Obama to continue campaigning in Texas

[babylonsister]

Obama to continue campaigning in Texas

08:51 AM CDT on Thursday, June 26, 2008

By TODD J. GILLMAN / The Dallas Morning News
[e-mail]


WASHINGTON – Barack Obama's campaign manager said Wednesday that he has no illusions about winning Texas this fall. But as part of the Democrat's "50-state strategy," he'll send a dozen or more staffers to the state, tapping volunteers to call voters in real battlegrounds and – perhaps – help win enough Texas legislative races to influence the next round of congressional redistricting.

"First of all, we want people to help Barack Obama win the presidency. But I think in a state like Texas, there's House races, there's state Senate races, and we're going to encourage people to get involved," said campaign manager David Plouffe, who detailed some of Mr. Obama's plans for the next four months.

Texas Democrats were pleased. Interest from the party's nominee has been rare in the past, other than occasional fundraising visits. And there's more at stake than usual, as they're five seats short of winning back the House.

"It's certainly a welcome development," said Matt Angle, a longtime strategist whose Lone Star Project has been working to rebuild the state party. "It's an indication that Obama has resources that previous nominees didn't have, and also he's got insight that previous nominees didn't show."

He said an active campaign by Mr. Obama could help candidates lower on the ballot. Texas stands to pick up three or four U.S. House seats after the 2010 census, and control of the Legislature can affect the balance of power in Washington – as the party learned in the redistricting of 2004, when it lost a half-dozen seats.

more...

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/politics/national/stories/062608dntexobama.3cc73c5.html

[blogslut]

1. Mike Huckabee got %38 of the repub primary vote in TX

I don't think Texas pubs are feeling the love for Johnny McSame.

Yeehaw!

[babylonsister]

2. Yeehaw is right! nt

[blogslut]

3. The man didn't even bother to attend their convention

Big mistake. As big as um, well, help me out here... :hi:

[Robeson]

4. Battles of attritiion are costly for both sides, but especially for the side....

...that can't afford that battle. I love Obama's - i.e. Dean's - 50 state strategy.

[blogslut]

5. Forcing them to spend money in a state that's supposed to be a given

...is especially delicious.