obomatron, but whatever Cali. You used to be capable of rational debate. It is really sad.

[Adelante]

3. Man, this is just great stuff happening

:)

[AX10]

6. So the party is going to try to push Hillary aside.

I see. I will be leaving then too.

[tekisui]

7. THey are preparing for the General Election, with the presumptive Nominee.

The article said they are also working on a similar deal with Hillary.

[tammywammy]

21. "which is seeking a similar deal with Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's campaign"

I suggest reading the whole OP and not just the headline.

[Scurrilous]

8. K & R

:thumbsup:

[zam]

13. The Clinton campaign will spin this as evidence that Obama thinks he has already won.

And that he is arrogant in ignoring the remaining primary states.

I hope I am wrong, but this is what will probably happen.

[tekisui]

14. They would be wise to not mention it.

The more "Obama" and "won" appear in the same sentence, the worse for HIllary.

[Bensthename]

17. But he has won.. No biggey there.

[Bensthename]

18. It's about time he starts acting like the nominee. The only way Hillary wins this is if he dies..

[crankychatter]

19. I will be there with bells on

every day except fishing days

starting May first

[Samantha]

22. Kind of says it all, doesn't it (n/t)

[PBS Poll-435]

29. Yep!

Follow the money...

[aaroh]

30. Dems PWNS Repugs

[mrreowwr_kittty]

31. Damn straight they are! We've got an effort going on here in John McCain's backyard.

On May 10, we will have hundreds of volunteers going out to get people signed up for mail in ballots in sunny Arizona!

We have an 80% success rate with mail in voter cards!

80% :woohoo:

[TheDonkey]

34. Thank God, we need to work on the GE.

Hillary at this point is nothing but a bitter distraction.

[davidpdx]

35. As others have pointed out, read the whole thing

It looks like this is going to be yet another excuse for Hillary supporters to scream for Dean's removal. Just in case you missed it, here is the last paragraph in bold type.

He confirmed that the campaign also is close to cutting a deal with the Democratic National Committee to conduct joint fund-raising, an effort initiated by the DNC, which is seeking a similar deal with Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's campaign. "It is something that we're moving forward with," Hildebrand said.