Going around the blogsphere

[politicasista]

Been venturing outside of DU on non political blogs to see what people are saying about Obama's endorsements, and although I haven't heard much about them, I did find a good snippet (had to trim it down) from Essence magazine that mentioned Kerry and Kennedy and Obama's other surrogates. (if it's ok in here:))

I knew the Kennedy ones got major play, but I thought this comment was worth posting too, cause I haven't seen or read much reaction about Kerry's endorsement anywhere, with the exception of Obama's campaign website and BlackAmericaweb.com.

It's also a good sign that someone noticed, especially after Kerry got dissed by Tyra Banks on her show (saying that she wouldn't have forgiven Kerry for not endorsing his former running mate), which kind of made him look like the bad man when he didn't do anything wrong. (I still think he has a way to go in mending the fences, but that's another story).

The reality is this is a race against the clock. Exit polls are clear. Absentee voters who voted early based their vote on early polls and name recognition and Obama can't do anything about that. He has got to get the hearts and minds of those paying attention now, increase turn out and he has got to use his surrogates wisely. The Kennedys' have been doing this for years, Kerry and the Governors and one more Oprah megafest. He also needs to turn Dr. (Cornel) West and Bill Bradley loose on New York. I also think the use of YouTube is very effective for him because he can speak for extended period of time. This upcoming debate is also going to be monumental. He has got to speak in soundbites and provide the inspirational rhetoric in equal measure. Under no circumstance can he get off message, but he must counter punch with humor.

Posted by: RealB.G. | January 30, 2008 at 08:47 PM

http://essence.typepad.com/news/2008/01/and-then-there.html#comments

[JI7]

1. looks like that is what Obama is doing so good for him

sending out his supporters around the country. Kerry doing events around California with Caroline and Oprah doing others in the state.

cover a lot of areas.

[Inuca]

2. The early voting

makes me uncomfortable. I do not know about other states, but I read that in CA the % is significant. Also heard that in FL the difference in percentages between those who voted early and those who voted on election day was huge.

[MBS]

3. FWIW, I know a CA family voting early

who mailed in 4+ votes to Obama a month ago . By the way, these were undeclared voters, people who I don't usually think of as political.
And one of them once knew Obama's rival well, having first met her, and worked with her, in the mid-60's.

The fact that the CA Dem primary is open to undeclared voters could be an important factor in that race.

[Inuca]

5. What does FWIW stand for? n/t

[karynnj]

6. For what it's worth

[Luftmensch067]

7. For what it's worth

Sorry for dup -- Karynnj beat me to it! LOL!

[Inuca]

9. Thanks to both

love it when that happens (two people typing the same thing at the same time :-)).

[karynnj]

8. I second the importance of the undeclared voters

I also suspect they tend to be younger - at least that's how it looks in the NJ lists - that have N (not affiliated) and D , gender, and age. My middle kid registered as independent, though she is near where I am in most issues - and to the left on some.

In NJ, the non affiliated are being called and told that they can vote in the primary. Doing so will change their status to Democrat here, but they can file to switch it back. (I got a few independents saying that they had hoped to vote for him in the general and they were glad they had the option in the primary. Most were pro-Obama, one was anti-McCain,Romney and Clinton.) I only made about 100 calls - most to leave info on answering machines. the message highlights the ability of non-affiliated (independents) to vote.

In today's paper, the Clinton camp was quoted as saying that her name recognition should bring in many unaffiliated.

[Democrafty]

12. I voted early for Obama in CA

but I am, naturally, a registered Dem. :)

[ray of light]

4. It's all guess-work. (I mean politics and theories of name recognition.)

Afterall, Clinton may have name recognition but she also has negative name recognition too. Some people are already biased for her or against her.

[karynnj]

10. I was hearing a lot of negative name recognition from some independents

In my town though independents are more likely to really be Republican, not Democratic.

On the OP, I would say that though Kerry did not get the coverage of Caroline or Ted Kennedy - he was noticed. More importantly to the Obama campaign - 2 Kerry themes have been widely picked up. There is much talk of past vs future - which Kennedy emphasized as passing the torch as well. Obama always had this as a theme, but it is easier for someone else to make the case for it. The other was the concept of a transformational Presidency. I think Kerry used this first. That it is said and not credited makes it stronger.

[ginnyinWI]

11. whether Kerry was first or not,

He was the first voice who made it very clear that Obama can bring change and transformation. It's very important for Obama to be made to represent a concept like that--one that so many people, especially the young, are hungry for. It directly opposes Clinton and memories of the 90s which aren't all good. Even people who liked the Clinton years don't necessarily think we need the same things in 2008 and beyond. Because of 9/11 mostly, people see a new world.

My 25 year old daughter was excited to shake Hillary's hand in Iowa--she's a celebrity who was First Lady when my daughter was a teen--but she supports Obama.

[politicasista]

13. That makes sense

And that it was said and not credited does make it stronger. Hope the post wasn't perceived as who was on board first, but it was just interesting that Kerry's name was mentioned on a non politcal blog. Especially an AA one without snark because after 3 1/2 years, there still isn't much positive talk of the good senator like there is his former VP mate from 04.