Obama launches campaign initiative aimed at women
Chicago Tribune - Chicago,IL,USA
Noting that he is surrounded by tough women — from his national finance chair to his wife Michelle — Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama Monday …

Michelle Obama, who introduced her husband, said he knows what women like her are going through as they juggle careers, family and their own well-being.

"The reality is that my husband is a man who understands my struggle and the challenges facing women and families," she said. "He actually listens to me and has the utmost respect for my perspective and my life experience."

In asking for the crowd’s support, she said Barack "recognizes that our society, our community is only as strong as our women and our families."

Barack Obama’s speech touched upon some of the themes he has emphasized throughout his campaign — health care, education, energy policy, the economy and the war in Iraq. He said that Americans are hungry for political change and that women will play a part in bringing it about.

"I am absolutely convinced that part of that change is going to have to do with a spirit that is embodied in this room, a wisdom that is not unique to women but — in my life — I have found oftentimes it is stronger in women," he said.

Barack Wins the First Primary
FrontPage magazine.com - Los Angeles,CA,USA
Barack Obama is the victor by a wide margin. The breadth and scope of Obama’s win weren’t apparent until when we got to see the fine print of the detailed …

Bill Clinton defined the March 31 financial filings as the "first primary" as he exhorted donors to do their utmost to lift his wife to the winners’ circle. Now the results are in - and Sen. Barack Obama is the victor by a wide margin.

The breadth and scope of Obama’s win weren’t apparent until when we got to see the fine print of the detailed first-quarter financial reports filed with the Federal Elections Commission.

On the surface, his fund-raising success seemed roughly similar to Sen. Hillary Clinton’s - by itself a big victory for the rookie from Illinois. She reports $22.5 million on hand (minus debt) that she can spend during the primary, while he has $19 million.

But $10 million of Clinton’s total comes from funds transferred to her presidential campaign from her Senate campaign committee (i.e., funds raised last year). So when it comes to net primary cash-on-hand raised this quarter, Obama has a substantial edge - $19 million vs. $12.5 million.

Relative Newcomer Obama Giving Clinton a Run in the Campaign Money …
New York Times - New York,NY,USA
Barack Obama — Clinton’s chief rival for the Democratic nomination, according to the early preference polls — has kept pace with her fundraising juggernaut. …

But Illinois Sen. Barack Obama — Clinton’s chief rival for the Democratic nomination, according to the early preference polls — has kept pace with her fundraising juggernaut. And in some ways, Obama’s first-quarter take was more impressive than that of the former first lady.

While Clinton has been a major political figure since her husband, Bill Clinton, won his first term as president in 1992, Obama is a relative newcomer to the national scene: He has been a senator for all of 27 months.

But his filing to the Federal Election Commission on Sunday indicated just how effectively he has parlayed his popularity since his keynote speech at the 2004 Democratic National Convention, which he followed up with a landslide win in Illinois’ open-seat Senate race three months later.

Obama’s campaign reported first-quarter receipts of $25.8 million from 104,000 donors — by far the largest number of donors of any 2008 White House hopeful.

Clouds part for Obama’s appearance
Boston Globe - Boston,MA,USA
–Presidential hopeful Barack Obama strode on stage Sunday for a fundraising event hours after a series of powerful thunderstorms raked the city. …

Clinton old guard lines up with main rival Obama
Guardian Unlimited - UK
Senior Democratic figures are defecting from Hillary Clinton’s camp to her main rival, Barack Obama, in the 2008 race for the White House, according to …

Obama’s Up, Clinton’s Down and Edwards Is In Trouble
Yahoo! News - USA
A new Insider Advantage survey, which was not conducted on behalf of any of the campaigns, gives Illinois Senator Barack Obama (news, bio, voting record) a …

Obama gains ground in new poll
MSNBC - USA
A new national Gallup poll finds that Barack Obama is gaining ground on Hillary Clinton. In the Democratic horserace, Clinton leads Obama, …

Obama is Best-Rated Democrat in 2008 Race
Angus Reid Global Monitor - Vancouver,BC,Canada
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Democrat Barack Obama holds the upper hand against three prospective Republican presidential nominees in the United States, …

High School Magazine Illustration by Dad ~ 1942

Big Mo(ney) adds to Obama’s Big Mo
Chicago Sun-Times - Chicago,IL,USA
It’s difficult to overstate the magnitude of Barack Obama’s victory in what’s being called the first primary of the Democratic presidential campaign. …

This illustrates in dramatic terms that Obama’s campaign is about more than just novelty, or curiosity about Obama. All that interest in him and all that enthusiasm so evident at his campaign appearances have translated into solid financial support. And it’s broad-based. Obama reported contributions from 100,000 people — twice the number for Clinton. The Illinois senator got myriad small contributions, meaning the people who pitched in $25, $50 or $100 have plenty of room to contribute more before bumping into the $2,300 ceiling for a primary contribution.

As important as the actual fund-raising is the impact of this financial showing on the dynamics of the campaign. The inevitability of a Clinton nomination, long nurtured by the New York senator’s supporters, has been blown away. That’s not to say that the mantle of unstoppable candidacy has been transferred to Obama. Much can happen in the months ahead. Clinton will fight back. The third leading Democratic candidate, John Edwards of North Carolina, collected $14 million and is said to be ahead in polling in Iowa, where the early caucus can serve as a powerful springboard for a presidential candidacy. But the $25 million gives Obama’s candidacy powerful momentum, which he will build upon in the weeks and months ahead. As sportwriters will tell you, every team wants "the big Mo" on its side.

Panel Endorses Obama at KSG Event
Harvard Crimson - Cambridge,MA,USA
US Senator Barack Obama may be the youngest major contender vying for the Democratic presidential nomination, but three prominent Harvard faculty members …

U.S. Senator Barack Obama may be the youngest major contender vying for the Democratic presidential nomination, but three prominent Harvard faculty members said yesterday that the 45-year old’s life experiences, particularly his time overseas, give him an edge over his older competitors.

“Barack Obama is the only candidate who can give us 21st-century solutions to 21st-century threats,” foreign policy scholar Samantha Power said at an event last night for Obama.

Power, the Lindh professor of practice of global leadership and public policy, took a leave of absence from the Kennedy School last year to advise Obama on foreign policy.

Sen. Barack Obama
Slate - USA
The biggest knock on Barack Obama is that he’s short on substance. This comes from his opponents, like John Edwards, who says it in public, and from Hillary …

But putting out detailed white papers isn’t the only way to show your substance. Obama likes to strut his policy stuff by playing the professor. After 10 years teaching constitutional law at the University of Chicago and several before that running meetings as a community organizer, he’s highly skilled at talking to an audience in a way that exposes his knowledge. He did this at the two health-care forums he moderated last week.

…

Obama had clearly done his homework on this subject. He regularly offered facts: Two-thirds of the uninsured are employed; 20 percent to 30 percent of the $2 trillion spent annually on health care goes to paperwork and red tape. He occasionally referred to index cards to prompt the audience with questions about employer-based plans or their tolerance for possible tax increases. He appeared to be listening so intently that he neglected to laugh when one of the speakers made a joke.

Half sister in Hawaii joins Obama campaign
Honolulu Star-Bulletin - Honolulu,HI,USA
Barack Obama’s half sister sent a letter to potential Hawaii supporters last night, debuting as an enthusiastic campaigner for her older brother. …

Barack Obama’s half sister sent a letter to potential Hawaii supporters last night, debuting as an enthusiastic campaigner for her older brother.

"It’s obvious that we like him a lot," wrote Maya Soetoro-Ng, 36, who lives in Honolulu, where Obama was born. "He’s sharp, loving, and makes a mean chili."

Soetoro-Ng said in an e-mail letter to nearly 800 people that Obama’s decision to run for the Democratic presidential nomination was not easy, but family members and supporters recognized the campaign is about more than winning.

"If, by running, the campaign inspires a diverse group of people across the country to come together and become politically and socially engaged, then the decision to run becomes clear; it’s about making a difference, however big or small, in the lives of the people around us," she said in the letter also posted online.

South Asian grassroots support for Obama
India eNews.com - Gurgaon,Haryana,India
… the support of the South Asian American community to help elect Senator Barack Obama as the next US president, launched its New York chapter Thursday. …

With chapters in seven US cities already, SAFO continues to grow and unite the South Asian community around US Senator Obama’s vision for America’s future.

Last week, SAFO’s Los Angeles chapter was officially launched by Nimmi Gowrinathan, Zachariah Mampilly, Rishi Manchanda, Nitasha Sawhney, Kanwarjit Singh and Varun Soni. The launched also attracted more than three dozen South Asian youth, India West, an ethnic Indian newspaper, reported.

Obama lands a key backer in Adam Smith
Seattle Post Intelligencer - Seattle,WA,USA
Barack Obama, D-Ill. "At the top of the list, in my reasons why, is his ability to bring people together," Smith said. "In the last six to 15 years, …

The "spring training" phase of the 2008 presidential campaign has produced a commitment by a key player. Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., who put together John Kerry’s campaign for this state in 2004, is backing Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill.

"At the top of the list, in my reasons why, is his ability to bring people together," Smith said. "In the last six to 15 years, the country has been more and more divided. I am impressed by his background and by the variety of his experiences. He also understands the new economy."

Smith will keynote a Seattle "Meetup for Obama" on April 28 at Mount Zion Baptist Church.

Building Obama’s money machine
Chicago Tribune - Chicago,IL,USA
Barack Obama tapped everyone from small Internet donors to Hollywood stars and industry titans to raise a towering $25 million in the first three months of …

"Everybody claims Barack now, of course," said Les Coney, a Chicago businessman who now serves on Obama’s national finance committee. "I have people who call me and say, ‘We’ll give the maximum,’ without me even asking."

In federal election reports Obama will file alongside other candidates this weekend, he will detail where his campaign raised its surprising tally, an amount that certainly does not guarantee success but has forced his rivals to consider him a serious contender.

His fundraising apparatus has won attention for its innovation and breadth. Obama’s more than 100,000 donors range from entertainment impresario David Geffen to a former serviceman who gave $5 over the Internet.

A Tribune examination of the remarkable growth of Obama’s money machine illustrates the methodical steps by which he advanced to become a top-tier national fundraiser.

For a pupil, Obama gives insight on life after politics
WQAD - Moline,IL,USA
WASHINGTON Barack Obama (ber-AHK’ oh-BAH’-muh) is giving folks an idea of what he might do after being president — or after being senator if the White …

The question from young Elijah Smith was: "When you are done being president what do you plan to do with the rest of your life?"The question generated laughter from the dozens in attendance and a "that’s very funny" remark from Obama.The Illinois Democrat says he would still want to work on issues relating to AIDS, disease and poverty — whether as an ex-president or an ex-senator.

Couric’s "Notebook" rehashed debunked Obama rumors
Media Matters for America - Washington,DC,USA
Barack Obama has arguably the most diverse religious background of any candidate ever. He was raised in Indonesia by a Christian mother and Muslim …

In the April 12 edition of her "Notebook" video blog, CBS Evening News anchor Katie Couric asked, "Is America ready to elect a president who grew up praying in a mosque?" and proceeded to repeat debunked rumors surrounding Sen. Barack Obama’s (D-IL) childhood years in Indonesia.

Couric claimed that Obama’s "background sparked rumors that he had studied at a radical madrassa, or Quranic school — rumors his campaign denied, declaring that Obama is now a practicing Christian." However, in noting simply that Obama’s campaign "denied" the rumors that he attended a madrassa, Couric ignored the fact that these allegations have been thoroughly debunked.

I think I read Cat’s Cradle in fourth grade. I doubt I understood any of it, and the only thing I can remember is ICE-9.

But, for much of my adolescence, Kurt Vonnegut ruled my world. I doubt I’d look at life quite the same way without him.

I hope he’s moved on to another place or another time…

Kurt Vonnegut - b.1922, d.2007

Before I get to Jennifer Hunter’s absurd non-review of the Audacity of Hope, a little background…

I had a previous encounter with the Chicago Sun-Times columnist following her debut piece on Obama. Though couched as a historical review of Lincoln, it was ulitmately a hit piece that seemed intended to undermine the campaign — accusing it of "hubris" for the Springfield backdrop — on the day before the official Feb. 10th announcement speech.

Opinion is opinion, and that’s fine, I suppose, but this timely scolding was incorrectly labeled as "news."

So, on the morning of Feb. 9th, I contacted Ms. Hunter to object to the placement of the piece. She responded at first by saying…

…my piece is a column and so I am free to express my opinions. It is not a news story. Best, Jennifer.

But when I explained the issue of the mislabeling on the website, she suggested I contact her editor, Don Hayner.

I did contact Mr. Hayner, and though not all the issues were resolved, it appeared that there was some attempt to correct the labeling on the piece.

However, it remained the feature "news" story all day on a very important real news day for Obama. I tried to embrace the adage "“Never ascribe to malice that which can be adequately explained by incompetence" But, I’ve been checking in on Ms. Hunter’s work ever since.

One thing I didn’t know at the time when I contacted her, though, is that Jennifer Hunter is the wife of Sun-Times publisher John Cruickshank. So, Hunter and her husband occupy a similar rarified spot made most famous by former disgraced Sun-Times company head Conrad Black and his writer wife Barbara Amiel — complete with a similar bit of Canadian flair.

Further searching brought me to a snarky article that mentioned the same "hubris" article and suggested that the choice to give Jennifer Hunter, the publisher’s wife, the choice assignment of covering Barack Obama — made over a number of other qualified writers — may have contributed to a "sulking Sun-Times newsroom."

There was one thing in Hunter’s email to me that I, out of courtesy, left out of my original post on this exchange — and out of the emaill that I sent to editor, Don Hayner. But, given the piece I’ll highlight below, I don’t think that courtesy should really be extended any longer.

In responding to my complaints, she included a gratuitous snide comment about her editors, saying…

…my name should have been listed with the other columnists but since this is the first column in what will be a series it was overlooked by my absentminded editors. (my emphasis)

Ouch. Must be fun to try to be the boss of the boss’s wife, eh?

So, why am I all worked up about Jennifer Hunter again?

Well, if anybody has ever wondered how lazy and vacuous some members of today’s press can be, Ms. Hunter’s recent embarrassing post entitled "Obama’s latest book hard to finish" helps to answer the question. It’s enough to make Bob Somerby howl.

Filled with snideness and a revealing desire for nothing but the "juicy" references in Obama’s first book, Dreams from My Father, Hunter writes…

I haven’t even read the last chapter of The Audacity of Hope because getting through the book is a slog; it’s preachy, dull, and only the autobiographical bits keep me tuned in.

She goes on…

I keep reading Audacity because I feel I should — I am writing about Sen. Obama, and I need to know how he thinks. But it’s like cod-liver oil. Hard to swallow.

Remember, this is the person that the Sun-Times has chosen for the all-coveted Barack Obama beat. And she can’t muster the energy to endure a very readable and interesting look at how Obama thinks and what his ideas are for fixing our broken political system? A book that is on the top of the best seller lists and very positively reviewed by many political pundits?

She reveals further what information she thinks is actually worth reading…

On the other hand, I swept through Dreams From My Father, galvanized by the Catcher In the Rye aspect of the autobiography and the effort to tell the bumpier truths, such as the use of cocaine. And although this book has been excoriated by those who question Obama’s use of composite characters and his rejection of his white mother, I can overlook most of this — except the mother stuff.

Yes, a book only excoriated by fools. And rejection of his white mother? Jennifer, the book is about the personal quest to understand his father who he hardly ever knew.

But, the last line of that paragraph is so over the top and absurd that I wonder if even Mr. Cruickshank might regret his decision…

I think he must have been an insufferable son.

Nice, huh? This, ladies and gentlemen, is what passes today for "journalism." God help us all.

Obama: Immigrants need chance to become citizens
DesMoinesRegister.com - Des Moines,IA,USA

Millions of unauthorized immigrants should be given the opportunity to become US citizens, presidential candidate Barack Obama said during a campaign stop …

Echoing points he made on the Senate floor earlier this week, he said the United States needs stronger border control and must create tougher penalties for employers who hire undocumented workers.

Forcing millions of families who currently live in the United States to leave is impractical, he said. Obama told the crowd that unauthorized immigrants should be given a chance to become citizens, but he said his ideas would not grant "amnesty."

Undocumented residents should face fines, have no other criminal records, be required to learn English and be placed in the legal immigration process - but not ahead of others already in line - to become legal citizens.

Tim Wynes, the chancellor of the college, attended the speech. Many people in the city are looking for ways to embrace its Latino population, not looking for deportation, he said.

"The question is, how do you make this work for your family, community and state, and that’s what I think Barack Obama did a phenomenal job addressing," Wynes said.

Obama has plan to house veterans
Boston Globe - Boston,MA,USA
Senator Barack Obama greeted Frank Larsen in a cafe Friday in Colo, Iowa, where he also visited the state-run veterans home and said it should be a model …

Obama Slowly Plans Health Care Proposal
ABC News - USA
Barack Obama said Thursday he’s moving cautiously to assemble a health care proposal to ensure he can build the political support needed to move the plan …

Obama acknowledged he was moving cautiously in assembling a health care proposal to ensure he can build the political support needed to move the plan forward if he’s elected president.

Obama noted that in previous campaigns, presidential candidates have offered detailed proposals without building that political support, only to see the issue fade after the election.

"Every four years presidential candidates trot out their plans, then nothing happens," Obama said. "How do we build a movement for change so that when a president is elected there is actually a constituency and a consensus that is built so we can move the agenda through Congress."

2 Years After Big Speech, a Lower Key for Obama
New York Times - New York,NY,USA
COLO, Iowa, April 6 — Senator Barack Obama is not big on what he calls red-meat applause lines when he campaigns in small communities like this one, …

[This is a good article, but can anybody explain the first sentence of the third paragraph below? How can the audience be "a tad restless" when "long periods can go by when there is not a rustle in the crowd"? Just saying…]

He is cerebral and easy-going, often talking over any applause that might rise up from his audience, and perhaps consciously trying to present a political style that contrasts with the more charged presences of John Edwards, the former trial lawyer and senator from North Carolina, and Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York.

He rarely mentions President Bush, as he disparages the partisan quarrels of Washington, and is, at most, elliptically critical of Mr. Edwards and Mrs. Clinton when he notes that he had opposed the war in Iraq from the start; the two of them voted to authorize the war in 2002.

His audiences are rapt, if sometimes a tad restless; long periods can go by when there is not a rustle in the crowd. Yet Iowa is not the Fleet Center, and this appeal — “letting people see how I think,” as Mr. Obama put it in an interview — could clearly go a long way in drawing the support of Iowans who are turning out in huge numbers to see him in the state where the presidential voting process will start.

“He’s low-key; he speaks like a professor,” said Jim Sayer, 51, a farmer from Humboldt. “Maybe I expected more emotion. But the lower key impresses me: He seems to be at the level that we are.”

Mary Margaret Gran, a middle-school teacher who met him when he spoke to 25 Iowans eating breakfast at a tiny diner in Colo on Friday morning, summed up her view the moment Mr. Obama had moved on to the next table.

“Rock star?” Ms. Gran said, offering the description herself. “That’s the national moniker. But dazzle is not what he is about at all. He’s peaceful.”

Barack Obama Calls For Investigation Into Long Term Health Care …
All Headline News - USA
"Barack Obama has it right, and it is encouraging to see a presidential candidate focusing on truly helping hard working senior Americans. …

Letterman to host Obama appearance tonight
Chicago Sun-Times - Chicago,IL,USA
Democratic White House hopeful Barack Obama guests on CBS’s "Late Show with David Letterman" tonight. Actress Halle Berry, promoting her movie "Perfect …

Obama confounds East Coast pundits
Seattle Post Intelligencer - Seattle,WA,USA
As political junkies buzzed over the $25 million collected by his campaign, a Barack Obama donor from our town’s Capitol Hill voiced quiet amusement at "the …

Brave bid by Barack Obama
The Nation Newspaper - Bridgetown,St. Michael,Barbados
WEST INDIAN MIGRANTS and their descendants in the United States tend to support the Democratic Party; so too do most African Americans. …

Obama’s new HQ has room to move
Chicago Sun-Times - Chicago,IL,USA
Moving from cramped, temporary space a few days ago, Barack Obama’s national presidential campaign headquarters on Thursday was settling in to its new home …

Happy birthday to you, oh blog beast of mine, on this, my 297th post…

And many thanks to my loyal reader(s?). Especially those who’ve stuck with me these last few months, as I’ve become 83% Obamacentric (OK, maybe 84.5%).

High School Magazine Cover by Dad ~ 1942

Obama works his magic on three more voters
The News-Press - Fort Myers,FL,USA
On March 25 a bus bearing concerned citizens left Fort Myers to hear Barack Obama in Palm Beach. Some on the bus were like Will Prather, …

After attending Senator Obama’s rally, I have a restored faith in American government. Senator Obama addressed issues such as universal health care, ending the Iraq situation, improving education, and environmental issues. I know these are pretty common, run-of-the-mill issues, however, I must say that Senator Obama came across with a sense of sincerity, authenticity, and genuineness that I feel is lacking from many of today’s politicians.

I was particularly touched when Senator Obama spoke of restoring the faith and trust of American voters. I could not agree with him more. It is a shame that there is an air of suspicion surrounding American politics. I am grateful that Senator Obama is sincere enough to address this issue openly and do something about it.

Obama talks about health care in New Hampshire
Chicago Tribune - Chicago,IL,USA
PORTSMOUTH, NH — Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama on Tuesday turned to both the durable tradition of the New England town meeting and the …

Obama spokesman Bill Burton said the campaign would consider the contributions as it develops health care policy and would seek to foster a discussion on its web site by featuring some of the contributions and inviting comments.

The approach is in keeping with the Obama campaign’s efforts to style itself as a decentralized, grass-roots movement and its emphasis on drawing supporters to participation on a tech-savvy web site. The campaign web site includes a social networking component that resembles such popular sites as MySpace.com and Facebook.com.

Obama could restore US prestige in world
Statesman Journal - Salem,OR,USA

Barack Obama, in my opinion, is by far the best, most qualified person to head our nation. I fully support Sen. Obama in his run for the office of the …

Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, in my opinion, is by far the best, most qualified person to head our nation. I fully support Sen. Obama in his run for the office of the president of the United States.

Barack opposed our misguided efforts in Iraq all along and opposed the appointment of Alberto Gonzales for good reasons. The international disappointment we see over our behavior reflects the high expectations other nations hold for us.

The U.S.A. is truly a great nation, and Barack wants to restore our standing in the eyes of the world. The Illinois senator declares his intention to restore a sense that government operates with competence and honor.

Sen. Obama says, along with many Americans, that it is time to clean up the culture of corruption in Washington.

Barack speaks so clearly with very organized thoughts and has the true character of a good, strong leader.

When I see my president speak while the world is listening, I want to be proud of what he says and how he says it. The United States of America needs smart leadership for a change.

– David Pearl, Salem

Chuck D vs. Obama
East Bay Express - Berkeley,CA,USA
… ice queen Hillary Clinton and long-lost Duke of Hazzard John Edwards, Barack Obama seems the only logical choice for hip-hop generationers in 2008. …

At the Oakland rally, Obama spoke in a soothingly Midwestern "Farmer Jim" voice, a folksy cadence that resonated with confident leadership. This could prove to be his secret weapon as far as the all-important issue of electability is concerned. Both G.W. Bush and Bill Clinton plain-talked their way into the White House; Obama’s ability to twang like a geetar-picker might make statements like "we can’t continue this occupation" seem sensible to America’s heartland, while still appeasing progressive pockets like the Bay Area.

Barack’s speech told only half the story. His visit generated excitement in an Oakland crowd estimated at twelve thousand, many of whom brought their children. At the end of his 45-minute oration, instead of jaded cynicism, a palpable sense of optimism resonated through the venue. Yet hip-hop’s political observers are divided over whether Obama can be what Jackson and Kucinich weren’t.

Obama Built Donor Network From Roots Up
New York Times - New York,NY,USA
Senator Barack Obama, campaigned Monday in Peterborough, NH Valerie Jarrett, left, who led his Senate finance committee in 2004, was one skeptic Mr. Obama …

CHICAGO — When Barack Obama announced to friends over brunch in 2002 that he planned to run for the United States Senate, one of their first questions was how he could possibly raise the necessary millions.

After all, two and a half years after he had taken quite a “spanking,” as he put it, in his bid to unseat an incumbent congressman, he was still struggling to pay off a $20,000 debt, eking out donations of $1,000 here, $2,000 there.

Improbably, Mr. Obama, running as something of an outsider, wound up raising $15 million and winning that 2004 Senate race. Now that he is running for president, his fund-raising prowess has helped make him the chief rival to Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York.

Obama Supporters in Hawaii Use Internet As Campaign Weapon
KHNL-TV/KHBC/KOGG - Honolulu,HI,USA
(KHNL) - Hawaii born Senator Barack Obama is joined by thousands of supporters in Iowa and around the country as he hits the campaign trail. …

"We’ve got this ability here in Hawaii to use this technology to connect with voters on the mainland, to help build the Barack Obama campaign from the ground up here in Hawaii as well," said Fry.

And with this new campaign weapon, supporters say Obama is armed and ready.

"They understand what he stands for, they’ve been waiting for candidates like him that can speak his mind, and can have some principals behind what they’re saying, and I think he’s gonna run away with it," said Fry.

Obama greets fans at NH diner, declines "Hillary" sandwich
Boston Globe - Boston,MA,USA
… to go and ate a few bites of blueberry for the cameras, but there was one thing on the menu at the Peterborough Diner that Barack Obama wouldn’t touch. …

	Explore more about what you’ve made happen Video: Springfield Announcement Video: Oakland Rally Video: Man on the Street, Concord NH Video: Hope. Action. Change. In Iowa On the Blog: Michelle Obama in Iowa On the Blog: Hope Action Change: Hawaii to Alaska Donor Stories: This Campaign Is Different Donor Stories: Rashed: Our 75,000th Donor Donor Stories: Beyond the Numbers: North Carolina

Dear Supporter,

Ten weeks ago, on an icy day in Springfield, we launched an audacious campaign to change our politics and lift our country.

Today, I have some exciting news to share about the phenomenal progress we’ve made. And I wanted you to hear it first.

I’m proud to tell you that, after the first quarter of the campaign, we’ve exceeded all of our hopes and expectations.

In less than three months, a staggering 100,000 Americans have contributed to our cause — tens of thousands more than the number reported by any other campaign. That’s on top of the hundreds of thousands who have attended rallies, started groups and shared their ideas and energy.

It’s been a truly historic response — a measure of just how hungry people are to turn the page on this era of small and destructive politics and repair our American community.

And because of that extraordinary base of support, we were able to raise an astonishing $25 million — $23.5 million of which can be used to help us in the upcoming primary contests.

What makes this achievement even more noteworthy is that we did it without taking any money from PACs or federal lobbyists. Instead, we’re counting on you; on folks across America who want to take their country back and steer us to a better course.

You’ve sent an unmistakable message to the political establishment in Washington about the power and seriousness of our challenge.

But for all the impressive numbers by which pundits will judge this campaign, we know that every step of our progress happens one person at a time.

One person sharing their story of why they decided to get involved in the political process, one volunteer deciding to have a conversation about the campaign with their neighbor, one donor owning a piece of this campaign for as little as $5.

I’ve been struck by how personal this campaign experience has been for so many of you.

You heard last week from Rashed, a veteran and father who made his first-ever donation to a political campaign because of his hopes for his daughter. This campaign is the story of hundreds of thousands of people like him — people participating because they believe that politics can mean something again.

We’ve put together a small presentation about all we’ve accomplished together so far, and links to a few of the personal stories from people who donated to the campaign or hosted a community get-together this past weekend. You can see it here:

http://my.barackobama.com/wherewestand

I want to thank you for all that you have done so far. This milestone for our campaign proves something I learned as a community organizer long ago: that together a whole lot of ordinary people can achieve something extraordinary.

And we’re only just getting started.

Thank you,

Barack Obama