Obama maintains he's the underdog

Posted: Sunday, February 17, 2008 10:20 AM by Mark Murray

From NBC/NJ's Aswini Anburajan
MILWAUKEE, WI -- Perhaps knowing that there's no more precarious a position than front-runner, Obama opened his speech last night at Wisconsin's Jefferson-Jackson Dinner with the claim that he -- not Clinton -- is the underdog. "I knew I'd be the underdog in every contest from January to June," Obama told the crowd here, saying that creating change and winning the nomination would be "hard."

Yet the attempt to downplay expectations though was somewhat at odds with his introduction by Gov. Jim Doyle (D), an Obama endorser, who touted the Illinois senator's victories to the crowd. "There have been eight-straight states. There have been eight straight elections that he has won," Doyle told the crowd, adding that Obama competed in every state rather than picking and choosing the ones that would have benefited him demographically.

"He has honored us, day after day and town after town in Wisconsin. You should see how hard he works," Doyle added, pointing out that despite expectations that he will win in this state, the Obama campaign has campaigned with a steady intensity here, leaving nothing to chance.

Obama also pushed against charges that he was all promises and not policy, breaking from his prepared remarks to riff that iconic words like "I had a dream" were not "just words."

"Don't tell me words don't matter! 'I have a dream' -- just words? 'We hold these truths to be self evident that all me are created equal' -- just words? 'We have nothing to fear but fear itself' -- just words?. Just speeches?"

"It's true that speeches don't solve all problems," he added. "But what is also true is if we cannot inspire the country to believe again then it doesn't matter how many policies and plans we have."

He also said that he wanted to make government "cool" again. But a large part of Obama's remarks focused on addressing attacks that Clinton has made on his record.

Obama's speech, which started slow, built up steam and brought the subdued crowd to its feet. The lack of a teleprompter appeared to help him, allowing him to riff on his own and return to parts of his stump speech that he hasn't really used since Iowa or New Hampshire.

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Comments

C'mon Mark Murray, the Jefferson-Jackson dinner? Wasn't that Virginia? Try the Founders Day Gala in WI.

Supadindi, Los Angeles, CA (Sent Sunday, February 17, 2008 12:24 PM)

My opinion is that Obama was and is the underdog. But that is just opinion. If you believe because he has won 8 in a row he is no longer qualified to be the underdog; that is your OPINION.

When the NY Giants went ahead of the Patriots in the super-bowl, did they cease being the underdog because they were in the lead? No! The fact is that Clinton ran her campaign as the incumbent / inevitible candidate who had 100% name recognition across the country. Obama is still introducing himself in every state in which he campaigns -- the underdog! Look at the initial polls out of Ohio and Texas where he is now just starting to campaign. They show Hillary way out in front. This has been the case in every single state with the possible exception of Illinois.

But also notice the trend lines of the polls; Obama the underdog is closing on the frontrunner Hillary fast.

Come on, Wisconsin!

Matt Ahrens, San Carlos, CA (Sent Sunday, February 17, 2008 12:27 PM)

Senator Obama debate Senator Clinton in Wisconsin !
Kathy Hill, Milwaukee, Wi.

-----------

He can't. Hillary is leaving first thing in the morning.

Silas P. Murphy, Townstead KS (Sent Sunday, February 17, 2008 12:27 PM)

Nice one Chuck. Any chance you support a particular candiate? I guess objective journalism has gone the way of experience.
Obama might be good. If he cares he could be back in 8 years instead of indicating through his bride that this is the only chance. Walk the path. Walk the walk. It will be good for all of us.

Den (Sent Sunday, February 17, 2008 12:30 PM)

I love how their campaing says "Hillary has no way of catching up to us delegate wise" then "we are the underdog" get a spine dawg.

Sean (Sent Sunday, February 17, 2008 12:34 PM)

STOP SAYING superdelegates are unelected!!! man you people blow my mind....they are ELECTED members of congress, ELECTED state party leaders, ELECTED former presidents, ELECTED former governors, ELECTED *by caucus vote* party activists.... etc, etc...My god you people buy everything the media spits in your face!

blake (Sent Sunday, February 17, 2008 12:36 PM)

KING Of Smear, I too read all about the deaths connected to the Clintons. Esp. Vince Foster's. There are also 30+ women who have filed sexual assault complaints against Bill Clinton. Hopefully one day, these two will pay for what they have done. They will stop at nothing for their own benefit. Dick Morris, who was once the Clinton's advisor, said on Fox News on friday evening, that Hillary is always one step away from the Grand Jury. is thsi who the American people want for President? If so, why not elect the Mafia, no difference.

Kathy Hill, Hillary only wants to debate Obama because she is losing and is desperate for free television exposure. Perhaps she wil cry at the next debate and everyone who sees it will feel sorry for her the big baby and the biggest loser and they wil vote for her. Fat chance of that! She now is even trying to change the rules of FLa. and Mich. only to benefit herself. If Obama had won the two states she wouldn't be begging for the states to count, now would she?

The time has come for the Clintons to go! Anyone supporting these two is either ignorant or has been brainwashed!

Pia NJ (Sent Sunday, February 17, 2008 12:37 PM)

Obama is the underdog against the Clinton machine, not a few of the Democratic Party hacks, a lot of wealthy people, PACS that have donated megamillions to Hillary, the Republican right salivating to make Hillary the Democratic nominee and the entire history of presidential nominations and general elections in the country. He will be the underdog until the last vote in counted in November.

Karl Boettner, Spokane, Washington (Sent Sunday, February 17, 2008 12:43 PM)

OBAMA, IGNORE GETTING TO KNOW THE PEOPLE IN WISONSIN...NEVERMND CLINTONS NAME, YOU DONT NEED TO GET TO TALK TO THEM ALL AT RALLYS, DEBATE, PROVIDE HILLARY WITH FREE PRESS COVERAGE SINCE SHE IS BROKE...

CLINTON TROLLS....give it a rest

18 is more than enough, 2 more coming...

gabe-Las Vegas (Sent Sunday, February 17, 2008 12:43 PM)

Why are you Wisconsin people so hell bent on this debate in Wisconsin? Do you not have television? Have you not been paying attention for the past year? There has been 18 debates and there will be another one this week. If you want to follow along with this Clinton rhetoric about him being chicken then go ahead but it is just her dirty politics as usual and is not what this country needs. I think Obama's speech was amazing as usual and our country needs a leader like him. Our counrty has been divided for so long. We need to be brought together at this horrible time in history. We have seen some uniting against Bush in the last few years and if Hillary becomes president it will only divide the counrty once again just as it did when Bush became president. Republicans hate her so much as well as independents and some democrats. That is not what we need. We need Obama. Obama is bringing people together from all sides and we need to be united.

GO OBAMA!!!!!!!!!!!

Ben, Seattle, WA (Sent Sunday, February 17, 2008 12:45 PM)

And what was the judgement when after all the "scandals" were investigated. After billions of dollars, President Clinton was charged with lying about a sexual act that most men would be jealous about and would also lie about.
For those new voters who are too young to know, the Clinton years were the best the country has had since before Carter. Quit your screaming and do some research.

mary holzer, apple valley, MN (Sent Sunday, February 17, 2008 12:46 PM)

Kathy....GET CABLE!!! THERE'S BEEN FREAKIN 18!!!!! Are you seriously saying you don't have enough to go on!! That you and everyone else in the country can't pretty much say word for word what every debate is gonna be like from now on. The town hall meetings that they are doing are what's needed. NO MORE BORING ASS CHOREOGRAPHED DEBATES!! Come see me in N.C. so I can look you in the face and know if you're lying or if you really care. Debates waste too much time now, until the General where they will become relevant again. We know their positions. It's about their get out the vote operations now and commercials and speeches. Barack happens to be smoking Clinton in all of these. Barack the vote people and let's get the General Election started.

Steven, KDH, N.C. (Sent Sunday, February 17, 2008 12:46 PM)

The past clinton presidency was scandal prone- whitewater, monica, travel gate, lincoln bedroom, buddist temple,,...The republican barely allowed bill to complete his last term, in shame and disgrace, with impeachment. Hillary presidency will not be different. This time, I would be one term and the democrats will have to wait for no less than 12 years before smelling the whitehouse.

Imagine the congress focusing on probes with all the insecurity we have in the world. Hillary or Billary presidency is costly.

Maybe when Hillary leaves, Chelsea will follow her mom's footstep.

Wise up Democrats!

Mike, Hercules, CA (Sent Sunday, February 17, 2008 12:46 PM)

After Barack Obama tried to compare himself to Ronald Reagan, he is now trying to compare himself to Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Martin Luther King.

Barack Obama behavior based on lack of experience,is similar to Dan Quayle who tried to compare himself to John F. Kennedy in the 1988 debate. Senator Lloyd Bentsen responded to Dan Quayle with the famous quote:

Senator, I served with Jack Kennedy, I knew Jack Kennedy. Jack Kennedy was a friend of mine. Senator, you're no Jack Kennedy.

Angel (Sent Sunday, February 17, 2008 12:49 PM)

Bill Clinton was about the same age when he took office and he did a fine job on the economy. But, he also did a fine job at bring scandal and disgrace to the Presidency and the White House. Hillary has not done anything so exciting on her own that tells me she has all this experience. She will have a former president in bed, I'll give her that. But he will be in a lot of other beds too. Barack Obama will bring change to America and integrity.

Angelene, Pompano Beach, Florida (Sent Sunday, February 17, 2008 5:46 PM)

Mike why don't you wake up from your anti-Clinton fantasy. Bill Clinton was the only Democrat re-elected to the WH since FDR. Not only will Hillary Clinton do a good job, she will be better than Bill since she doesn't have his fatal flaw, if you will. The Clintons are hated by Republicans (and other idiots) like you because they were effective in building a centrist coalition to govern effectively. The result was the best economy we've had since WWII. It is not the Clintons fault that the extremists funded a witch hunt that harasses them to this day. You all want Obama and compare him to JFK. Not only did JFK have more experience than Obama, but he screwed way more women in the WH than Bill! Hillary is the only candidate that can win in November and should be the next President.

Frank, WI (Sent Sunday, February 17, 2008 7:32 PM)

there has been only one debate between just the two of them..who is discounting the voters when they are calling for a debate in the state and he refuses? He knows he can't answer their questions without something to read or in a memorized speech..as for the lady in NY who says she didn't do anything to improve her life, then thank God because that meant you were'nt one of the ground zero vitums she went to bat for..sorry if she was pre-occupied with 9/11..think about what she's done for your state and quit being so self-centered..

Margaret, Elyria Ohio (Sent Sunday, February 17, 2008 8:35 PM)

Don't tell me words don't matter! 'I have a dream' -- just words? 'We hold these truths to be self evident that all me are created equal' -- just words? 'We have nothing to fear but fear itself' -- just words?. Just speeches?"
These are great words, Life changing words but they are not your words Sir, Stop leaning on great men to get your point across, dont you have anything of your own. Please dont direct me to the website, been there, read that. Everyone goes on and on about your speeches but most of them should be called karoke speeches. You know the tune but you cant compose your own song.

L. Lubbock,tx 79423 (Sent Sunday, February 17, 2008 9:02 PM)

Obama is right. Without vision our plans mean nothing. Inspiration brings out the best in us. Cynical crticism robs America of the future we so desperately need to reclaim.

Cynicism is the last refuge of those unable to hope.

bc Indiana (Sent Sunday, February 17, 2008 10:01 PM)

Yes, he is STILL the underdog. When an underdog gets ahead during the competition, he is merely the underdog upsetting the expected outcome.

All this discussion is just more Clintonian spin.

Kurt (Sent Sunday, February 17, 2008 10:19 PM)

If Hillary was so concerned about the FL and MI delegates, she should have voiced it before the elections.

Soba (Sent Sunday, February 17, 2008 10:19 PM)

When HRC states that she would be the candidate most likely to compete toe to toe with Senator McCain, who is she kidding? She is not to score points on foregn policy and war on terror, areas where McCain thinks to hold an edge, but polls consistently show that Obama can and would. So what is the real meaning of her statements?

Corneille Minani, Jamestown, NC (Sent Sunday, February 17, 2008 11:19 PM)

Obama is afraid to debate Clinton either because he fears the added free advertising will benefit her more than it will him or becauses he fears that she will demonstrate her superior knowledge of the issues and process.

Barach says he isn't political...yeah, right. That's why from one side of his mouth he speaks of being the underdog while from the other we hear about the string of successes...not political. What else aren't you?

campdog (Sent Sunday, February 17, 2008 11:25 PM)

When front runners say they are the underdog then it means they are worried about front runner backlash. Welcome to Clinton's world Obama! It is human nature to knock down the front runner. It is the reason for Obama's early success and now it is now coming back to bite him.

Mark, VA (Sent Monday, February 18, 2008 7:23 AM)

"Right on day one" who can promise such a thing and be honest about it??? The most one can promise is to be "ready on day one" and that Hillary has proven she is! The audacity of his ego! I read his book and he is using every method he condeems to run for President. Suppose he learned real fast to win in politics one must play the game...to bad he claims he is above it all when it is clearer everyday he is not! His ads are the "examples" of misstatements he claimed he was going to change! What ever happened to the Politics of Hope

Sherri Mesquite, Texas (Sent Monday, February 18, 2008 8:25 AM)

Using words from others to bolster your own words does not mean anything, issues Barak, issues, when will you start to talk issues?

John Alexander (Sent Monday, February 18, 2008 9:04 AM)

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