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Chuck Todd, NBC Political Director

Mark Murray, NBC Deputy Political Director

Domenico Montanaro, NBC News Political Reporter



Battleground: Obama's rural focus

Posted: Wednesday, August 13, 2008 9:14 AM by Mark Murray
Filed Under:

MINNESOTA: Obama’s state director notes that 20% of the state's electorate is undecided. He told reporters yesterday that his 1,500 volunteers in the state will knock on those fence-sitters' doors "as many times as it takes to move them."

*** UPDATE *** The Obama called to say it has 1,500 Team Obama volunteer leaders in Minnesota, but 6,000 total volunteers.

OHIO: Here’s another story about Obama promising to campaign and organize in the rural parts of the state, especially Ohio’s "U" portion (from Toledo to Youngstown).

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obama has great plans for those who live in rural areas, heres his plans and voting record on rural issues
http://sensico.wordpress.com/2008/08/11/obamas-plan-for-rural-america/
That young man looks different then us. I'm voting for McCain.
Didn't Obama say something about me "clinging to my guns and religion"? I'd sooner have those two things then Obama. That, and my hound dog Clementine.
Waiting for NeoCon attack on the bitter comment in 3...2...1...
-----------------------------------------------

From Monday:
"Good. Stay on him with that comment, John.  Besides Obama's racist part of that statement, he showed his arrogance and total failure to understand people from small midwestern towns.  I hope there are several ads playing that sound bite over and over.  
2ez (Sent Monday, August 11, 2008 1:48 PM)"


Are you new here, or did you take a new screen name?

In either case - what you just said above doesn't make you any different than what you are accusing Obama of.  How's that grab ya?

Why do you think that you can lump people into one category and no one else can?  I currently live in a "medium" size town in the midwest.  I've lived in the midwest my entire life and grew up in the middle of nowhere land.  The town was so small, if you'd blink, you'd miss it while you were driving through.

I can tell you from experience - what he said was TRUE!  You are a shining example of the close-mindedness that he was referring to.  Did he speak inartfully?  Absolutely.  Was his point invalid? NO.

However, to say that he doesn't understand people from the midwest is ludicrious.  What about McCain suggests to you that understands you any better?  He lives in AZ, Barack in IL (which, last time I checked was in the midwest).  Does McCain's 8 houses help him feel your pain?  What about his wife's beer fortune?  Oh, I know - his jokes about apes raping women.  His leaving his first wife for his affair, and then not living with his second wife for most of the marriage (you do the math), according to her Newsweek profile.

Boy, you ARE a genius.  What a welcome addition you are to this board.
With his support of the farm bill and McCain's general disdain for those making less than $250,000 a year, I think Obama has a real shot at bringing rural voters on board, especially those in the Midwest.

http://www.rodneyhopper.com
Good luck, Obama volunteers. Minn. won't be so bad, but Ohioans are still clinging to their corn, their sheep, their cousins and their closed minds.
Farmer Joe you are pathetic, and I hope that was sarcasm
That young man looks different then us. I'm voting for McCain.
Farmer Joe (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 9:22 AM)
*****************
Too bad that many "low information voters" like this don't realize what the term even infers.
If you want a job, vote Obama.

If you want guns, vote McCain and be drafted immediately - all ages - no waiting to spill your blood.

Look at the old man's record - he's not comfortable unless he's fighting something that he can't win -
26 years in Congress and that man alone is more responsible for the FACTORY CLOSINGS IN OHIO THAN ANYONE.  

Elect McCain and Ohio will be a ghost town more than it is now.  Beijing has a higher standard of living than most small towns in Ohio now.

THANKS FOR FREE TRADE MCAIN.  YOUR WIFE EVEN SOLD BUD TO THE BELGIANS! SELL OUT THE REST AMERICA - THAT IS MCCAIN.

The question that comes to my mind is will Obama's great organizational plans and the skills of him and his team be enough to penetrate the inherent skepticism and frankly sub rosa prejudice of some folks who live in rural area?

It is sad that in the 21st century we still have such suspicion of folks who "don't look like us".
I sincerely hope that we can overcome these issues and move forward with the change that so many of us realize that the country needs NOW!
Anybody notice how the price of gasoline is dropping just in time for the election and the GOP says they  are helping the farmers...Farmers see the commodities going down...while expences are dropping...same old games...Farmers reflect back on the years of mismanaged government...The GOP is pandering to get your vote for only the short term..
Then things will go back to S.O.S.D.D..
Obama'08
The VP choice will change minds, I think that is why many are sitting on the fence, the repubs offer little, But Obama is still an unknown entity to many, a well known dem VP would do a lot to change peoples perspective, lets hope he chooses wisely.
I took Farmer Joes post to be sarcasm but it also speaks the truth. Fear of the 'OTHER' is the deepest and oldest of fears.
MI Chick - Waiting for NeoCon attack on the bitter comment in 3...2...1...


You're not holding your breath are you? Oh, you are! Poor thing.
It is sad that in the 21st century we still have such suspicion of folks who "don't look like us".
I sincerely hope that we can overcome these issues and move forward with the change that so many of us realize that the country needs NOW!
Ed, FW, TX (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 9:48 AM)

111111
Ed, as long Obama and others keep telling you and others that people are afraid of people who "don't look like me" , how is the problem going to be resolved?  His playing of the race card is disgusting.
"low information voters"
Is this a new euphemism for poor white trash because there are a lot of people on this board who like to throw that term around, IS it an elitist statement meaning you know better?  Are you trying to say anyone who doesn’t agree with you is an idiot? Just wondering
Too bad that many "low information voters" like this don't realize what the term even infers.
Matt, Idaho (Sent Wednesday, August 13, 2008 9:39 AM)
8888

Matt, and "low information voters" would be code for what? Racist?  If you were really playing follow the leader (Obama), you'd be working to unite and not divide.
Hundreds of Volunteers are coming in to volunteer in South FL today and tomorrow to make phone calls for Obama.  There are people strolling in to Obama's Campaign Office down here who have NEVER volunteered for anything in their life...they come with their underage kids in tow, their ideals and I must say...they are Black and White.  
McCain actually got those jobs to come to the SW ohio town in the first place.  However, with the markets changing and prices increasing, DHL must consolidate.  If McCain didnt help move those jobs in the first place they would have been lost from the beginning.  The city had poor planning because they have the one shipping plant for DHL employ 1/3 of their residents.  Please if you want to talk about "ill-informed" dont look to far.  Facts are all around you but it seems that some people are tending to go on "Hope" rather than any subtance.
My definition of Low information voters are those folks who don't bother to find out anything more than what they hear via word of mouth (gossip). They might dial in to just one tv or radio station/show and catch snippets of a policy topic but are just as likely to get up and leave the room when policy is being discussed or compared. These folks come in all shapes, sizes, colors, religions, and income ranges. The only thing they have in common is that they choose to be lazy in educating themselves on the facts of both candidates so they can make their own informed decision and instead are willing to regurgitate the choice of someone else who has fed them their bias.
Class Warrior, D.C.....are you volunteering here in Ohio with us or working for McSame? Ohio made over 100,000 phone calls in one day as a birthday present to Obama...this state is not going red.


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