Barack Obama Confident in Indiana and North Carolina

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Mon May-05-08 02:54 PM
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Barack Obama Confident in Indiana and North Carolina

INDIANAPOLIS - Before campaigning in North Carolina this afternoon, Sen. Barack Obama spent his morning meeting with union workers in southern Indiana, having a hearty breakfast and trying to tamp down expectations for Tuesday's primaries. (http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/politics/blog/2008/05/obama_grabs_hearty_meal_before.html)

"This is gonna be a tight election here in Indiana. Every poll shows a dead heat," he told union workers in Evansville. "You guys are pretty persuasive. I need you to tell your membership this is something worth fighting for and they need to come out and vote. And vote for me."

The Illinois Democrat had a big appetite, according to the pool report from his morning events.

"I've been losing weight on this campaign," Obama complained. "I hope there are some biscuits and grits."

There were no grits, but he did find some biscuits, including some made by a local supporter in the shape of an "O" (for Obama).

The busy campaigner and fitness fan said he was "starving" as he piled his plate with scrambled eggs, two sausage patties, biscuits and hash browns.

EVANSVILLE, IND. -- Barack Obama continued to court working-class voters this morning, a demographic that has become critical in the Indiana and North Carolina primaries. As he and Hillary Clinton remain in a dead heat in Indiana and she appears to be closing in on his lead in North Carolina, Obama realizes that he can�t take anything for granted.

�We�re working as hard as we can and I desperately want every vote here in Indiana and in North Carolina,� Obama told reporters this morning during a stop at a local construction site.

As he toured the site, Obama spoke to workers about the economy and the gas tax holiday, an issue which has become a sticking point in this election. He called the proposal by John McCain and Hillary Clinton a political �stunt� and said the issue comes up every two years during an election cycle. Obama said a second stimulus check would be a better alternative for short term relief.

�That would help people immediately relieve some crisis and that�s money that you know won�t be sopped up by oil companies.�

At the start of his election-eve interview with Sen. Barack Obama, CNN's John Roberts told the candidate: "We are declaring a Rev. Wright-free zone today... Is that OK with you?'' (http://weblogs.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/blog/2008/05/barack_obama_im_still_here.html)

"Fair enough,'' replied Obama, with a smile from Evansville, Ind.

Obama, reminded that he has "been pounded by Clinton,'' also was reminded that the party's internal contest "may be nothing'' compared to a general election contest against Sen. John McCain. Obama was asked how we will defend himself.

"We've probably taken as many hits as anybody has in this presidential campaign,'' Obama said. "Sen. Clinton has not. Sen. McCain has not.... Yet I'm still here... The American people are going to be interested in who's fighting for them... who's making sure they're living out the American dream... That's ultimately what this is about. This is not about me.''

"I think there is no doubt that we've got to get Michigan and the Florida delegation seated,'' Obama said. "I've always said that the people of Michigan and the people of Florida deserve better.'' Unfortunately, he said, a system of rules was set up that led to a vote in Michigan in which his name did not even appear on the ballot. He insisted, without detail, that he is looking for a "fair'' resolution of that dispute.

DURHAM, N.C. -- Democratic Presidential candidate Barack Obama promoted his economic agenda Monday during a visit to CREE, a company that makes solid state, energy efficient lighting.

The event, which highlighted a "town hall" setting among employees, began at 12:45 p.m. as candidates continue to cover the state in advance of Tuesday's primary.

Obama told employees that his economic approach is a long term approach that begins with dealing with gas prices from the top by investigating profits and offering tax breaks for the middle class. He also suggested that while some of his plans are similar to rival Hillary Clinton's plans, the difference would be in approach.

Obama told the gathering of workers at CREE, Inc., in Durham that the gas tax holiday discussion is a short term approach to a much more critical problem, getting the U.S. less dependant on foreign oil and oil in general. "What I'm saying is that some people need relief right now... but what I want to do is invest and make sure we are creating new technolgies for the future.

"And if we're not honest with the American people about that, if we're just trying to get by short term, then we won't solve this problem, and everybody knows it," Obama added, saying no one in Washington actually thinks the gas tax holiday will solve the issue.

Don�t listen to the electability argument, Barack Obama told an undecided voter at the town hall this afternoon. (http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2008/05/05/obama-woos-voter-says-recent-attacks-are-best-they-can-do/?mod=WSJBlog)

�I started this race as the complete underdog. I mean nobody thought that a black guy named Barack Obama was going to beat the best brand in Democratic politics,� he told the crowd while answering a question from undecided voter Diana Allen, 39 years old, who said she would vote for the candidate she thought had the best chance of winning.

Once he became the frontrunner, Obama said his opponents piled on. �And the press is happy to oblige, so there was a kitchen sink strategy employed where they were throwing a whole bunch of stuff and we made some mistakes, some self-inflicted,� he said. �Most recently obviously there�s been this furor over the remarks of my former pastor which there�s no doubt we took a hit on.�

But despite those stumbles, he said the fact that he remains even in the polls with Hillary Clinton shows that his campaign is actually quite strong. �You know that folks are reaching when the big attack on me is I�m not wearing a flag pin,� Obama said. �They�re reaching. This is the best they can do.�

Obama also said be believed Democrats would unify before the general election and that he would present winning arguments against expected Republican nominee John McCain on the war and the economy.

�So don�t buy into this electability argument,� he said. �Go with who you think best represents your vision of where America needs to go and if you do that I�m absolutely confident that that person will win.�

Senator Barack Obama shares a light moment with his daughters Malia (L) and Shasha during a picnic with hundreds of participants in Fort Wayne, Indiana, May 4