Obama Makes Bid In 7 Longtime GOP States

From Alaska To Georgia, Democratic Contender Sees Novel Campaign Opportunities

(AP)  Alaska is young. Georgia, North Carolina and Virginia have growing populations and many black voters. Montana has seen recent Democratic inroads, and North Dakota has sent only Democrats to Congress since 1986. Indiana borders Barack Obama's home state.

The Democratic presidential candidate is putting money and manpower in all seven of these traditionally GOP states - at levels unmatched by Republican rival John McCain.

For decades, these states have almost exclusively voted for Republican presidential candidates and have rarely seen any campaign action. Now, thanks in part to demographic and political shifts, they are emerging as new battlegrounds.

"We have the organizational ability and the financial ability to compete there," Obama campaign manager David Plouffe said recently. "There is not a head fake among them."

Undeterred, senior McCain strategist Steve Schmidt said: "We feel very confident about holding these states." He also expressed optimism that McCain can win several Democratic-leaning perennial swing targets.

In the seven historically GOP bastions, Obama has run five weeks worth of TV ads and dispatched dozens of workers to sign up legions of unregistered voters that his campaign believes can be persuaded to support the Illinois senator in droves if courted aggressively. Among their targets are blacks and young people, two constituencies that favor Obama but historically have been unreliable voters.

McCain is largely absent from most of these states, trusting for now that right-leaning roots will prevail.

Unlike McCain, Obama had a presence in all seven during the protracted Democratic primaries and that could benefit him.

But Republicans - and even some skeptical Democrats - claim Obama simply is trying to lure McCain into spending money defending GOP turf so he has less to compete with elsewhere.

Indeed, cash flow is a major factor; Obama expects to be able to afford to compete most anywhere while McCain must be more careful with his money because he is accepting public financing and the spending limits that come with it.

Democrats see other dynamics in the states as opportunities, which Republicans say are just delusions.

Of the cluster, Virginia is most likely to go Democratic, so it's the one where McCain is competing in earnest.

Obama is advertising statewide and has opened several offices. Putting Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine on the ticket could help.

McCain's headquarters is in northern Virginia, and he has a full paid Virginia campaign staff. So far, he's only on the air in the Washington, D.C., media market that serves the burgeoning Virginia suburbs.

That's the moderate region that has helped Democrats retain the governor's office and pick up one Senate seat.

Democrats say the growing numbers of young left-leaning professionals in the north and the state's large percentage of blacks - one in five - as well as untapped pools of potential voters make Virginia a ripe target for them. More than 4 million people are eligible to vote but roughly a third are not registered, including a half million blacks and several hundred thousand people age 18-24.

The situation is similar in two other fast-growing southern states.

North Carolina has seen an influx of Northern retirees settling along the coast and in the mountains, while upper-class and academic transplants from all over flock to the booming economies of the high-tech Research Triangle and the Charlotte banking hub.

"You're definitely getting a new mix," said Bill Peaslee, a former state GOP chief of staff. "Some of the old givens are no longer true. It's not how it was 20 years ago or even 10 years ago."

Voter registrations are up, blacks are signing up in record numbers and a Democrat leads the state.

Recognizing a potential problem, McCain is sending a full paid staff to North Carolina though running no ads for now.

Georgia saw GOP gains in recent decades as conservatives moved in during a population spurt. It now has a Republican governor and legislature, and a strong state party organization.

Even so, Democrats see an opening among blacks who now make up 30 percent of Georgia's population. Even Republicans predict the first black major party presidential nominee will produce the largest black turnout ever.

Obama also is optimistic because Libertarian Party candidate, former Republican Rep. Bob Barr, is from Georgia and could draw off conservative votes there.

In Indiana, Obama could benefit from his ties to the populous, heavily black northwest corner that's within Chicago's media market. He's also counting on backers in liberal-leaning university towns like South Bend and Bloomington. Choosing Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh, a popular two-term governor, as his running mate would give Obama a boost.

"It can't be understated that he is from our neighboring state," said Dan Parker, the state Democratic Party chairman.

Since 1936, Democrats have won Indiana once in presidential elections, 1964. Still, they have had some success on the state level and ousted three GOP incumbent congressmen in 2006. Working-class Indiana whites pose hurdles for Obama as they did in his narrow primary loss to Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Along the U.S.-Canada border, Democratic statewide victories have emboldened Obama to make plays for Montana and North Dakota. Republicans argue Democrats who win in those states are moderate and Obama is not. Obama's campaign also is counting on residual goodwill from his primary wins in both.

In Montana, Bill Clinton showed it's worth it for a Democrat to compete hard; he narrowly won it in 1992 but narrowly lost it four years later. President Bush, however, won by enormous margins in back-to-back elections.

Nevertheless, Democrats took the governor's office back with Gov. Brian Schweitzer's election in 2004 over a Republican, and booted a GOP senator facing corruption allegations two years later to take control of both Senate seats.

Democrats claim the electorate has become more moderate as new people settled in mountainous western Montana. Republicans argue the GOP foundation is strong and note that Montana has sent a Republican to the House since 1994.

North Dakota has a GOP governor but has had an all Democratic congressional delegation for more than two decades. Still, no Democratic presidential candidate has won the state in more than 30 years.

Obama has opened offices in North Dakota's four largest cities and has visited twice since wrapping up the nomination.

"Barack Obama coming up here and competing here is going to force John McCain to make a choice," said Jamie Selzler, the state party director. "For everything that McCain does up here, that's a little bit less that he can do in these big battleground states we always hear about."

Even further north in far-flung Alaska, it's been three decades since a Democratic nominee won the state.

Republicans dominate the levers of power but corruption has rocked the party, including the latest black eye: the indictment of Sen. Ted Stevens this week.

All that turmoil emboldens Obama. So does the fact that Alaska is home to the nation's third-youngest population. Voter registrations among Democrats are outpacing Republicans.

Said State Sen. Hollis French, an Anchorage Democrat: "There is a real sense of energy coming off that campaign that is completely lacking from the other side.

[leftyintexas]

OBAMA said it best when he said ''The GOP takes pride in being ignorant''.

[leftyintexas]

I like OBAMA''S chances in EVERY state! He is exactly what this country has needed for the past 7 1/2 years! OBAMA IN 08!!!

[johnbush2-2009]

Obama must be sick in the head if he thinks that Christians will support a baby killer like himself.

[jfkdem]

Correction:

http://www.bobbarr2008.com

[jfkdem]

Don''t forget the impact Bob Barr will have in those states.

http://bobbarr2008.com

[bretster7]

posted by rafterman,
The mere fact that you use 2nd grade-level words like "DemoTard" excudes you from any meaningful conversation


Of course rafterman and his ilk can use terms like Repugnicon, repukeicon, Nazi, etc, etc and that shows how intellectually superior they are, right?

BTW, where is McVet?

[bretster7]

tawpdawg said,
intellect and ignore his skin. Besides, its prettier than McCains anyway.



Most people ARE ignoring the color of his skin, except the lib''s and their willing accomplaces in the media. They know that if the focus is taken off the color of his skin, his lack of intellect will come through

[sandy19731]

Any of you who are still undecided should look at the rhetoric in these board and ask which kind of people you want to govern.

Let''s not have the bullies running our great country.

[tawpdawg111]

If you are undecided STILL, I implore you to focus on Barack''s intellect and ignore his skin. Besides, its prettier than McCains anyway.

[jongood65]

I do so wished I were a poltical cartoonist.

Picture this....

First off, Sen. NObama morphs into Sen. Harry "Palms" Reid in black face,

then dons a skirt and sports SanFranNan Peelosely''s eyes that make her look perpetually constipated!!

I''d caption it with:

"Exactly what you get if you''re stupid enough to vote for a DemoTard."

[jongood65]

BTW: Rafterman....I''ve watched so many of your left wing pinko hyphenated-American suckbuddies excret the:

"2nd, 3rd, 5th grade educated" ka,ka lately it''s time you fess up....How do they feed you minions with these one line zingers?? Orally, or straight up the old poop chute??

[jongood65]

==="What you get if you are stupid enough to vote for a DemoTard."===
Posted by JonGood65

The mere fact that you use 2nd grade-level words like "DemoTard" excudes you from any meaningful conversation.
Posted by rafterman1 at 11:03 AM : Aug 04, 2008
============================

"Excudes" me eh?? ROTFLMGTBO!!!

The "DemoTard" label has been working just fine when describing the vast left wing majority of you and your suckbuddies.

[daysrnumbrd]

Posted by realpatriot1 at 10:28 AM : Aug 04, 2008
.............

That''s great to know!

Thank you for the tip(s) on the stats!

[jongood65]

Talk about unified....The fascist leadership of the Democrat Party has become so singularly focused with their vision and plans to destroy America as built, for the first time in this nations history their candidate for President, if elected, will in fact also be holding the title of Speaker of the House and Senate Majority Leader.

Heck, they might as well go ahead and crown Sen. Hairyless Peelosely NObama....

KING OF AMERICA!

[jongood65]

I do so wished I were a poltical cartoonist.

Picture this....

Sen. NObama morphing into Sen. Harry "Palms" Reid in black face,

then donning a skirt and sporting SanFranNan Peelosely''s botox injected eyes that make her look to be perpetually constipated!!

I''d caption it with:

"What you get if you are stupid enough to vote for a DemoTard."

[jongood65]

Speaking of states Sen. "Both Ways" Barak NObama is targetting, I heard yesterday the big Demotard leaning welfare state of Oklahoma is rejecting him.

Never thought I''d offer this, but way to go you bunch of Sooner criminals.

[jongood65]

The poor vote without being educated on issues, they are desperate for any kind of change, whether it is to their advantage or not- They will not accept that Obama is not qualified and will suffer even more consequences down the road. ...
Posted by Ariel133 at 10:30 AM : Aug 04, 2008
========================

Just wait until the tax bill for Sen. "Both Ways" Barak NObama''s Wind Fall Profits tax on all forms of energy comes due and pops them back into reality.

[ariel133]

The poor vote without being educated on issues, they are desperate for any kind of change, whether it is to their advantage or not- They will not accept that Obama is not qualified and will suffer even more consequences down the road. It is a shame, and will perpetuate the never ending defeat of what real change means: Sacrafice and committment to experiance.
Congress is a failure and Obama is worthless.

[realpatriot1]

DaysRnumbrd/Omega,

Check out the Senate polls at Rasmussen & Zogby as well as Cook and realclearpolitics and the patterns are clear.

Dems are comfortably on their way toward picking up GOP Senate seats in:New Hampshire, Virginia,New Mexico, Colorado, & Alaska. They are within striking distance in North Carolina, Oregon, Mississippi, Kentucky, and Maine. The only Democrat not coasting is Landreau in Louisiana.

The dems will have a solid working Majority, Lieberman will be irrelevant, and the Republicans will be reduced to filibustering. If they filibuster they''ll guarantee 60 plus Democratic seats after 2010.

[realpatriot1]

DaysRnumbrd/Omega,

Check out the Senate polls at Rasmussen & Zogby as well as Cook and realclearpolitics and the patterns are clear.

Dems are comfortably on their way toward picking up GOP Senate seats in:New Hampshire, Virginia,New Mexico, Colorado, & Alaska. They are within striking distance in North Carolina, Oregon, Mississippi, Kentucky, and Maine. The only Democrat not coasting is Landreau in Louisiana.

The dems will have a solid working Majority, Lieberman will be irrelevant, and the Republicans will be reduced to filibustering. If they filibuster they''ll guarantee 60 plus Democratic seats after 2010.