Obama: "Everybody" Is Talking Change

By: Maria Gavrilovic
Topics: Barack Obama

(CBS)

From CBS News' Maria Gavrilovic:

MASON CITY, IOWA -- Two days of rest seem to have done wonders for Barack Obama's confidence level. At his first stop in Mason City, Obama delivered a fresh version of his stump speech and he didn't shy away from going after opponents.

He spoke to a large crowd at a local Catholic high school, urging voters to caucus even if it is not for him.

"Some of you may have decided and you've decided, 'I really love Joe Biden, or Chris Dodd or somebody else.'"

"If you're firm in that decision we still want to be your second choice. Because the most I important thing is to caucus for someone and I hope that if you don't caucus for me still go out and caucus for someone. We would love to be your second choice but we would love to be your first choice first," Obama said.

Obama went on to give voters a detailed explanation of why he is their man. He said he believes that the American people are desperate for change and that he believes he might have the opportunity to bring them that change.

"We felt that we might be able to not just change political parties in the White House but that we might be able to change our politics," Obama said, "That was our bet and now 10 months later that faith has been vindicated, 10 months later what people said couldn't be done, we might do."

During the Q and A session, Obama went after his opponents for "imitating" his message of hope.

"Everybody now is talking about change. If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery then we're doing pretty good here."

However, Obama warned the crowd against siding with the candidates who he says have consistently changed their message.

"You have to ask yourself, who's talked the talk because that will be the measure of how seriously they take this stuff. If they've been secretive in the past, they'll be secretive as president, if they haven't been all that strong on lobbyists, it doesn't matter what they say in the campaign they won't be that strong about it when they are president."

Obama will be delivering a major speech tomorrow in Des Moines which the campaign is calling Obama's "closing argument." We may have seen a glimmer of that closing argument today.

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by katharine9 December 28, 2007 4:25 PM EST: The shift in the polls is due to shifts in who is home when the pollsters call. Look at the dates of the polls. Many people are on holiday or away from home visiting family. The polls right now are skewed toward older voters. Just wait till the 3rd!!; Reply to this comment


by bravesfan801 December 27, 2007 7:39 AM EST: Obama, despite much of his substance lacking rhetoric, does have a good point, and it doesnt bode well for his candidacy. Vote for who has talked the talk. Vote for who has shown proven leadership. That''s called experience, Barack, and the candidate with the most of it is Joe Biden. That''s who deserves Iowa''s vote, and the 2nd place vote of any of the caucusers failing to get atleast 15% turnout for their candidate.; Reply to this comment


by wooha3 December 27, 2007 5:39 AM EST: Edwards voted for the Iraq war, NAFTA, No child left behind and the Patriot Act. His votes in the Senate demonstrate he just goes along, and is NOT the fighter he says he is.; Reply to this comment


by zeboshoes-2009 December 26, 2007 10:26 PM EST: Edwards cannot beat the Repubs; he couldn''t even carry his own State.

Biden is the real deal, an authentic candidate, with deep foreign policy experience, who specializes in getting things done. He is the only one of the Dems who will not just beat the Repubs, but do so by a wide margin.; Reply to this comment


by oscar19861 December 26, 2007 8:47 PM EST: Obama went down in the latest poll in Iowa to third place behind Edwards, who is in second.

It will e real test to see if Iowa, a state with only 2% black people will vote for Obama, and if this state, which has never elected a woman governor, or congresswoman, or senator will "roll the dice" and allow Hillary or Obama to win.

The safest, and BEST choice is EDWARDS, who beats all of the Republicans, and who we don''t have to worry if racism or misogeny will kill a general election campaign.; Reply to this comment