Nebraska, The Unlikely Battleground

Washington Post: Obama Camp Steps Up Efforts To Split Nebraska's Electoral Votes

(Washingtonpost.com) 
The Obama campaign also hopes to benefit from the retail politicking of Sen. Ben Nelson, a Democrat who has found ways to win statewide, and the influence of Sen. Chuck Hagel, a Republican war veteran who has criticized McCain and his running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.

And while the Obama campaign only recently arrived in force, residents have seen a year's worth of Obama advertisements directed at voters in nearby Council Bluffs, Iowa, that also air in Omaha. Obama drew 10,000 people to a Feb. 7 rally here, shortly before he swamped Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton by 35 percentage points in the Nebraska caucuses.

There are potential signs of progress for Democrats. A large Republican registration advantage in Douglas County, which makes up the bulk of the 2nd District, has nearly evaporated. As of Sept. 1, Democrats had added 8,500 voters this year, while Republican registration had grown by just 108, closing the gap to around 4,000. About 58,000 voters in the county consider themselves as independents.

Those figures were recorded before the Obama campaign opened its Omaha office -- 1,113 people showed up to volunteer on the first day -- and do not reflect the recent registration efforts.

"We're certainly seeing more registrations coming in as we get closer and closer to the election," said Dave Phipps (R), election commissioner in Douglas County, who is predicting record turnout.

Phipps is the rare Republican who says publicly that Obama has a shot in the district. "It's going to be a tough battle," he said. "Swaying Republicans in Nebraska is pretty hard, but there is a significant number of nonpartisans who are up for the taking."

Phipps added that grass-roots groups not connected to Obama are mobilizing voters in Democratic precincts, particularly student enclaves and largely black neighborhoods in north Omaha where turnout is typically low.

Nonetheless, experts expect it will take a dramatic pro-Obama turnout in Omaha and its inner suburbs to overcome the expected strong Republican advantage in more rural and conservative Sarpy County, which lies partly in the 2nd District. There, Republicans outnumber Democrats by 10,000.

Boomer, Terry's campaign manager, also thinks the increasingly visible Obama effort will motivate Republicans, especially social conservatives, to turn out against him.

Walking through a heavily Republican working-class precinct in plastic ponchos, voter lists soaked by the rain, Anna Wolf and Gill Cromwell faced an uphill climb to win votes for Obama. Many people were not home. Others shook their heads firmly when asked if they would back the Illinois Democrat.
McCain is expected to win those precincts easily, but the young volunteers found a handful of possible supporters.

"I think he's more of the last eight years," said Tim Stastny, 31, a vending machine stocker, explaining why he plans to vote for Obama.

Postal worker Cheryl Foss, 48, was undecided. She has doubts about Obama's experience but prefers his middle-class tax cuts to McCain's focus on tax relief for wealthier Americans. McCain's choice of Palin particularly troubles Foss. She said of McCain, a 72-year-old melanoma survivor, "I'm afraid he might not be around and then it would be up to Palin."

More common in the neighborhood was deep skepticism about Obama.

Electrician Jeremy Miller, 30, thinks Obama would be a better president for the working class but believes the false reports that Obama -- a Christian born in Hawaii -- is actually a Muslim and a foreigner.

"Him not being an actual American, that's got me worried," Miller said. "This might be one of those years when I don't vote."

Cromwell, an 18-year-old volunteer, asked a woman whether she would support Obama.

"I doubt it," she answered.

Wolf, 22, an Obama staffer, asked whether she would like some campaign literature.

"No."

"We would encourage you to vote for Senator Barack Obama," Wolf politely persisted.
"We believe he is the only person who can help bring change to Washington."

She shut the door, and the pair headed out, walking uphill, in search of any stray potential Obama supporters.

[hjedtyj]

Since both signed off on $700 billion bailout that favors corporations, neither have a clue to solve economic crisis. I liked McCain bringing up Obama%u2019s vote to the 2005 Bush/Cheney Energy bill and how Obama and his cronies were the biggest benefactors of Fannie and Freddie Mae.

It is reported that CBS and NBC polls tilt to Obama with intentionally oversampling of African American democratic voters. Are other media polls legitimate too as they claim the same results?

Is it true that the candidate who bumps off mutual opponent will win in November regardless of debates, issues and poll numbers? Apparently the mutual opponent exposed corruption within both parties and is presently targeted. Will either party use the %u2019sweetheart exchange deals%u2019 where convicted felons are used to commit crimes/murders in exchange of less jail time, conveniently covered up and culprits never suspected? Will Dems use an OJ SImpson-like black convict with jail time to do the bumping off? Will GOP use a Guiliani-like mob ties similar to the ones used by his ex-NYPD commissioner who was indicted and may be jailed up to 140 years? Or Gotti, Jr. who is currently in midst of conspiracy and murder trial?

Do we have to worry about our personal safety too? For example, will our 4 hour car ride next Sunday be safe? Will our car wheels and brakes be tampered with? How about sleeping in the middle of the night inside our home as our habits and plans are known in advanced due to bugging devices?

[kansas1946]

"Ain''t going to happen," said Dave Boomer, campaign manager for Rep. Lee Terry (R), winner of five straight 2nd District races. Boomer predicted that, late one mid-October night, Obama state director John Berge "will call his staff in and say: ''We''re pulling out. We''re going to Scranton.''"
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Really. Hmmmm...we will see. Keep after em'' Barack. You already have Palin showing up in Omaha, a trip that the Republicans shouldn''t have to make. I live in Kansas and I know that my vote will probably not count, and the state will go to McCain, so one electoral vote from Nebraska would make me happy.