View from Arkansas on the Presidential election.

[LonelyLRLiberal]

My comments are based on my own observations. I have no contacts with anyone on the inside in politics here. Anyway, I think Arkansas is not as "red" as they are showing on the electoral college maps. I think the last time any of the major polling groups did a poll here (that was not for a campaign) was in mid-July. At that time, I think they were showing McCain with more than a 10-point lead. However, Obama is running ads in the Little Rock market from time to time, and moveon.org is also running ads. Obama has on-the-ground organization here, including several offices opened in September. Bumper stickers and yard signs in the Little Rock area (though I acknowledge this is a Dem area of the State) are heavily in favor of Obama. When I wear my Obama button, I get lots of thumbs-ups. Voter registrations statewide are pretty high - over 100,000 new voters so far this year, versus about 73,000 new voters in 2006 (I don't know about 2007). Total votes in the Governor's race in 2006 was about 775,000. The Secretary of State here is doing a lot of voter registration work at high schools. I think Arkansas may be more in play than anyone (except maybe the Obama campaign) thinks.

What say you, fellow Arkies?

[Archaeopteryx]

1. I absolutely agree with you.

I wrote a blog post about it here: http://notesfromatransitionalfossil.blogspot.com/2008/09/barack-obama-for-president-of-arkansas.html.

[LonelyLRLiberal]

2. Nice blog - Welcome to DU! Where've you been?

I'm bookmarking your blog, BTW.

[Archaeopteryx]

3. Thanks for the kind words!

I don't update all that often. I didn't realize that DU had forums.

[nosillies]

4. Nice blog, Arch, bookmarked.

But I still don't fancy our chances. Call me cynical, but I think there are to many one-note religious and racist voters that come out of the woodwork for presidential elections.

I am aggravated, as mentioned, by lack of vocal support from other Dems in statewide leadership positions. That support is essential right now.

[Bubbha Jo]

5. I think everyone is going to be surprised on Nov 4th...

but not sure we can swing a win here for Obama. I've get good comments on my "Veterans for Obama" pin when I'm in little Rock but not so much at home (Heber Springs). I just got a call a few minutes ago that our Democrat office that just opened here in town have signs, stickers and pins so I'll run up and get a sign in a few minutes. Yea!