Obama to Be in IOWA When He Clinches the Pledged Delegate Title

The schedule still says 'TBA.' But barring a last-minute change, Senator Obama plans to be in IOWA on Tuesday night when he clinches a majority of available pledged delegates. This is a red state he's hoping to turn blue, so the intended message is that he's getting to work on the general - NOT taking a victory lap. Political Geographer Jonathan Martin says the Hawkeye State appears to be Obama's BEST chance to flip a state that went for President Bush last time. In 2004, Iowa went Bush 50, Kerry 49. In 2000, it went Gore 49, Bush 48, Nader 2.

http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0508/Obama_back_to_Iowa.html

Rally with Barack and Michelle Obama

E. 6th Street and E. Locust Street
Des Moines, IA

Tuesday, May 20th, 2008
Doors Open: 7:30 p.m.

___

Coming back to where it all started. Good move.

I'll be the fat bearded guy in denim and flannel. I'm sure I'll be the only one of those there.

But as you know, the weather changes quickly in Iowa!

E 6th and Locust....historical building?

It would be a great place for this event so I hope that is the location. It is also where Edwards announced his candidacy in Iowa back in Dec. 06.

and if I can make, I will be liveblogging and posting pics/video at Common Iowan.

http://commoniowan.blogspot.com

One thing that just stuck out in my mind about that night for some reason was that after the introduction of the chant "Yes We can!" it transitioned into a chant of "U.S.A." almost as if they were proud of their country having re-recognized that THEY have the power to help shape its future again.

Good for Iowa, not so good for those of us who have been working to get a record turnout to offset his Kentucky loss.

Obama to clinch pledged delegate majority Tuesday in Iowa.
WASHINGTON--Hat tip to Politico.com for the report that Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) plans--"barring a last minute change" to claim virtually clinching the Democratic presidential nomination Tuesday night in Iowa--a red state he wants to turn blue. The Sun-Times Saturday morning confirmed the Politico scoop--and it seems now no last minute change is in the works.

Tuesday is election day in Kentucky and Oregon and Obama is expected to win Oregon and give up Kentucky to Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) But throwing a big victory party in Oregon--on Pacific time--won't move the storyline along as much as going to a November battleground. Tuesday will mark Obama winning the majority of pledged delegates. The Obama campaign strategy is to continue to act as if the nomination was wrapped up even if Obama is short of delegates. President Bush attacking Obama for his foreign policy in Jerusalem does Obama a favor--he elevates Obama as if he were already the Democratic Party nominee.
http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2008/05/obama_poised_to_clinch_pledged.html

ROSEBURG, Oregon (Reuters) - Hoping that a pair of contests in Oregon and Kentucky on Tuesday will allow him to essentially clinch the Democratic nomination, Barack Obama will make a symbolic return to Iowa, the state that launched his underdog bid for the White House.

Polls suggest the Illinois senator will win Oregon comfortably while his rival New York Sen. Hillary Clinton is expected to prevail in Kentucky by a wide margin.

But the Obama campaign expects that when the results from the two contests come in, he will have racked up more than halfof the pledged delegates awarded in the state-by-state contests, making him the likely winner in his battle with Clinton to become his party's nominee to face presumptive Republican nominee John McCain in November.

Neither Obama nor Clinton will have enough pledged delegates to lock up the nomination, but Obama contends that superdelegates -- party leaders and elected officials with their own vote in the process -- should back the leader in pledged delegates.

Obama won Iowa's first-in-the-nation nominating contest in January, beating the former first lady who was the national front-runner at the time and was seen by many pundits as having an aura of inevitability in her bid for the Democratic nomination.

Obama's trip to Iowa offers not only a chance for him to look back on the race, but also an opportunity to look ahead to the potential fight with McCain.
http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSN0839956720080517

I'm sure he will swing by your neck of the woods before the general election.

By the way, isn't Iowa BLUE??!?!

But yeah, I would prefer he be in Portland or some such place since that is where the voting is taking place.

That is one of the reasons why I consider the Kerry campaign in '04 to be one of the most flawed campaigns ever. If we couldn't get Iowa....then there were serious problems.

There isn't a venue there that is that large. The capital is very close so maybe they can move it to the grounds. That would be a stunning photo op. The Iowa state capital building is beautiful.

If I'm not mistaken, the Obama HQ is where the rally will be....and it is a tiny building.

What better way than you to announce it!

Didn't see it. Thanks, man.

Actually I know the answer to that. Oregon is on the east coast and when Obama prepares to give his historic victory speech there most of those on the east coast wont catch the speech.

Pretty smart move to hold the rally in Iowa.

1- Where it all began
2- Focus now on GE
3- Make sure everybody sees it

If that is what you meant, I have. Personally I dont follow the primary polls anymore and dont follow what Sen Clinton says or does.

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Come on all you in Iowa who plan on attending. Bless DU with some awesome pics!