Obama Presses on After Final Debate

By: Maria Gavrilovic
Topics: Barack Obama

(CBS)

From CBS News' Maria Gavrilovic:

CLEVELAND -- Barack Obama is back on the campaign trail today, on the day after his final debate with Hillary Clinton before next Tuesday's primaries. Campaign staffers believe Obama's performance last night was strong, but maintain that he must continue to reach out to voters in order secure the nomination.

For months, the campaign has argued that despite debates and endorsements, voters gravitate to Obama once they get to know him.

"She is better known in many parts of the community, so it's very important for me to talk to voters directly in town hall meetings, in round tables, taking tours of plants," Obama told reporters at a press conference earlier in the week.

"She may feel that that's not necessary, but I think it's very important that voters directly have a chance to lift the hood and kick the tires and get a better sense of what my candidacy stands for."

Former NFL running back Eddie George will join Obama at a rally at Ohio State University this morning, where Obama will continue to court college-aged voters. He heads to Texas in the afternoon where he is expected to address the economy and jobs.

Obama will remain in Texas through the end of the week, where his campaign says he is making a "big push" over the next three days. The campaign hopes to secure as many votes as possible by Friday, the last day of early voting in the state.

"Early voting is just one of the ways we can encourage our supporters to take part in the Texas primary," Jen Psaki, traveling press secretary, said.

"A vote on Thursday or Friday counts the same as a vote on Tuesday and it provides some flexibility so that students, mothers, working people can take part despite the constant demands of real life."

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by erizin February 27, 2008 4:52 PM EST: The Hillary bloggers are out in rare form. Obama won the debate.

Obama 08; Reply to this comment


by l00ker February 27, 2008 3:57 PM EST: He stuttered and stumbled through her hogwash without losing his composer, so that constitutes a win for him. Dark days? Try the Obamagizer, he keeps on going, and going, until she''s all gone.; Reply to this comment


by nicksp2 February 27, 2008 3:26 PM EST: After last night''''s debate it is amazing to me that people are still saying that Obama did well. He stuttered and stumbled through long winded pontifications (when he finally stopped talking I couldn''''t remember what he said in the beginning of his monologue), and everything else he said "yeah - what she said". He won''''t say anything to ruffle any feathers (Farakhan) and Clinton had to take him to school to finally nail him down on an issue. Dark days for the USA if this man gets to office!; Reply to this comment