Obama Sets Sights on Texas and Ohio

By: Maria Gavrilovic
Topics: Barack Obama

(CBS)

From CBS News' Maria Gavrilovic:

AUSTIN, TEX. -- Since he lost the New Hampshire primary early last month, Barack Obama has been careful not to appear overly confident about future contests. That was clearly his strategy in Houston Tuesday evening, where he thanked the Wisconsin voters for his victory but noted that this is not the end in his journey towards the Democratic nomination.

"Houston, the change we seek is still months and miles away, and we need the good people of Texas to help us get there," Obama told a crowd of over 20,000.

"We will need you to fight for every delegate it takes to win this nomination."

Both the crowd and the energy at Houston's Toyota Center were enormous; however, Obama was clear that neither alone will bring him victory.

"It is going to take more than big rallies. It's going to require more than rousing speeches. It will also require more than policy papers and positions and websites. It is going to require something more."

Obama campaign strategist David Axelrod said he believes the momentum from the Wisconsin win will be helpful in upcoming races, and he is confident Obama can make headway in Texas and Ohio.

"We are going to take advantage of these two weeks and spend time in these states," Axelrod said.

He expects Obama's message in the coming days to focus on the economy, an issue that has proven to be a top concern among voters.

The Obama campaign also expects "anything and everything" from the Clinton campaign, although Axelrod argues that voters are not interested in negative campaigning.

"One of the verdicts of Wisconsin is that people are not looking for WWF wrestling and are not looking for negative attacks. People want change," Axelrod said.

Obama will continue to campaign in Texas through the weekend before he sets his sights on Ohio.

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by sjbj2322 February 21, 2008 3:11 AM EST: b-easy63....Obama can''t come across too hard on Clinton about NAFTA and he knows it. All she''s got to do is turn around and remind the voters that it was he who took over 100,000 from Maytag while turning his back on the employees that he was pandering votes from who lost their jobs to outsourcing while he did nothing. Yea - your guys hands are dirty. So much for getting away from old politics.; Reply to this comment


by b-easy63 February 20, 2008 12:24 PM EST: One of the verdicts of Wisconsin is that people are not looking for WWF wrestling and are not looking for negative attacks. People want change,%u201D Axelrod said."

THAT was the verdict of Wisconsin, but Wisconsin is not TX by a long shot. Texans relish a good scrap--and besides, TX is as they say "A whole other country" so prepare to fight or be a wimp in TX, Obama crew and please do not just walk away--what may seem prudent or indicate change in other states--will play as downright wimpy in Texas. IN TExas, Obama better show he has mettle and can fight back or he will go down in flames--if not to Clinton--then to McCAin. Time to address Clinton''s failure to support DL''s for illegals, and why continual war will cost jobs and a backlash (planting the anti McCAin 100 years war seeds early) then cap it all with NAFTA and what it means to economic security for anyone within our borders. People would not still be coming here, if NAFTA had did what it promised for their old country as well as ours--instead NAFTA exploited and used and helped a few at the expense of millions of workers in America--then point out that they, in TX are part of those millions and that Hilary was all for NAFTA (and supported her husband''s signing of it) before she decided to be against it now. NAFTA and CAFTA is always good for the elite in a country and the stock market--but in the end, it screws the population royally--thank Hilary et al for that--and point out her very sporadic support.; Reply to this comment