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Obama's Inner Circle

November 9, 2008 7:51 PM

Steve Kroft goes behind the scenes on election night to speak to the brains whose strategy propelled Barack Obama into the White House.

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by milzi43 November 13, 2008 2:57 AM EST
I worked on the campaign in Nevada and in Ohio. I have never seen a group of people so committed and hard working. I have never experienced such an organized, well trained group of people. People of all ages gave up their lives for the campaign with no pay. These folks went to new locations and stayed with strangers who took them in. At campaign headquarters and staging locations people who could not do the work themselves brought in food, supplies and good wishes. We did not go hungry. These volunteers worked tirelessly, sometimes 20 hours a day from the start of the campaign until the last day. In Ohio I was told that there were over 600 locations staffed with thousands of volunteers from all over the country.

The message of "Hope" is a much better message than the message of fear, hate and negativity that is the GOP and their mean spirited followers.

Obama will be a great President. He has quite a job to do cleaning up the mess of the bush regime with all of it''s corruption, greed and blame on everyone but themselves. There is a God after all.
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by sstg_goose November 13, 2008 1:35 AM EST
I don''t care that Obama won, being a Republican myself, but I still think that whoever should ever take the Oval Office should have the whole nation''s support, regardless of the margin of victory. The most important question is can this man do a good job? It no longer matters what his prior promises were, or where he went to church, or how he grew up, but if he can navigate our country through a time of crisis. And if he can, he will be one of the most celebrated presidents in the history of this nation.
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by sstg_goose November 13, 2008 1:15 AM EST
I don''t care that Obama won, being a Republican myself, but I still think that whoever should ever take the Oval Office should have the whole nation''s support, regardless of the margin of victory. The most important question is can this man do a good job? It no longer matters what his prior promises were, or where he went to church, or how he grew up, but if he can navigate our country through a time of crisis. And if he can, he will be one of the most celebrated presidents in the history of this nation.
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by sstg_goose November 13, 2008 12:52 AM EST
I don''t care that Obama won, being a Republican myself, but I still think that whoever should ever take the Oval Office should have the whole nation''s support, regardless of the margin of victory. The most important question is can this man do a good job? It no longer matters what his prior promises were, or where he went to church, or how he grew up, but if he can navigate our country through a time of crisis. And if he can, he will be one of the most celebrated presidents in the history of this nation.
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by sstg_goose November 13, 2008 12:41 AM EST
I don''t care that Obama won, being a Republican myself, but I still think that whoever should ever take the Oval Office should have the whole nation''s support, regardless of the margin of victory. The most important question is can this man do a good job? It no longer matters what his prior promises were, or where he went to church, or how he grew up, but if he can navigate our country through a time of crisis. And if he can, he will be one of the most celebrated presidents in the history of this nation.
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by cbs_bull November 12, 2008 6:49 AM EST
SiliconDoc, why do you worry so much about your new president''s childhood past, middle name, etc? I think we should focus on his ability to do a good job for the next 4 years. Oh, I see, that''s why we stuck with Bush/Chenney for 8 years...
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by SiliconDoc1 November 11, 2008 3:56 PM EST
I enjoyed the four campaign workers as people, and was surprised at Axelrod''s appearance, whom I''ve heard about. Beyond that I found the piece to be imaginary propaganda. Hitting on every percieved criticism with the opposite denial and effusive praise doesn''t make me a believer at all. I''ve checked the vote, including the primary, and found racism and race to be one key factor even against Hillary, and the youth vote duped up by the imaginary and empty "change" rhetoric to be the other. When in the interview the worker said Obama knew specifically what he wanted to say, I gagged, recalling the Grey Lady piece on the very young speechwriters, all three of them, not to mention the absolutely empty cleche''s of the campaign, a repeat of Kerry''s methods. Lies are the core of these interviews nowadays, pretty, dressed up lies. It is very sad to know this. This candidate won on whipped up hatred of the current President, along with a gigantic race card, there is absolutely no denying it. The press also hid his childhood past, his middle name, his destitute family members, and his associations.
It is sad to see a con job from start to finish, especially with what appears to be nice, and nicely dressed people in the midst and movement of all this dishonesty.
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by susaninga November 10, 2008 9:29 PM EST
As if I needed more evidence to be impressed!

In a word: Character.

The speech Obama gave on race where he explained that while he could not condone his statements he simultaneoudly could not reject his pastor resonated as truth for me. We''ve all encountered older people who are stuck in the past and every once in a while, when something monumental happens, for example O.J.''s acquittal for whites and Rodney King for blacks, their opinions, while seeming archaic today, are realized to be what they are: a result of their past experiences and the time they are from. Although it is rare (at least for me) to ever hear racism and hatred from other white people, there of course have been instances where I''ve heard them, particularly from older people at certain times of anger.

So....what he said about his pastor made sense to me. I just wish more politicians would just be as honest as President-elect Obama and speak from the heart. Most people know the truth and understand it when they hear it. And that helped him win.

Signed,
The politically Independent, middle-aged, white woman that McCain wanted and could not get ;)
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by sbl211 November 10, 2008 8:17 PM EST
I began supporting Obama in the very early stages of his exploration of his potential canidacy. My friends were, for the mostt part, for Hillary Clinton. This excitement was capped off by me attending a rally in St. Louis under the arch where 100,000 people were present. I can safely say I have not had this level of hope and excitement since the 1960''s. In fact, I find myself feeling a sense of activism in terms of the opportunity for change in terms of social justice and enviromental opportunities. The "abortion" of our people (I call the war,poverty,healthcare.etc neglect) an outrageous abortion of the peoeple ,where loss of lives due to poor policy and low priority attitudes have casued inumerable loss of lives. Surely the abortion of our peopele is about to change.

Respectfully Submitted,
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by woaf32x November 10, 2008 5:07 PM EST
When Ed Bradley passed, it was Steve Croft who seemed to me to be the most devestated. I watched the discussion with Team Obama just now and I kept seeing Croft''s tribute to his colleague... and Bradley giving Croft and "attaboy" with this "get." Well done, Mr. Croft... Ed is doubly proud, today.
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by SummerBreeze November 10, 2008 2:14 PM EST
What an AMAZING campaign-

I remember the Philadelphia speech- I pulled over my car and turned off the engine to listen. The speech, the vision revealed by President-Elect Obama in that speech gave me goosebumps. Still today, just hearing a few phrases from the speech I get goosebumps.

THANK YOU for this new leadership for our country, new hope for tomorrow! Yes, we can..... and will go forward to meet the enormous challenges ahead, with faith and courage and perhaps even sacrifice. With this new leadership, our irrepressible American spirit will lift this country to a new beginning !

Burke, VA
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by sandcrabby November 10, 2008 2:12 PM EST
As a social conservative, I am hoping that commentators like Limbaugh, Hannity and O''Reilly will stop being listened to as the conservative (mean spirited) voice of America. But I am also concerned that Carvel, Oberon and Maddow are gloating too much about the Left Wing victory and are doing damage also. Unity with thoughtful critiques is one thing. Nasty, disrespectful rhetoric needs to be called offsides for ALL commentators. Obama proposes unity and hope and a new beginning for a united America. That''s what we voted for, not far left wing agendas...as some want to believe.
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by mbmpro November 10, 2008 1:03 PM EST
I read the anger towards others, the comments that are simply childish and I say to you all, remember the candidate''s motto "no drama." Do you know think that Barack Obama expects a drumming now? Of course. He''ll be derided, there will be racism, there will be mistakes. But he is human, we are all human and he will rise above these issues to lead our country back into greatness. Have faith. Work hard. Remember, this is day 1, not the end of something, but the beginning. Stay the course, continue your optimism, continue your involvement, never say never, and remember failure is not an option.
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by peachy65 November 10, 2008 10:16 AM EST
Truth191 your comment stinks to high heaven!! How dare you say that about my president!! President-elect Obama is no gangster!! But he is a intelligent, caring man of faith who is willing to try and dig us out of this mess that Bush put us in. He surrounded himself with a great team of peoples. I agree with other peps comments finally we had a president who thinks before he acts unlike bush. Bush acted without thinking he started a war(s) that could have been avoided. Puke at will truth191 then take your puke can and throw it the garbage. You can JUMP ALONG IN the garbage with your. puke. Our president need our help and I intend helping.
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by cbs_bull November 10, 2008 7:32 AM EST
Great team work! Hopefully, America will walk out of the 8 years neo-con misery. (Don''t know why. The ABC News doesn''t allow me to post this on their site.)
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by sx1050-2009 November 10, 2008 7:24 AM EST
I feel like we''re just coming off the hangover now. We just got a dose of Tylenol and a tall glass of water.
Feel pretty good by Jan 20.
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by alancontact November 10, 2008 4:50 AM EST
"the country is in for some hang over
what a bunch of nonsense
the video said inexperienced on the nation scene?? what abt in experienced period??????"

Hey TRUTH191, you should go to school and learn how to spell. While you''re there, try taking a few courses in political science and perhaps some english classes as well. You write as though english is not your first language.

No one cares about your opinion if you don''t know how to articulate it so that it can be understood. Sorry about using BIG words... I''m not sure how to dumb it down so that YOU can understand what I''m saying.
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by rowsky9 November 10, 2008 2:38 AM EST
beautiful example of how mutual respect for each other and a concern for the good all (even those who are not yet mature enough to realize the immensity of this event) can solidify a force that even the naysayers can''t break.
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by freerange2 November 10, 2008 2:38 AM EST
I said all along, if McCain can''t run a campaign, how was he going to run a country? It is sad to see comments like those from "truth191" posted below - it is the perfect example of the dumbing down of Americans by the neocons and others on the right like the blowhards O''Reilley, Limbaugh and Hannity who spew their venom and have done so much damage to this country through their ignorant rants, lies and deceptions. It is time for Americans to wake up and stop listening to these fools.
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by rowsky9 November 10, 2008 2:37 AM EST
beautiful example of how mutual respect for each other and a concern for the good all (even those who are not yet mature enough to realize the immensity of this event) can solidify a force that even the naysayers can''t break.
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