Obama Infomercial Goes Off Without A Hitch

By: Maria Gavrilovic
Topics: Barack Obama

(CBS)

From CBS News' Maria Gavrilovic:

(SUNRISE, FLA.) - Barack Obama took the stage at Bank Atlantic Center tonight, minutes before his 30-minute infomercial took to the airwaves, but the two ended up merging flawlessly. The pre-taped special cut to a live shot of the rally, just as Obama began to say, "America the time for change has come."

Obama spoke for over 30 minutes before the rally went live on TV and with the exception of Joe Biden being present, the event looked like any other. The crowd of 20,000 cheered and waved campaign signs, but it was unclear whether they knew they were on live television.

There were some telltale signs that the event was not just an ordinary rally, though. The arena was perfectly staged for the event – the lighting was dimmed, there were 2 high-definition cameras on the press riser as well as a camera on crane that panned over the crowd.

An oversized teleprompter was also attached to the front of the riser, positioned to be exactly in Obama's line of sight. The prompter had an oversized countdown clock next to it, which turned from black to green, indicating that the rally was live.

During the two minutes that were being broadcast on three networks and two cable stations, Obama made a minute pitch to the country.

"If in this last week, you will knock on some doors for me, and make some calls for me, and go to barackobama.com and find out where to vote; if you will stand with me, and fight by my side, and cast your ballot for me, then I promise you this – we will not just win Florida, we will win this election," Obama said to cheers.

Hoping to draw out the momentum gained from the special, Obama is headed to another big rally right featuring former President Bill Clinton.

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by roger5000-2009 November 1, 2008 1:53 AM EDT: Not since the days of John F. Kennedy have I been so inspired by a presidential candidate as I have been by Obama. He is the man for the new century. He is the hope of the middle class.; Reply to this comment


by smoothstone5 October 30, 2008 3:20 PM EDT: Finally someone who understands the truth of what so many Americans face everyday.Obama is the real deal.We have not had that the last eight years and we would''nt have that with McCain. VOTE FOR OBAMA HE UNDERSTANDS!; Reply to this comment


by newslink October 30, 2008 1:24 PM EDT: This infomercial was True, to the Point and really hammered Unity. It was Refreshing to heart he Average American Issues . And Solutions not Negative responses. Good Job! Obama08; Reply to this comment


by suzee57 October 30, 2008 12:59 PM EDT: "We cannot expect the Americans to jump from capitalism to Communism, but we can assist their elected leaders in giving Americans small doses of socialism until they suddenly awake to find they have Communism."

- Soviet Leader Nikita Khrushchev, 1959

Lord help us all if this robot is our next president. I am truly frightened.; Reply to this comment


by cwdfreedom October 30, 2008 12:57 PM EDT: please don''t vote for obama, he is bad news for this country. he has had a lot of hype and he has tried to lieanout his voting record to decieve people but thanks to a few good reporters he has been exposed for who he is and thanks to one man in ohio we nnow know for sure that obama is a socialist. he did belong to a socialist party in Illinios also so there is no mistake about it. he is anti everything this country has stood for. liberals like obama have been attacking our constitutional freedoms for a long time and it would worse under him. no one no matter if you are democrat, republican or whatever should have any reason to vote for him. no matter who you are you should respect our constitutional rights. we need to stand against this evil agenda that radical liberals are trying to push on us. vote for John McCain; Reply to this comment


by catmill October 30, 2008 11:52 AM EDT: My aunt died of breast cancer, that spread to her neck and then her brain. Her insurance company, get this only paid for half of her perscription cost, her daughters had to take of her, she died in her bed in pain! I related to some of those people. Senior citizens should be able to retire and not have to return to work to survive.; Reply to this comment


by anotherview2-2009 October 30, 2008 11:12 AM EDT: The manufactured candidate will become the manufactured prsident if elected.

Taped addresses to the nation so they are perfect, presented right before the Super Bowl.

Press conferences with pre-approved questions and no FOX NEWS reporters.

But it is what America will become. Be lots of new government jobs when the Department of Peace is created which will be before Congress when it reconvenes.; Reply to this comment


by anotherview2-2009 October 30, 2008 10:56 AM EDT: That perfect cutaway just shows that Obama runs the media. No big news here.; Reply to this comment


by anotherview2-2009 October 30, 2008 10:48 AM EDT: Take one. Take two...ect

In control of every aspect of the ad I would expect nothing but perfect. With millions to but the best...

Now we will hear about an ad for the next few days. A paid advertisement folks is the news of the day,not what Obama and Biden have said live.; Reply to this comment


by smurfcrusher October 30, 2008 10:37 AM EDT: "The puppet man continues. Now he''''s doing 30-minute variety shows..."

Posted by ordisi1

McCain is seething in anger for being outwitted on the private vs. public campaign financing.

Yes, Obama lied when he decided to go private. But this is a presidential campaign! If Obama had a nickel for each time Sarah Palin or John McCain lied, he could have run a second campaign.

Too bad McCain had ZERO good news domestically to run on. Maybe he should run for mayor of Baghdad.

McCain is the expert on town hall meetings (he can''t draw moderate sized crowds). So let''s make McCain a mayor!
Because he''s not going to the Oval Office.; Reply to this comment