Obama Gets Personal

By: Maria Gavrilovic
Topics: Barack Obama

(CBS)

From CBS News' Maria Gavrilovic:

WILMINGTON, N.C. -- Barack Obama returned to North Carolina today where he received a loud and enthusiastic welcome at a local coliseum here. He changed up his stump speech a bit, making it more personal, with less emphasis on attacking Hillary Clinton. He ended his stump for the first time with a story about his family's modest beginnings because he said his opponents have been focusing on his background to much.

"Lately my opponents are trying to make this election about me instead of about you," Obama told this crowd of over 5,000. "They've been trying to say 'we don't know him that well, we don't know what he believes, we don't know about his values,' despite the fact I wrote two books, it's all there."

Although he has spoken about his family on the campaign trail and given frequent interviews about his mother, this is the first time that Obama ended a speech with a personal family story. He spoke about his mother's struggles as a single woman, often on food stamps, and his grandfather's service during World War II. "When people ask me about why I'm doing this, what my values are, I try to explain to them, it's about that history in my own family, how I've seen this country open up opportunity for people who are willing to work hard," he said. "They don't expect government to solve their problems. All they hope is that there's a handle there."

Obama also told voters that the political infighting during the primary season has not helpful to voters, but admitted that his campaign has not been immune to it. "I noticed over the last several weeks, I told this to my team, we are starting to sound like other folks, starting to run the same negative stuff," he said. "It shows that none of us are immune from this kind of politics."

"But the problem is, it doesn't help you," he continued. "Having politicians bickering back and forth doesn't help you. Having them worry about superdelegates doesn't help you. This election is not about me, it's not about Sen. Clinton, it's not about John McCain, it's about you."

During the question and answer session, an 82-year-old woman encouraged Obama not to attack his opponents. "Don't hit on Hillary, bring us all back, let her do that stuff," said Jean Weiss, a Wilmington resident. "Leave her alone, you don't need to do that, you are higher than that. Bring us up higher than that."

"Will you be my running mate?" Obama asked as the crowd cheered. "That's my running mate there, she got me fired up!"

36 Comments Have Your Say
Email Story Send to a Friend
Share This Tell Your Friends
Tweet This Tweet This
More Share It

Add a Comment

See all 36 Comments


by pongo151 April 29, 2008 3:59 PM EDT: Despite 100+ years since the women''s right to vote, this is the first time a woman is a serious contender for the nomination. Yet the media has overwhelmingly favored obama with free press on his accusations of racism, his pastor''s comments, and his being on numerous magazine cover-stories and newspapers. Frankly, Im appalled that the obama campaign and press continues with the derogatory women stereotypes and name-calling. Senator Hillary Clinton continues her efforts to get the issues discussion on the table with debates and her opponent declines. Check out www.HillaryClinton.com for her view on the issues and the real solutions for America. Get out the vote and get ready to say ''Madame President"; Reply to this comment


by rowdytexan2 April 29, 2008 3:52 PM EDT: "Mainly because he lied worse than Bush/Cheney, and lots of people are just finding out!"

He lied worse than Bush/Cheney? Really? And just how many people have died as a result of Obama''''s lies?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by sly1171 at 09:52 AM : Apr 29, 2008

Potentially very many if we let his incompetence in the White House. He''s just like Bush all scam and corrupt!; Reply to this comment


by sly1171 April 29, 2008 12:52 PM EDT: "Mainly because he lied worse than Bush/Cheney, and lots of people are just finding out!"

He lied worse than Bush/Cheney? Really? And just how many people have died as a result of Obama''s lies?; Reply to this comment


by rowdytexan2 April 29, 2008 12:11 PM EDT: Posted by jockh at 08:44 AM : Apr 29, 2008

I gave and I''m not fooled at all! I''ll give more to keep this lying shill and his gas bag mentor away from the White House!; Reply to this comment


by rowdytexan2 April 29, 2008 12:01 PM EDT: Hillary can never win the election against the Republicans because take a look at what she had going for her.
Hillary was the presumed nominee, had all the big donors, did not have to answer to negative campaigning, was ahead in Superdelegates, had over 20% margin in national polling, had the backing of a President, had more experience and identified more with voters. So why didn%u2019t she close the deal on Super Tuesday and why is she trailing behind an underdog newcomer like Obama?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by jockh at 08:43 AM : Apr 29, 2008

Mainly because he lied worse than Bush/Cheney, and lots of people are just finding out!; Reply to this comment


by jockh April 29, 2008 11:45 AM EDT: Hillary wants to cast Obama as unelectable because of her views on the issues of: race, jeremiah wright, bitter comments etc%u2026.

But Hillary is unelectable because polls show that 60 % of people regard her as the most dishonest politician in the presidential race !!; Reply to this comment


by jockh April 29, 2008 11:44 AM EDT: Hillary lies again.

The Federal Election Commission has just reported that her campaign debt is $15 million and not $10 million as the Clinton camp reported because she failed to list her $5 million loan among the debts.

This means that even after her new surge of fundraising, she is still $5 million in debt; but Hillary is still smiling; why? Because she knows that her $110 million fortune is nice and safe. It%u2019s the ordinary person on the street who is tricked into losing money on a campaign that is doomed to fail.

Mitt Romney put $42 million of his own money into his campaign, why doesn%u2019t Hillary show she has complete confidence in her campaign and put in some of her own millions. Why? Because she knows it%u2019s a lost cause.

Those of you who are fooled into contributing to her campaign ask yourself why she LOANS her own money but wants you to GIVE your money?; Reply to this comment


by jockh April 29, 2008 11:43 AM EDT: Hillary can never win the election against the Republicans because take a look at what she had going for her.
Hillary was the presumed nominee, had all the big donors, did not have to answer to negative campaigning, was ahead in Superdelegates, had over 20% margin in national polling, had the backing of a President, had more experience and identified more with voters. So why didn%u2019t she close the deal on Super Tuesday and why is she trailing behind an underdog newcomer like Obama?; Reply to this comment


by rowdytexan2 April 29, 2008 11:05 AM EDT: The man just lies through his teeth and expects everybody to take his WORD when it''s not worth a d/a/m/n!; Reply to this comment


by rowdytexan2 April 29, 2008 11:02 AM EDT: Mr. Obama lies AGAIN!

He sits in Rev. Wright''''s church for 20 years, tell us that Rev. Wright is his spiritual MENTOR, writes about Rev. Wright''''s teachings in his book and markets it, cannot possibly separate himself from Rev. Wright and his church...

BUT NOW, Rev. Wright''''s values cannot possibly reflect HIS!

Good God, Mr. Obama, you''''ve just passed up Bush/Cheney''''s 935 lies!; Reply to this comment