Obama Sets Sights On 14 Bush States

Politico: Campaign Says They Will Look To Score Upsets, Also Try To Impact Local Races

(The Politico)  This story was written by Ben Smith.

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Barack Obama will focus his resources largely in 14 states George W. Bush won in 2004, his chief field operative said Tuesday, hoping to score upsets in places like Virginia, Indiana, and Georgia.

But winning the White House won’t be his only goal, deputy campaign manager Hildebrand told Politico: In an unusual move, Obama’s campaign will also devote some resources to states it’s unlikely to win, with the goal of influencing specific local contests in places like Texas and Wyoming.

“Texas is a great example where we might not be able to win the state, but we want to pay a lot of attention to it,” Hildebrand said. “It’s one of the most important redistricting opportunities in the country.”

Texas Democrats are five seats away in each chamber from control of the state legislature, which will redraw congressional districts after the 2010 census.

In Wyoming, Democrat Gary Trauner, running for the state’s sole congressional seat, lost narrowly against an incumbent in 2006 and is now seeking an open seat.

“If we can register more Democrats, if we can increase the Democratic performance and turnout, maybe we can pick up a congressional seat,” Hildebrand said.

Hildebrand’s plans underscore the unusual scope and ambition of Obama’s campaign, which can relatively cheaply extend its massive volunteer and technological resources into states which won’t necessarily produce electoral votes.

In Texas, for instance, Obama’s three dozen offices were overrun with volunteers during the primary; the campaign’s challenge is, in part, to find something useful to do with all that free labor. But, while Hildebrand said Obama is unlikely to pay for television advertising outside a core of about 15 states the candidate thinks he can win, he will spend some money on staff. Obama’s chief strategist, David Axelrod, reportedly told donors in Houston that he would send 15 staffers to Texas, and the campaign has committed to having some staff on the ground in all 50 states.

If Obama loses in November, the broad expenditures-and the specific ambition of extending Democratic control-may be seen as a distraction from the traditional, crucial battlegrounds like Ohio, leading McCain’s campaign to dismiss Obama’s aspirations of broadening the playing field.

"It’s revealing that Barack Obama has now been forced to expand the states on his map because he’s so weak in traditional Democratic targets such as West Virginia, Arkansas, Tennessee and Florida, not to mention his ongoing problems in Pennsylvania and Ohio,” said McCain spokesman Brian Rogers.

But if Obama wins, he may have paved the path to a powerful Democratic majority. Obama has also sent out fundraising emails in the last week on behalf of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee.

A “new President alone isn't enough,” Obama wrote in a message sent to the DSCC’s email list. “I've served long enough in the U.S. Senate to know that Washington must change, and I also know that big changes don't happen without big Senate majorities - and right now, Democrats occupy only 49 seats.”

“This November, we have a chance to create a Democratic Senate majority like we haven't seen in decades - but it won't happen on its own,” he wrote.

Hildebrand and Obama campaign manager David Plouffe have, in recent days, outlined the shape of Obama’s campaign. In an interview with Politico, Hildebrand said Obama would focus largely on 14 states George W. Bush won in 2004, plus one state Kerry won in 2004, New Hampshire - where Obama and Hillary Clinton stage their first joint event Friday.

“We’re going to have to play hard in New Hampshire - we completely recognize that,” Hildebrand said.

Hildebrand also said Obama would campaign in pat of Nebraska, which distributes its electoral votes to the winner of each individual congressional district.

“We’re going to go in and play Nebraska 2, which is Omaha and surrounding, in the hopes that we can pick up that one electoral vote,” he said.

A presentation by Plouffe to donors, and Obama’s own early advertising expenditures, add three more to that list of states to defend: Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin.

Hildebrand, in an interview, listed states in order of the margin by which Bush carried them: The closest four, Iowa, New Mexico, Ohio, Nevada, he said, would see “a ton of attention.”

But he said Obama would campaign hard in ten more states, with the candidate and his top surrogates spending time on the ground and his campaign spending money in the air. Those are Colorado, Florida, Missouri, Virginia, North Carolina, Montana, North Dakota, Indiana, Georgia, and Alaska.

Skeptics have questioned Obama’s chances in states ranging from Montana, where Obama’s support of gun control is unpopular, to the South, where racially polarized voting patterns could undermine his chances. Some have suggested his broader playing field is a kind of “head-fake,” a maneuver designed to force McCain to spend money and time on states Obama doesn’t really think he can win.

Hildebrand dismissed that suggestion.

“We’re going in to win those states,” he said. “We’re not going in to make McCain have to pay attention to them. We’re going in to win. The result of that is he’s going to have to pay serious attention to them where he otherwise might not have to.”

[zerato-2009]

It might be good for the down the ballot candidates to have an influx of money and volunteers from obama. I think he can do well in colorado, missouri, florida and virginia, but the others are a question mark. Montana is intrigueing since they have 2 democratic senators and a democratic governor.

[sgtrds-e4]

By spending money and challenging in red states, Obama forces McCain to spend in those states too and he has a lot less money then Barack has. It''s a smart move. Besides who knows, he may pick one or two of them up.

[bagdadshere2]

By spending money and challenging in red states, Obama forces McCain to spend in those states too and he has a lot less money then Barack has,YOU KNOW IRAN,HAMAS,SYRIA,HEZBOLLAH AND HOGU CHAVEZ ARE GIVING OBAMA LOTS OF MONEY. It''''s a smart move. Besides who knows, he may pick one or two of them up.

Posted by SgtRDS-E4 at 04:39 PM : Jun 25, 2008

[fstop100]

He has no experience, the White House will go from dumb to dumber.

[zerato-2009]

YOU KNOW IRAN,HAMAS,SYRIA,HEZBOLLAH AND HOGU CHAVEZ ARE GIVING OBAMA LOTS OF MONEY.
Posted by BagdadsHere2

Please proove your assertions. Obama''s donations can be found at FEC.gov If you can''t please get aluminum foil so you can keep the radio waves from piercing your brain. The aliens are taking over your brain.

[zerato-2009]

He has no experience, the White House will go from dumb to dumber.
Posted by fstop100

do you really think it can get worse?

[mrbrill]

I find it hard to believe there is anyone dumber than Bush. Besides Bush (and cronies) are not just dumb, they are dumb and crooked. I''ve never seen a more unethical, crooked bunch of politicians ever... And this was the guy who was going to bring "integrity"...

[aldon61]

Great battle plan! I love the agressivness Barack is showing. He has McCain out manned and outgunned both financially and with enthusiastic supporters. He will take some of these states and I predict an Obama landside in the general. Obama 08!

[aldon61]

Please proove your assertions. Obama''''s donations can be found at FEC.gov If you can''''t please get aluminum foil so you can keep the radio waves from piercing your brain. The aliens are taking over your brain.


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Posted by Zerato at 04:53 PM : Jun 25, 2008

That''s funny! (also right on the button)

[ixoye_02]

By spending money and challenging in red states, Obama forces McCain to spend in those states too and he has a lot less money then Barack has,YOU KNOW IRAN,HAMAS,SYRIA,HEZBOLLAH AND HOGU CHAVEZ ARE GIVING OBAMA LOTS OF MONEY. It''''''''s a smart move. Besides who knows, he may pick one or two of them up.

posted by BagdadsHere2 (the

You might add to the list of enthusiastic donors: ex-republicans (myself included), independents, of course rank-and-file democrats. I''ve not seen alot of excitement in my district (leans republican) for Obama. And I know why the republican party is having such a hard time raising money? Because there are fewer grass-roots supporters who are giving money to the republicans. This is happening in my district. The corporations and lobbyists are giving what they can and probably make up the greater portion of republican donations so far. Obama doesn''t need the money from Iraq or Hugo Chavez. There are plenty of rank-and-file American voters who support Obama. There are many "whisper" campaigners blogging here who hope that inserting outrageous statements or questionalbe facts would diminish Obama''s campaign. But I see that most intelligent voters aren''t willing to be swayed by innuendo or even half-truths. And are calling their politicians to account for the mess that we are in.

[watcher269-2009]

Republican presidential hopeful John McCain hasn%u2019t voted in the Senate since April 8.

I guess Bush isn''t supporting anything for John Hussein McCain to vote for.

[hungry1968]

He has no experience, the White House will go from dumb to dumber.

Posted by fstop100 at 04:51 PM : Jun 25, 2008





When has a presidential candidate ever had "presidential experience" when being elected to the office for the first time?


For contrast, Bush Jr HAD "executive experience" as the governor of Texas, while JFK, Lincoln, Washington, and Jefferson did not.

Who would you pick out of that group - the "experienced" one?

[beastof70]

These hyphenated-Americans are still trying to run a primary race:

%u201CIf we can register more Democrats, if we can increase the Democratic performance and turnout, maybe we can pick up a congressional seat,%u201D Hildebrand said.

Pssssssttt!!! For those of you who don''t know any better....You don''t have to register as a Democrat or a Republican in the general election. When you go into the privacy of the voting booth you are allowed to vote for whoever you want.

You can even split a ticket if you want to.

If you are a real American, you aren''t even forced by law to vote for any of these left wing pinko, hyphenated-Americans the Democrat Party offers you.

[beastof70]

When has a presidential candidate ever had "presidential experience" when being elected to the office for the first time?

For contrast, Bush Jr HAD "executive experience" as the governor of Texas, while JFK, Lincoln, Washington, and Jefferson did not.

Who would you pick out of that group - the "experienced" one?
Posted by hungry1968 at 05:46 PM : Jun 25, 2008

===============

Nice try hungry, but all of the folks you mentioned above, including G.W. Bush are/were very proud of being Americans....No hyphens required. They also had real life experiences to pull on.

Your hyphenated-American buddy Sen. Obama is only has his copy of Karl Marx''s book to offer as experience.

[downsteamjim]

What about the 8 or 9 new states Obama discovered during the election?

[nomocows]

Why is it that I always hear that Florida will not support Obama?
He hadn''t even made it into our national conciousness when the FL election took place, he did not campaign in the state. Once the people of Florida got to see how much of the country was ready for change, there was a significant interest. When the media and the pundits stop telling us what to think, they might find out what the truth really is.
Also, they keep telling me (65, white, female, FL) that I am in Hillary''s demographic - NOT IN MY LIFETIME.

[hungry1968]

Nice try hungry, but all of the folks you mentioned above, including G.W. Bush are/were very proud of being Americans....No hyphens required. They also had real life experiences to pull on.

Your hyphenated-American buddy Sen. Obama is only has his copy of Karl Marx''''s book to offer as experience.

Posted by Beastof70 at 06:03 PM : Jun 25, 2008





So you admit that previous "executive experience", is a non-factor, correct?

BTW, I have NO IDEA what you''re talking about with "hyphenated-Americans". At first I thought you were referring to people''s names like "John Smith-Jones", but your reference to Obama just shot that theory all to hell.

[rowdywicca]

Obama Sets Sights On 14 Bush States

Might help if he set his sights on developing something besides bonheaded socialistic, dangerous, whack job ideas first.

[beastof70]

Republican presidential hopeful John McCain hasn%u2019t voted in the Senate since April 8.

I guess Bush isn''t supporting anything for John Hussein McCain to vote for.
Posted by watcher269 at 05:11 PM : Jun 25, 2008
==========================

Reckon why, if Sen. OsamaObama is so confident that closing this so called "Enron" loop hole will reduce the cost of fuel by 30 - 40%, reckon why he hasn''t demanded someone bring it to the Senate floor so he can save America??

Reckon Sen. OsamaObama hasn''t because he knows it''s a lie??

Reckon Sen. OsamaObama is in the pocket of big bio-fuel producers who likes seeing crude products driven sky high??

[hungry1968]

And yet ANOTHER international black eye for America, at the hands of the neo cons:

http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1518,561984,00.html

[rowdywicca]

Why is it that I always hear that Florida will not support Obama?
He hadn''''t even made it into our national conciousness when the FL election took place, he did not campaign in the state. Once the people of Florida got to see how much of the country was ready for change, there was a significant interest. When the media and the pundits stop telling us what to think, they might find out what the truth really is.
Also, they keep telling me (65, white, female, FL) that I am in Hillary''''s demographic - NOT IN MY LIFETIME.


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Posted by nomocows at 06:09 PM : Jun 25, 2008

Oh BS, everybody in the world had heard about Obama by the time the voting started! And they had certainly heard by the last primaries when they voted and told Obama to get on his camel and ride out!

[hungry1968]

Obama Sets Sights On 14 Bush States

Might help if he set his sights on developing something besides bonheaded socialistic, dangerous, whack job ideas first.

Posted by RowdyWicca at 06:12 PM : Jun 25, 2008





You have no idea what principles / ideals you want elected to the office. Clinton was a direct opposite of McCain.

What you know of politics, makes George Bush look like a genius.

[rowdywicca]

You have no idea what principles / ideals you want elected to the office. Clinton was a direct opposite of McCain.

What you know of politics, makes George Bush look like a genius.


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Posted by hungry1968 at 06:14 PM : Jun 25, 2008

I certainly know when your pathological liar, Obama pissed off the Jews and the Arabs in one stupid speech when he ran his mouth off!

[beastof70]

So you admit that previous "executive experience", is a non-factor, correct?

BTW, I have NO IDEA what you''re talking about with "hyphenated-Americans". At first I thought you were referring to people''s names like "John Smith-Jones", but your reference to Obama just shot that theory all to hell.
Posted by hungry1968 at 06:12 PM : Jun 25, 2008
===================

Like I said Hungry, nice try, but no cigar.

All who support Sen. OsamaObama are hyphenated-Americans. The shame being, too many of them appear to be, un-Americans.

What hyphen do you wear??

[hungry1968]

Oh BS, everybody in the world had heard about Obama by the time the voting started! And they had certainly heard by the last primaries when they voted and told Obama to get on his camel and ride out!

Posted by RowdyWicca at 06:14 PM : Jun 25, 2008





Uh huh.

And who saddled their broken back horse and rode their fat pan-suited a$$ out of town?

[rowdywicca]

Uh huh.

And who saddled their broken back horse and rode their fat pan-suited a$$ out of town?


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Posted by hungry1968 at 06:18 PM : Jun 25, 2008

Last I saw it was YOU!

[hungry1968]

I certainly know when your pathological liar, Obama pissed off the Jews and the Arabs in one stupid speech when he ran his mouth off!

Posted by RowdyWicca at 06:16 PM : Jun 25, 2008




Do you want universal health care or $5000 tax credits to people that STILL won''t be able to afford it?

Which POLAR OPPOSITE plan are you behind today? Or do you still have time to change your unprincipled and unscrupulous mind - AGAIN?

[nelson5714]

Uh huh.

And who saddled their broken back horse and rode their fat pan-suited a$$ out of town?


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Posted by hungry1968 at 06:18 PM : Jun 25, 2008"

Shrillary Pantsuit - the darling of the Conservatives ???

[nelson5714]

All who support Sen. OsamaObama are hyphenated-Americans.

Posted by Beastof70 at 06:17 PM : Jun 25, 2008"

Yeah and all the dumb *** americans (notice no hyphen) support Magoo

[hungry1968]

Like I said Hungry, nice try, but no cigar.

All who support Sen. OsamaObama are hyphenated-Americans. The shame being, too many of them appear to be, un-Americans.

What hyphen do you wear??

Posted by Beastof70 at 06:17 PM : Jun 25, 2008





Uh huh.

Your lack of intelligent posting ability, makes debating with you a waste of time. Your REFUSAL to answer the question - who would you vote for Washington, Jefferson, JFK, Lincoln, or Bush jr. - proves that you have no logical response.


You''re dismissed. Hyphen not included.

[rowdywicca]

Do you want universal health care or $5000 tax credits to people that STILL won''''t be able to afford it?

Which POLAR OPPOSITE plan are you behind today? Or do you still have time to change your unprincipled and unscrupulous mind - AGAIN?


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Posted by hungry1968 at 06:20 PM : Jun 25, 2008

This country can''t afford universal health care right now dipwad! Don''t you think it would be a better plan to think about getting people back to work so their taxes might support such a plan first?

That''s what I mean about boneheaded! Plus his plan leaves out about 15,000,000 people in the first place! It''s not universal health care anyway!

[hungry1968]

Last I saw it was YOU!

Posted by RowdyWicca at 06:19 PM : Jun 25, 2008





I''m still sitting here, and my candidate is still running.

Oh wait - yours is still running too. Or wait - she isn''t. Or wait - he is. Or wait...... who do you support again? The old man and his issues, or the fat lady and her POLAR OPPOSITE platforms and policies? Do you even know who you support anymore?

[rowdywicca]

I''''m still sitting here, and my candidate is still running.

Oh wait - yours is still running too. Or wait - she isn''''t. Or wait - he is. Or wait...... who do you support again? The old man and his issues, or the fat lady and her POLAR OPPOSITE platforms and policies? Do you even know who you support anymore?


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Posted by hungry1968 at 06:26 PM : Jun 25, 2008

Then why is YOUR candidate begging MY candidate to get out and help him look under rocks for a VOTE??? And money???

[rf35]

Your hyphenated-American buddy Sen. Obama is only has his copy of Karl Marx''''s book to offer as experience.

Posted by Beastof70 at 06:03 PM : Jun 25, 2008

Hey, Marx had a few good thoughts!
"Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature...It is the opium of the people."

[rudy654-2009]

This country can''''t afford universal health care right now dipwad!
************

Yes it can, "dipwad"

[randynason]

I heard on NPR about a Northwestern city that wants to name a sewage plant after George W. Bush. That sounds like a fitting tribute to leave the man who has damaged everything he ever touched. The family name will literally be remembered as a word synonymous with sh*t.

[hungry1968]

This country can''''t afford universal health care right now dipwad! Don''''t you think it would be a better plan to think about getting people back to work so their taxes might support such a plan first?

That''''s what I mean about boneheaded! Plus his plan leaves out about 15,000,000 people in the first place! It''''s not universal health care anyway!

Posted by RowdyWicca at 06:24 PM : Jun 25, 2008




Ah gotcha. Last month this country COULD afford universal health care AS LONG AS IT WAS Hillary''s health universal health care. Nothing has changed in a month, but now we can''t afford it?

And what, of Bush''s failed policies, is grandpa Munster going to use to create jobs? Is he going to take a page out of fat Hillary''s 2000 senate campaign run where she promised NY''ers jobs, and then said FU when it was time to deliver?

No thanks - we don''t need any of your "experienced" politicians, and their 35 years worth of lies.

[rowdywicca]

Then why is YOUR candidate begging MY candidate to get out and help him look under rocks for a VOTE??? And money???


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Posted by RowdyWicca at 06:27 PM : Jun 25, 2008

Reckon YOUR candidate has about used up all his oil and enery lobbyists money? Reckon he has this little PROBLEM that he can''t get the MAJORITY vote???

[nelson5714]

This country can''''t afford universal health care right now dipwad!

Posted by RowdyWicca at 06:24 PM : Jun 25, 2008"

so screeches the idiot who claims that the country can afford a $500bn per year war in Iraq / Afghanistan and also afford a gas tax holiday

[rudy654-2009]

Posted by RowdyWicca at 06:27 PM

He is not asking McCain for anything.

[hungry1968]

Then why is YOUR candidate begging MY candidate to get out and help him look under rocks for a VOTE??? And money???

Posted by RowdyWicca at 06:27 PM : Jun 25, 2008





Because her and her husband LIVE under the rocks with the other lying snakes!!

And he''s BAILING out HER FAILED (and broke) campaign - NOT the other way around!!!!

[rowdywicca]

This country can''''''''t afford universal health care right now dipwad!
************

Yes it can, "dipwad"


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Posted by rudy654 at 06:29 PM : Jun 25, 2008

Where''s he gonna get it? Out of THIN AIR?

[nelson5714]

I heard on NPR about a Northwestern city that wants to name a sewage plant after George W. Bush. That sounds like a fitting tribute to leave the man who has damaged everything he ever touched.

Posted by RandyNason at 06:30 PM : Jun 25, 2008"

A more fitting tribute would be to rename sewage to George W Bush

[rowdywicca]

Ah gotcha. Last month this country COULD afford universal health care AS LONG AS IT WAS Hillary''''s health universal health care. Nothing has changed in a month, but now we can''''t afford it?

And what, of Bush''''s failed policies, is grandpa Munster going to use to create jobs? Is he going to take a page out of fat Hillary''''s 2000 senate campaign run where she promised NY''''ers jobs, and then said FU when it was time to deliver?

No thanks - we don''''t need any of your "experienced" politicians, and their 35 years worth of lies.


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Posted by hungry1968 at 06:30 PM : Jun 25, 2008

Evidently you never read Hillary''s health care plan! It wasn''t universal health care! LMAO!

It was a step TOWARD universal health care...but NO, she had sense enough to realize the country couldn''t afford it yet!

[hungry1968]

Evidently you never read Hillary''''s health care plan! It wasn''''t universal health care! LMAO!

It was a step TOWARD universal health care...but NO, she had sense enough to realize the country couldn''''t afford it yet!

Posted by RowdyWicca at 06:33 PM : Jun 25, 2008





And you, falsely, claimed that HE STOLE HER IDEA of universal health care!!!!

You dig your "hole of lies" deeper and deeper every time you POST ANYTHING!!!

I guess it IS appropriate, that you support McCain.

[rowdywicca]

And he''''''''s BAILING out HER FAILED (and broke) campaign - NOT the other way around!!!!


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Posted by hungry1968 at 06:31 PM

Exactly right, which this morning was brought up on NBC and which, accordingly, make Hillary supporters feel really good about Obama.


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Posted by rudy654 at 06:35 PM : Jun 25, 2008

Which Hillary supporters would that be?

Seems like Obama hasn''t provider her with a dime of money...he just made some smarmy speech...wooooooo hoooooooo! One of his thousands of stupid smarmy speeches.

[nelson5714]

McCains double talk express sure plays well to his audience of like minded Republicon used car salesmen.

Posted by neoconism at 06:32 PM : Jun 25, 2008"

I chalenge you to name one just one Republican who has a mind.....you won''t be able to because the facts are that Republicans are just mindless morons

[rudy654-2009]

but NO, she had sense enough to realize the country couldn''''t afford it yet!


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Posted by RowdyWicca at 06:33 PM

Where does the country get untold billions and billions for a war? Billions of which go unaccounted for? See, you like it that way, don''t you?

[rowdywicca]

And you, falsely, claimed that HE STOLE HER IDEA of universal health care!!!!

You dig your "hole of lies" deeper and deeper every time you POST ANYTHING!!!

I guess it IS appropriate, that you support McCain.


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Posted by hungry1968 at 06:35 PM : Jun 25, 2008

He did steal it...and then he screwed it up because he couldn''t xerox it!

[rudy654-2009]

Posted by jisom001 at 06:36 PM

OH, so you blame g-d for this mess?