2008 Presidential Campaign Blog

Barack Obama St. Paul Rally Xcel Energy Center Photos

Barack Obama Xcel Energy Center St. Paul Rally Preview

 

Barack And Michelle Obama To Hold A Rally In St. Paul On Tuesday Night

BARACK AND MICHELLE OBAMA TO HOLD A RALLY IN ST. PAUL ON TUESDAY NIGHT
Event Will Be at The Site of the 2008 GOP Convention

Chicago, IL -- On Tuesday evening, June 3, 2008, United States Senator Barack Obama, who will be joined by his wife Michelle, will hold a rally at the site of the 2008 Republican Convention – the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota, on the final election night of the Democratic primaries. Admission is on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Event Details:

RALLY WITH BARACK AND MICHELLE OBAMA

Tuesday, June 3

Xcel Energy Center
175 W. Kellogg Blvd.
St. Paul, MN 55102
 
Doors Open: 7:00 PM
Public Entrance: Gates 1 and 3

The event is free and open to the public.  Tickets are NOT required, but an RSVP is strongly encouraged.  Members of the public are invited to RSVP at https://my.barackobama.com/page/s/stpaulrally.

***For security reasons, do not bring bags.  Please limit personal items.  No signs or banners permitted.***

Further details to be announced as they become available.

 

Tom Daschle Featured In New Obama Campaign Ad

Tom Daschle Featured in New Obama Campaign Ad

Our campaign in South Dakota will begin airing a new TV ad tomorrow featuring former U.S. Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle.  In the 30-second ad, Daschle, one of Obama’s earliest public supporters, asks voters to join him in backing the candidate who is “rooted in the same values as most South Dakotans.”
“South Dakotans are suffering with the cost of gas and groceries; we need a leader who will take us in a new direction” Daschle says.

“He has an understanding of America, rural and urban alike. He will talk to us straight; we’ve needed that in this country for a long time” Daschle says.

Obama Statement Honoring Memorial Day

Obama Statement Honoring Memorial Day

"On this Memorial Day, our nation honors the generations of patriots who were willing to give their lives to defend this country. While we may come from different places, cherish different traditions, and have different political beliefs, all Americans hold in reverence those who’ve given this country the full measure of their devotion. They are a shining example of what’s best about America.  

"Today is also a reminder of our obligation as Americans to serve our fallen heroes as well as they served us; as well as the wounded warriors I’ve had the honor of meeting at Walter Reed have served us; as well as the troops in Iraq, Afghanistan, and around the world are serving us. That means giving the same priority to building a 21st century VA as to building a 21st century military. It means having zero tolerance for veterans sleeping on our streets. It means bringing home our POWs and MIAs. And it means treating the graves of veterans like the hallowed ground it is and banning protests near funerals.  

"So on this day, of all days, let’s memorialize our fallen heroes by honoring all who wear our country’s uniform; and by completing their work to make America more secure and our world more free."

Iowa Democratic Party Chairman Scott Brennan Endorses Barack Obama

Iowa Democratic Party Chairman Scott Brennan Endorses Barack Obama

Des Moines – Iowa Democratic Party Chairman Scott Brennan released the following statement after hosting a morning press conference in Des Moines announcing his endorsement of Senator Barack Obama:
“Today, I stand with many Iowa Democrats by announcing my support for Senator Barack Obama.  I’m endorsing Barack Obama today because he is positioned to pick up a majority of pledged delegates later tonight.  I have said all along, that pledged delegates should be the marker, and today I am proud to stand with the majority of Iowa Democrats and a nearing majority of national delegates. 

The level of enthusiasm for Democratic candidates this year is unlike anything I have seen in Iowa politics.  In January, we saw 240,000 people turn out to caucus for Democrats here in Iowa, virtually doubling the turnout from 2004.   Iowa Democrats are going to work hard to turn Iowa blue, and we are armed with 60,000 new Democrats, and an 85,000 voter registration advantage over Republicans.

Senator Obama is going to help Iowa Democrats win up and down the ticket in November.  He is bringing new people into the political process at historic levels and helping us to build the future of the Iowa Democratic Party.

Iowa is where it all began for Senator Obama.  I am pleased to welcome him back to the state today and I am proud to stand with Iowa Democrats by endorsing Senator Barack Obama.”

Senator Barack Obama's Remarks From Des Moines, Iowa

Senator Barack Obama's Remarks From Des Moines, Iowa (As Prepared For Delivery)

You know, there is a spirit that brought us here tonight – a spirit of change, and hope, and possibility.  And there are few people in this country who embody that spirit more than our friend and our champion, Senator Edward Kennedy.  He has spent his life in service to this country not for the sake of glory or recognition, but because he cares – deeply, in his gut – about the causes of justice, and equality, and opportunity.  So many of us here have benefited in some way or another because of the battles he’s waged, and some of us are here because of them. 

We know he is not well right now, but we also know that he’s a fighter.  And as he takes on this fight, let us lift his spirits tonight by letting Ted Kennedy know that we are thinking of him, that we are praying for him, that we are standing with him, and that we will be fighting with him every step of the way.

Fifteen months ago, in the depths of winter, it was in this great state where we took the first steps of an unlikely journey to change America.  

The skeptics predicted we wouldn’t get very far.  The cynics dismissed us as a lot of hype and a little too much hope.  And by the fall, the pundits in Washington had all but counted us out. 

But the people of Iowa had a different idea.

From the very beginning, you knew that this journey wasn’t about me or any of the other candidates in this race.  It’s about whether this country – at this defining moment – will continue down the same road that has failed us for so long, or whether we will seize this opportunity to take a different path – to forge a different future for the country we love. 

That is the question that sent thousands upon thousands of you to high school gyms and VFW halls; to backyards and front porches; to steak fries and JJ dinners, where you spoke about what that future would look like.

You spoke of an America where working families don’t have to file for bankruptcy just because a child gets sick; where they don’t lose their home because some predatory lender tricks them out of it; where they don’t have to sit on the sidelines of the global economy because they couldn’t afford the cost of a college education.  You spoke of an America where our parents and grandparents don’t spend their retirement in poverty because some CEO dumped their pension – an America where we don’t just value wealth, but the work and the workers who create it. 

You spoke of an America where we don’t send our sons and daughters on tour after tour of duty to a war that has cost us thousands of lives and billions of dollars but has not made us safer.  You spoke of an America where we match the might of our military with the strength of our diplomacy and the power of our ideals – a nation that is still the beacon of all that is good and all that is possible for humankind.

You spoke of a future where the politics we have in Washington finally reflect the values we hold as Americans – the values you live by here in Iowa: common sense and honesty; generosity and compassion; decency and responsibility.  These values don’t belong to one class or one region or even one party – they are the values that bind us together as one country. 

That is the country I saw in the faces of crowds that would stretch far into the horizon of our heartland – faces of every color, of every age – faces I see here tonight.  You are Democrats who are tired of being divided; Republicans who no longer recognize the party that runs Washington; Independents who are hungry for change.  You are the young people who’ve been inspired for the very first time and those not-so-young folks who’ve been inspired for the first time in a long time.  You are veterans and church-goers; sportsmen and students; farmers and factory workers; teachers and business owners who have varied backgrounds and different traditions, but the same simple dreams for your children’s future. 

Many of you have been disappointed by politics and politicians more times than you can count.  You’ve seen promises broken and good ideas drown in the sea of influence, and point-scoring, and petty bickering that has consumed Washington.  And you’ve been told over and over and over again to be cynical, and doubtful, and even fearful about the possibility that things can ever be different. 

And yet, in spite of all the doubt and disappointment – or perhaps because of it – you came out on a cold winter’s night in numbers that this country has never seen, and you stood for change.  And because you did, a few more stood up.  And then a few thousand stood up.  And then a few million stood up.  And tonight, in the fullness of spring, with the help of those who stood up from Portland to Louisville, we have returned to Iowa with a majority of delegates elected by the American people, and you have put us within reach of the Democratic nomination for President of the United States.

The road here has been long, and that is partly because we’ve traveled it with one of the most formidable candidates to ever run for this office.  In her thirty-five years of public service, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton has never given up on her fight for the American people, and tonight I congratulate her on her victory in Kentucky.  We have had our disagreements during this campaign, but we all admire her courage, her commitment and her perseverance.  No matter how this primary ends, Senator Clinton has shattered myths and broken barriers and changed the America in which my daughters and yours will come of age.

Some may see the millions upon millions of votes cast for each of us as evidence that our party is divided, but I see it as proof that we have never been more energized and united in our desire to take this country in a new direction.  More than anything, we need this unity and this energy in the months to come, because while our primary has been long and hard-fought, the hardest and most important part of our journey still lies ahead.

We face an opponent, John McCain, who arrived in Washington nearly three decades ago as a Vietnam War hero, and earned an admirable reputation for straight talk and occasional independence from his party. 

John Edwards Endorses Barack Obama for President

John Edwards Endorses Barack Obama for President

Wisconsin Superdelegate for Obama; Delegate Countdown - 133.5 To Go

Wisconsin Superdelegate for Obama; Delegate Countdown - 133.5 To Go

CHICAGO, IL – Today, Wisconsin Superdelegate State Senator Lena Taylor endorsed Barack Obama, citing his ability to unite Americans for change.

Taylor’s endorsement means that Obama has been endorsed by 289.5 superdelegates. Obama is 133.5 delegates away from securing the Democratic nomination.

Taylor said, “After much reflection and soul searching I am pleased to announce my endorsement for Senator Barack Obama.  After a review of my recent County Executive race I am more aware then ever of the need to galvanize, motivate and inspire political participation by every member of society. Senator Obama has been a lightening rod in the effort to return citizens to the process. He’s awakened a sleeping giant – the people.  He has reenergized those weary of politics as we have come to know it by demonstrating both character and personal strength. He has connected with a cross-section of Americans, with a desire to do things better then we have done before.  He has an energy and commitment that is inclusive, thoughtful, contagious and deliberate. Senator Obama has the essential skill set to foster positive changes desperately needed for our nation.  His track record on policy, his diplomatic approach to conflict resolution and his keen awareness of the issues have positioned him to be the catalyst for change we need. Visionary, courageous and capable, Senator Obama is not only prepared to answer that 3am crisis phone call, he’s smart and experienced enough to avert it. I’m proud to endorse him today.”

Senator Daniel Akaka Endorses Barack Obama

Senator Daniel Akaka Endorses Barack Obama

CHICAGO, IL – Today, U.S. Senator Daniel Akaka from Hawaii endorsed Barack Obama for President. Akaka is the 280th superdelegate to endorse Obama, who is now 151 delegates away from securing the Democratic nomination.

Senator Akaka’s Statement is below:

For more than a year, people have asked me who I plan to endorse for President of the United States.  I’ve waited this long for several reasons. The Democratic campaign began with more than ten declared candidates.  As a veteran of more than 30 years on Capitol Hill, I knew each and everyone of them and had worked closely with all.  I had no doubt that each of them had the knowledge and ability to lead our country out of the financial and diplomatic chaos that we’ve experienced for the past eight years.

Having waged a number of campaigns myself, I can tell you they are not easy.  Campaigns are tests, and there’s no tougher one than running for President.  Like many Americans, I’ve followed the campaign for President closely and with growing interest, eager to see which candidate would articulate a vision for our country, encourage hope and renew faith in our government, and stand to the rigors of a nationwide contest.

After giving it a lot of thought, I’ve decided that for me, that candidate is Barack Obama.

Rather than echo his supporters or review his platform on health care, the environment, or the war in Iraq, I want to add a different voice to those who believe Senator Obama would make a fine President.  He is the antidote we need to cure Washington of the uninspired, partisan politics that has plagued our country far too long.

What makes him uniquely qualified?  A March 2008 feature in Vanity Fair magazine offers a clue:  “He was born and came of age in Hawaii, the 50th state and in many ways among the freest‑thinking, where mixed‑race ancestry is …a given... If Obama comes across as a bit of a softy—if you don’t see the toughness or the ambition at first—it may be in part because he spent his formative years in a place where ‘Live Aloha’ had not yet become a slogan aimed at recapturing a more gracious time, but was simply a way of life.”

I have great hope, that in his own way, Barack Obama will achieve what I have been working to accomplish my entire Congressional career, more tolerance and understanding, an appreciation for common goals and interests, rather than an emphasis on our differences.

While I am pledging my support to Senator Obama, I want to make it very clear that I hold both Senator Hillary Clinton and President Bill Clinton in the highest regard as colleagues and friends.  Senator Clinton has campaigned hard and well and I wish her all the best as we move forward.  In an example of her leadership and commitment, Senator Clinton has promised that come November, the Democratic Party will be united behind our presidential nominee and I send her my fondest aloha for her courage and selflessness.