I do have one complaint with the Obama campaign

[GrizzlyMan]

And it has nothing to do with his new ad today.

At any rate, I received an e-mail today from the campaign announcing their new office in Tulsa. My first thought is that it's nice they're setting up an office in my home state, but for the love of all things holy, why are they wasting money in one of the top 3 deep red states in the country. Oklahoma hasn't gone Dem since 1964 and the state is trending (rapidly) to the right. I don't get the wasted expense of opening up an office in a state they will lose by 30 pts.

Conversely, McCain has no ground operation here whatsoever and probably for good reason.

End of rant.

[elkston]

1. Awww. that bear in your avatar soo cute!

But anyway, yeah I don't see the strategy there. Usually the idea is to make McCain spend money to play "defense" in the state. But that only makes sense in states that aren't as strongly red as OK.

Maybe they need a place where local people can go to get trained, so they can go volunteer in neighboring states that ARE in play?

[LisaM]

2. Are there any competitive coat tail races there?

If so, it might generate enough extra votes to win them.

[GrizzlyMan]

4. Not a one

Jim Inhofe is up for re-election, and he will roll against Andrew Rice a little known state senator who has a history of drunk driving. If some people think the Obama campaign is floundering, they need to come to Oklahoma and take a look at the Oklahoma Democratic Party in action. Totally inept in every measurable way.

[Indiana_Dem]

3. Well I'm happy they have at least 16 offices here in red Indiana--

we haven't gone blue since 1964 either! In fact, I think IN hasn't gone blue but twice in its history! But we're seeing some good ground results in our canvassing. Nobody seems to talk about this state or does polls. I think this is a sleeper state and with a little push on the ground this place has the potential to turn. I am very glad he's spending resources here for the first time I've seen in my life.

[GrizzlyMan]

6. Indiana is in play

So I could see why they would have so many offices. Oklahoma would vote for a moldy ham sandwich over any Dem for president. It is quite disheartening to live here at times.

[azmouse]

5. Obama's opened an office in Phoenix also.

I think he's planning for the future.

[Ikonoklast]

7. A million little strokes fell the mighty oak.

You put your face out there in enemy territory. Concede NOTHING.

One voter at a time, one at a time.

[GrizzlyMan]

9. I agree, but the resources could be better used elsewhere

Obama, great as he is, isn't going to reverse 44 years of Repuke domination over this state in prez elections in 53 days. As I said earlier, the Republicans cut put a moldy ham sandwich at the top of the ticket and that moldy ham sandwich would get 60 percent of the vote here and I'm not kidding. They would vote for the ham sandwich with glee.

[Ikonoklast]

12. Let's 'show the flag,' though.

Give heart to our supporters, and give the enemy some pause.

Give your state time. I remember a Democratic Oklahoma. It will be so once more.

[NYC_SKP]

8. Obama is a 50 state president. There are supporters in every state who can....

....help us win by phonebanking and through other forms of organizing and support.

So, I fully support the small relative cost of having the office there.

I highly recommend you contact them to see how you can help, and while you have someone on the phone, maybe you can ask THEM why they have an office there and get back to us, because it is a fair question to ask and it would be helpful for all of us to know.

How does that sound? Deal?

:hi:

[EmperorHasNoClothes]

10. Are there a lot of millionaires in Oklahoma?

Obama may not win OK this election, but any work he does there will help to chip away at the republican dominance there so we might have a chance to make some inroads in future elections. The republican party is a party of, for, and by the wealthy, that talks about social issues but somehow never seems to make any major progress on them. If people are made to realize that, maybe they'll start reconsidering their votes for republicans.

I'm sure Obama isn't spending a ton of money there, but what he is doing is money well spent, in my opinion.

[madfloridian]

11. Building in all areas will help down ticket races as well.

That is a lot of their goal with the 50 state plan.

[icanthelpit]

13. I would imagine it's benefit costs right now

Office space in Tulsa was cheap, staffed with volunteers (Maybe tulsa Jim P. paid???), phone lines are cheap, so they are using it to raise money. Remember, the big expenditures are the advertising dollars, alas.