In W.Va., Obama Focused On November

Democratic Front-Runner Focuses On McCain, Says He Expects Clinton To Win Tuesday's Primary

(AP)  Wearing a flag lapel pin, Sen. Barack Obama emphasized his patriotism and support for a strong and humane military Monday, while Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton implored West Virginians to sustain her hopes of somehow denying him the Democratic presidential nomination.

Obama expects Clinton to win Tuesday's primary in West Virginia, which has large numbers of working-class whites — a group that usually backs the former first lady — as well as a strong military tradition. He used his visit to Charleston to combat critics' claims that he is not particularly patriotic or ready to be commander in chief, in part because he never served in the military, usually does not wear a flag pin, and opposed the Iraq war from the start.

Obama broke from his usual practice by wearing the flag pin and reading his speech instead of talking without notes. He told several thousand people at the Charleston Civic Center that patriotism means more than saluting flags and holding parades. He criticized Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain for opposing a Democratic bill to expand education benefits for veterans.

"At a time when we're facing the largest homecoming since the Second World War," Obama said of veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, "the true test of our patriotism is whether we will serve our returning heroes as well as they've served us."

Pointing to the Bush administration, he said, "we know that over the last eight years we've already fallen short of meeting this test." He cited once shabby conditions at such facilities as Walter Reed Army Medical Center, and long waits and bureaucratic obstacles facing many who seek care from the Veterans Administration.

"When our troops go into battle, they serve no faction," Obama said. "They serve no party. They represent no race or region. They are simply Americans."

He proposed expanded veterans' benefits for health care, education, housing and psychiatric treatment. He said McCain opposes a Democratic-crafted bill in Congress to expand education benefits "because he thinks it's too generous."

McCain's campaign said the Arizona senator backs a Republican alternative that is better because it enhances benefits for those who stay longer in the military, thereby encouraging recruitment and retention of troops.

Clinton planned four campaign stops in West Virginia on Monday, hoping for a big margin Tuesday that could slow the continuing drift of Democratic superdelegates to Obama's camp. Implying that the party could lose in November if he is the nominee, Clinton told patrons of Tudor's Biscuit World in Charleston: "I keep telling people, no Democrat has won the White House since 1916 without winning West Virginia."

At a campaign stop in Logan, Clinton was introduced by state Senate Majority Leader H. Truman Chafin, who talked about Clinton carrying the state 80 percent to 20 percent, or even 90-10.

"You think this crowd's noisy, just wait till we win like 80-20," Chafin said.

In New York, Sen. Chuck Schumer, one of Clinton's major supporters, endorsed the idea of Clinton and Obama running together.

"Hillary and Barack have both run very strong and great races, and I think they'd be a strong ticket together," Schumer told a breakfast.

After the speech, Obama stopped at Schultzie's Billiards hall, where he showed greater skill at pool than he had at bowling last month in Pennsylvania.

As a small crowd oohed and ahhed at his third consecutive good shot, Obama said his skill was "the sign of a misspent youth. I wasn't doing wholesome things like bowling."

Still, Obama lost to Iraqi war veteran Paul Scott, 24, because he accidentally knocked in the eight ball prematurely.

Obama told reporters he will have to consistently fight rumors that he doesn't say the Pledge of Allegiance, among other falsehoods widely spread on the Internet. "This is something that's been systematically fed into the bloodstream," he said. He said he had no idea who is doing it.

Obama's campaign announced Monday that he will visit politically neglected Florida and Michigan, as he pivots to a general election strategy.

It will be his first time in either state since signing a pledge nine months ago not to campaign in them because they violated national party rules with early primaries.

All the Democratic presidential candidates agreed to boycott Michigan and Florida. Clinton won both states, although Obama's name was not on the Michigan ballot, and no delegates were awarded. Restoring the delegates is a major part of Clinton's longshot strategy for the nomination.

Clinton's last best hope is to use strong showings in West Virginia and Kentucky to make the case that Obama is weak among key Democratic constituents.

Obama's campaign announced a five-state tour over the next two weeks that includes stops in remaining primary states South Dakota and Oregon but is dominated by swing states where he hopes to run well against McCain.

Obama leads in delegates needed to secure the Democratic nomination. He'll try to rebound from Tuesday's expected loss in West Virginia by campaigning this week in Missouri, a state that President Bush won in 2000 and 2004.

On Wednesday, he planned two stops in Michigan — the swing Macomb County and the GOP stronghold of Grand Rapids. He plans to spend three days starting May 21 in Florida, with stops in Tampa, Orlando, Palm Beach County and Miami. The area is a popular stop for political fundraising, but the Obama campaign says the candidate will mostly be appealing for votes.

"Our schedule reflects the fact that we are still fighting for votes and delegates in the remaining contests but also that we are going to places that are going to be competitive in the fall," said Obama spokesman Bill Burton.

[dnsallday]

Clinton told patrons of Tudor''s Biscuit World in Charleston: "I keep telling people, no Democrat has won the White House since 1916 without winning West Virginia."

WELL SHE WAS DESPERATE TO MAKE HISTORY, NOW SHE CAN CLAIM TO BE THE FIRST PERSON SINCE 1916 TO WIN W.V. WITHOUT WINNING THE WHITE HOUSE.

[blackmilitan]

ITS OBAMA WHITE MOMMA AND WHITE GRANDPARENTS FAULT

1. SHE DATED AND LOVED A BLACK MAN AT A TIME WHEN MOST WHITE FOLKS HATED BLACK MEN.

2. SHE WAS A PROPHET AND SHE COULD SEE INTO THE FUTURE, SEE SAW ONE DAY THAT A MAN NAMED HUSSIEN WOULD RUN IRAQ, SO BEFORE THE WORLD HEARD OF HUSSIEN, SHE NAMED HER SON THAT TO PREPARE HIM TO BE A MUSLIM EXTREMIST. SHE ALSO AS A PROPHET NEW THAT AL QUADA WOULD ONE DAY BLOW UP THE TWIN TOWERS.

3. HIS GRANDPARENTS LOVED HIM TOO MUCH, TOLD HIM NOT TO WORRY ABOUT HIS COLOR THAT ALL THE PEOPLE OF THE WORLD CAME FROM ONE GOD..WHY THEY LIE TO HIM LIKE THAT.

4. HIS PARENTS RAISED HIM SO THAT HE CAN MEET WITH AND RESPECT REPUBLICANS, DEMOCRATES AND MUSLIMS AND ALL PEOPLE - THEY MESSED HIS LIFE UP, MAKING HIM THINK WHITE FOLKS WOULD ACCEPT HIM.

5. HIS MOTHER GAVE HIM GOOD HARD WORKING VALUES, HE WENT TO HARVARD AND GOT HIS DEGREE - NOW HE TOO SMART FOR BLUE COLLAR WHITE MEN - HIS MOTHER FAULT - SHE SHOULD HAVE MADE HIM A THUG INSTEAD OF A HARD WORKING MAN.

DAYUM WHITE WOMEN FOR LOVING A BLACK MEN AND HAVING HIS SON AND RAISING HIM RIGHT SO ONE DAY HE COULD TURN OUT TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT

DAYUM THEM ALL I SAY!

[blackmilitan]

ITS OBAMA WHITE MOMMA AND WHITE GRANDPARENTS FAULT

1. SHE DATED AND LOVED A BLACK MAN AT A TIME WHEN MOST WHITE FOLKS HATED BLACK MEN
2. SHE WAS A PROPHET AND SHE COULD SEE INTO THE FUTURE, SEE SAW ONE DAY THAT A MAN NAMED HUSSIEN WOULD RUN IRAQ, SO BEFORE THE WORLD HEARD OF HUSSIEN, SHE NAMED HER SON THAT TO PREPARE HIM TO BE A MUSLIM EXTREMIST. SHE ALSO AS A PROPHET NEW THAT AL QUADA WOULD ONE DAY BLOW UP THE TWIN TOWERS.
3. HIS GRANDPARENTS LOVED HIM TOO MUCH, TOLD HIM NOT TO WORRY ABOUT HIS COLOR THAT ALL THE PEOPLE OF THE WORLD CAME FROM ONE GOD..WHY THEY LIE TO HIM LIKE THAT.
4. HIS PARENTS RAISED HIM SO THAT HE CAN MEET WITH AND RESPECT REPUBLICANS, DEMOCRATES AND MUSLIMS AND ALL PEOPLE - THEY MESSED HIS LIFE UP, MAKING HIM THINK WHITE FOLKS WOULD ACCEPT HIM.
5. HIS MOTHER GAVE HIM GOOD HARD WORKING VALUES, HE WENT TO HARVARD AND GOT HIS DEGREE - NOW HE TOO SMART FOR BLUE COLLAR WHITE MEN - HIS MOTHER FAULT - SHE SHOULD HAVE MADE HIM A THUG INSTEAD OF A HARD WORKING MAN.

DAYUM WHITE WOMEN FOR LOVING A BLACK MEN AND HAVING HIS SON AND RAISING HIM RIGHT SO ONE DAY HE COULD TURN OUT TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT

DAYUM THEM ALL I SAY!

[themagic07]

DEAN, PELOSI, KENNEDYS, and REID are ELITIST for DNC Leadership. People are still voting, and these ELITIST democrats want to proclaim the car salesman as the winner. Is this democracy all about? The car salesman (Obama) said that the Michigan and Florida votes are for beauty contest. Give me a break. Sen Hillary has been unfairly treated by these Democrat ELITISTs, including media/pundits.

Remember a vote for this rookie car salesman is a vote for WRIGHT, REZKO, AYERS, AND FARAHKHAN%u2026..OBAMA is dishonest and disgrace. He does not deserve my vote!

[joanm1956]

Obama cannot win the states necessary to win the general election in November.

[libh8er]

Ubama = Jimmah Carter''s 2nd term. I predict if Ubama does get elected, we''ll have 20 years of republican presidents!

[rowdytexan2]

George Bush Jr: He was ''''Change'''' for the Good Huh and you voted his A!! in the Oval Office Twice !!


You see the, over 4000 Dead Honorable USA Soldiers, 100,000 Dead Iraqi''''s under False Pretenses (WOMD), 20 Billion Dollar Per Month War, a Devalued Dollar, Lower than the Mexican Peso, Massive Foreclosures, Outsourced Jobs, to Foreign Countries and Most of You A!! Holes, Voted for him !!



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

Posted by Omaar-101 at 12:34 PM : May 13, 2008

And everywhere I go, I see Mr. Obama hand in hand with Mr. Bush. Oil and gas money contributions, Cheney''s energy bill, funding the troops, hiding Iraqi''s in Chicago who swilled reconstruction money, friends and associates total Ishlamofascists with money!

[omaar-101]

Hillary Clinton is ...TOAST !!

Obama will concede the Florida & Michigan States, they''ll be Seated - Accounted for and Hillary''s A!! will still LOSE because Obama does''nt NEED the 2 States anymore, he''s that far AHEAD of Clinton, they don''t Pose a THREAT to his CANDIDACY ANYMORE...A!! Holes !!

Hillary''s ...TOAST !!

Please, Go Vote for her 20 Million in DEBT A$$ Right Now, its all in ..VAIN !!


The Clinton''s have so much Arab Millions,You might as well call Hillary & Bill ''Hussein'' Clinton.


Bill Clinton: ''Change'' You now see the benefits and effects of (NAFTA), Giving Communist China Unlimited Access to the White House and Classified Documents (Norman Hsu), Bill''s10 Million $ per year Saudi Arabian Money, Bill''s United Arab Emirates (Dubai Ports Deal), Millions, Kuwait & Qatar Millions, and You people are worried about ...

Obama...Puh-Lease...Spare Me !!


George Bush Jr: He was ''Change'' for the Good Huh and you voted his A!! in the Oval Office Twice !!


You see the, over 4000 Dead Honorable USA Soldiers, 100,000 Dead Iraqi''s under False Pretenses (WOMD), 20 Billion Dollar Per Month War, a Devalued Dollar, Lower than the Mexican Peso, Massive Foreclosures, Outsourced Jobs, to Foreign Countries and Most of You A!! Holes, Voted for him !!

[omaar-101]

Let her have Ugh..W.Virginia & Kentucky.

Oregon is going to be Clinton`s ...

North Carolina Nightmare...All Over ...Again !!

She`s Dropping out in (2 Weeks)


Total Delegate Count

Democrats | 2,025 Needed to Clinch

OBAMA 1,866

CLINTON 1,690

EDWARDS 18
Republicans | 1,191 Needed to Clinch

MCCAIN 1,328

HUCKABEE 231

ROMNEY 149

CBS News estimates. Includes super delegates.


Hillary''s A!! is Grazing Grass

Obama does not need Florida-Michigan, nor does he need W.Virg. or Kentucky.

Hillary''s A!! needs them All an when she gets them, it still won''t be...ENOUGH !!

Oregon is going to be Hillary''s North Carolina Nightmare...All Over Again.

Obama has the popular Vote, Delegates and Super Delegates

[eddynewhope]

Fuggin jagoff Hillary supporters sit here and whine behind the anonymity of the web, spewing names like "anti-American", "Islamofascist", "Elitist" etc. What could possibly be more anti-American than that? You are bunch of spineless looser whom history is passing by and leaving in the dust. What have you done for your country that gives you the right to judge with such sanctimony? I''''d bet the answer is not a gawd d-mn thing. Sit on your fat, lazy azzes and whine. Fuggin pathetic.

[omaar-101]

Hillary''''s ...TOAST !!

PLEASE, GO VOTE FOR CLINTON`S 20 MILLION IN CAMPAIGN DEBT A$$ !!

SHE`S TOO FAR ...BEHIND !!!

The Clinton''''s have so much Arab Millions,You might as well call Hillary & Bill ''''Hussein'''' Clinton.

So Much for ''''Experience''''


Bill Clinton: ''''Change'''' You now see the benefits and effects of (NAFTA), Giving Communist China Unlimited Access to the White House and Classified Documents (Norman Hsu), Bill''''s 10 Million $ per year Saudi Arabian Money, Bill''''s United Arab Emirates (Dubai Ports Deal), Millions, Kuwait & Qatar Millions, and You people are worried about ...

Obama...Puh-Lease !!


George Bush Jr: He was ''''Change'''' for the Good Huh and you voted his A!! in the Oval Office (Twice) !!


You see the, over 4000 Dead Honorable USA Soldiers, 100,000 Dead Iraqi''''s under False Pretenses (WOMD), 20 Billion Dollar Per Month War, a Devalued Dollar, Lower than the Mexican Peso, Massive Foreclosures, Outsourced Jobs, to Foreign Countries and Most of You A!! Holes, Voted for him !!


You all Voted for those 2 Presidents for (2 Terms) too !!

No more talks of Obama not being ''''Experienced Enough'''' because none of the Past or Present Presidents, had National-International ''''Experience''''

NOTE: The Only ''''Experience President'''' is Fmr. CIA Dir. and 2 Term Republican VP (George H. Bush Sr), and he lasted only (1 Term) !!


STATE GOVERNORSHIPS...

DOES NOT QUALIFY for ''''NATIONAL-INTERNATIONAL POLICY OR LAW MAKING .

[nyteryder2]

OBAMA is dishonest and disgrace. He does not deserve my vote! Posted by themagic07 at 11:53 AM : May 13, 2008


Yeah, right... He doesn''t need your vote. It''s already in the bag for him.


"I was ducking sniper fire in Bosnia." ...Hellary Clinton. And then the TRUTH comes out in the video.

"I did NOT have *** with that woman." ...Bill Clinton. And then the ***-stained dress shows up.

Now tell me who is DISHONEST and who is DISGRACEFUL!!

If nothing else, you are good for laughs.

LOL!!!

[nyteryder2]

...The OBAMA nation has been blinded and deafened. They REALLY DON''''T GET THAT HILLARY HANDLED OBAMA WITH KID GLOVES! Posted by TiredoftheBS


Really...kid gloves? You don''t get it. Women are 52% of the voters, and she STILL can''t beat a "young inexperienced" black man.

Clinton blew it in several areas and made several critical mistakes; among them she...
- misjudged the mood;
- underestimated the caucus states;
- relied on old money; and she
- never counted on the long haul.

Another problem is that, even in the states she won, the exit polls showed that people just don''t think she is honest and trustworthy.

Also, her message was inconsistent throughout her campaign. People aren''t sure what Clinton stands for and neither is she.

She seriously underestimated the popularity of an exceptionally gifted man who in many ways embodies the diversity that the U.S. is moving toward; somebody who is well-positioned to capture that mood, the very mood that Clinton misjudged.

Clinton thought she had the nomination "locked in" and was already campaigning the general election when she should have been paying serious attention to the primary and her very smart competition.

Kid gloves?? LOL!!! The Clintons will DO ANYTHING to gain and keep POWER.

Try doing some thinking outside the box.

If Hellary can''t beat a young inexperienced black man then she sure as hell can''t beat McCain. She and McCain are a lot alike, and she STILL supports the war.

[torocaca]

torocaca at 06:34 am wrote, he knows a redneck when he smells one.

YOUR COMMENT ILLUSTRATES HOW OBAMA AND HIS SUPPORTERS VIEW THE WORKING CLASS. IT SHOWS HIS ELITIST OUT OF TOUCH WITH WORKING CLASS, MIDDLE CLASS AMERICA.
Posted by crater7 at 08:21 AM : May 13, 2008
_______________________________

Ummm...you think the Clintons aren''t elitist? Go do your research. Clinton was the BEST republican president since Lincoln. He pushed through a lot of republican bills that even the "great communicator" couldn''t get passed.

NAFTA, for instance. NAFTA put 100s of 1000s of blue collar workers OUT OF WORK. Clinton didn''t care.

Perks for the wealthy, for instance.

LOL!!! Search on "number one Republican boogeywoman" and go to the "Outside Report" site.

Hellary has postured with Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich, and believes that electoral power belongs on the side of moderate-to-conservative Americans. And she will stop at nothing to get elected.

In addition, she''s the ONLY Dem with the "balls" to tell the party "we ain''t leaving Iraq." After all, she voted for it.

Think about it. Besides, it''s all over but the crying. Only a miracle can save her now.

[themagic07]

DEAN, PELOSI, KENNEDYS, and REID are ELITIST for DNC Leadership. People are still voting, and these ELITIST democrats want to proclaim the car salesman as the winner. Is this democracy all about? The car salesman (Obama) said that the Michigan and Florida votes are for beauty contest. Give me a break. Sen Hillary has been unfairly treated by these Democrat ELITISTs, including media/pundits.

Remember a vote for this rookie car salesman is a vote for WRIGHT, REZKO, AYERS, AND FARAHKHAN%u2026..OBAMA is dishonest and disgrace. He does not deserve my vote!

[dotindixie]

We are all racists. It''s coded in our DNA, as a survival trait. Don''t trust what you don''t know, it could be dangerous. Black people don''t even try to fight the urge, some white people do. But, I think that nobody would own up to it in this ''civilized'' world. Obama chose to be black, chose to join a church whose creed is ''black liberation''. So don''t get your panties in a wad because white people mistrust you...or hate you. It''s just how it is.

[obama8years]

If Barack Obama didn%u2019t know about Abunimah%u2019s writings (and Abunimah says he did), the same as his claims of being unaware of Reverend Wright%u2019s remarks after 20 years, then Obama is not competent to be our President. Abunimah likes to lie and claim Al Awda has nothing to do with the ISM or Electronic Intifada, though plenty of evidence exists on the website the homepage at www.StoptheISM.com showing the contrary.

But Obama%u2019s association with the ISM through his church and lobbying in Chicago goes even deeper than just his past links to Al Awda and Ali Abunimah. His pastor, Jeremiah Wright, and the Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, are both equally involved with the ISM.

[metroduck75]

Obama''s camp is trying Very hard to use the "White Guilt" to win his presidency.

But will Smart Voters fall for such Scam???

[metroduck75]

America is ready for a black president, BUT not for Satanic Obama.

Love your country, Vote against the "O" Cult!!!

[muuafan]

Sorry for the repost: but needed to make a correction...

Why is it that certain Clinton supporters want/need to categorize the Obama supporters? I venture to say that all other Clinton supporters "DO NOT" support all of your positions. Granted, this is a heated contest; but, YOU are not the one running for President. If you choose to rebut someone''''s comments, why don''''t you do that and stop putting all supporters in the same category.