Obama Announces Trips to Florida, Michigan
Barack Obama is headed to the neglected Democratic states of Florida and Michigan, as he focuses on a general election strategy with his primary race winding down.
It will be Obama’s first time in either state since signing a pledge nine months ago not to campaign in the two states that violated national party rules with early primaries. Obama will have to build relationships in the two critical general election battlegrounds if he wins the Democratic nomination.
The Obama campaign announced a five-state tour over the next two weeks that includes stops in remaining primary states South Dakota and Oregon but is dominated by swing states where he hopes to run strong against Republican John McCain once the marathon Democratic race ends.
Obama leads in delegates needed to secure the Democratic nomination, even though he’s expected to lose badly on Tuesday to rival Hillary Clinton in West Virginia. He’ll try to move on from the loss by campaigning in Missouri, a state that President Bush won in 2000 and 2004.
On Wednesday, he plans to make two stops in Michigan — the swing Macomb County and the GOP stronghold of Grand Rapids. He plans to spend three days starting May 21 in Florida, with stops in Tampa, Orlando, Palm Beach County and Miami. The area is a popular stop for political fundraising, but the Obama campaign says the candidate will mostly be appealing for votes.
“Our schedule reflects the fact that we are still fighting for votes and delegates in the remaining contests but also that we are going to places that are going to be competitive in the fall,” said Obama spokesman Bill Burton. “John McCain has gone unchallenged for far too long, and we’re going to make sure that voters in competitive states know the choice in this election between changing Washington and the third term of George Bush’s failed policies that McCain is offering.”
All the Democratic presidential candidates agreed on boycotting Michigan and Florida. Clinton won both states, but no delegates were awarded. Restoring the delegates is a major part of Clinton’s longshot strategy for the nomination.
It was amendment 1 brought the people in Florida to the polls, not the presidential primaries, what were we suppose to stay home because his name was not on the ballots? thats crazy.
The Democratic leadership disenfranchised their own voters when they neglected their own party’s directives. They had offers to pay for another vote from independent people with their own money and was told no.
I do not see how that would have been a problem. Now I guess they will get the chance to see that decision will cost the party.
Comment by bill
May 12th, 2008 at 1:16 pm
What a joke - Obama now wants to go campaign in Florida and Michigan assuming he’s the nominee so he can start his campaigning against Mccain? What a joke - he is against counting them now so why would he want their vote to beat Mccain? - No way - I hope no one goes to see what he has to say - he will be pandering and making up excuses to you - don’t listend to him.
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THANK YOU BILL, I am a Floridian and I AGREE 200%
Michigan and Florida primaries were both “beauty contests” — as well they should be per the DNC ruling. And absolutely NOTHING has occurred to support changing that arrangement apart from Clinton losing which is what used to be called poor sportsmanship (sportswomanship).
Plenty of people in Florida (and I’ll bet Michigan too) who know exactly who to hold accountable– our respective state legislators and governors. Why do you think Charlie Crist is so eager for a new position with McCain? Come re-election, they’re all facing the firing squad.