AFL-CIO Vows To Mount Enormous Get Out The Vote Operation
An AFL-CIO official sends over some detail about its planned get-out-the-vote operation, which the labor federation will be announcing a bit later this morning.
If AFL makes good on its vow, which is to mount the biggest operation in its history, it will be lending an enormous boost to Obama in the battleground states.
AFL promises to deploy an army of 250,000 volunteers in 20 states, including shifting resources to new toss-up states like North Carolina and Indiana, its spokesperson, Steve Smith, says.
AFL is also promising a new, micro-targeted approach to very specific swing constituencies, such as working class veterans, retirees and gun owners -- groups which have already been targeted by the union and will receive what the AFL official calls "intense communication" in the final stretch.
Such micro-targeting may be paying off already. Smith tells us that AFL's internal polling shows improvement among those very groups, with Obama building a sizable lead over McCain among active gun owners, veterans, and Appalachian voters in Ohio and Pennsylvania.
Between the AFL-CIO and Obama's campaign ground-game, I think that we might see record numbers of voters turning out this year.
This is definitely a good thing! :)
http://thepajamapundit.com/
October 21, 2008 9:51 AM | Reply | Permalink
they really have been incredible this year
October 21, 2008 9:59 AM | Reply | Permalink
Having the gun owner, veteran, and Applachian constituency taken away from them has really narrowed Repub options in terms of their ability to GOTV.
They are reduced to older white evangelicals, racists who won't listen to reason, and relatives of McCain/Palin, at that point.
October 21, 2008 10:08 AM | Reply | Permalink
The way relatives of Palin are reproducing, "Palin relatives" might be a sizable voting bloc.
October 21, 2008 10:11 AM | Reply | Permalink
LOL!
October 21, 2008 10:33 AM | Reply | Permalink
Not sure if this has already been posted, but thought it worth passing along: A dead bear was found in North Carolina draped with Obama signs. WTF?
http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200881020067
http://pufferfish.typepad.com/
October 21, 2008 10:00 AM | Reply | Permalink
Danny, another weird story I read last night that is not Obama related, but still very strange - an Arkansas news caster who is a very attractive woman, had a bit part in W. They found her in her house beat to a pulp Monday.
They don't know why. It could be unrelated to her part in the movie but last I read they didn't know cause she was unconscious.
October 21, 2008 10:07 AM | Reply | Permalink
I bet it was Ted Stevens and the ghost of Lee Atwater! The bear obviously symbolizes the communist threat and the anchorwoman symbolizes the Oppressive Left Wing Media(tm) both of which are part of the Global Muslim Cabal(also TM) conspiring to deny John McCain his rightful place at the Desk of Destiny(c)(r)(tm)
I loves me a good conspiracy! Yippee!
;-)
October 21, 2008 10:15 AM | Reply | Permalink
I don't know that there is anything at all conspiratorial, but it sure struck me that she'd had a part in W, which I take it is not the most flattering picture of W. And boom - they find her with a bloody head.
I can't find anything else about it this morning. It's almost invariable someone the person knows and not a conspiracy. But I found it curious just the same -
October 21, 2008 10:23 AM | Reply | Permalink
It's plausible enough for me to dust off my semi-retired tin-foil hat.
October 21, 2008 10:44 AM | Reply | Permalink
Democracy is on the move & will not be denied.
October 21, 2008 10:03 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yup Yup!!!!
October 21, 2008 10:05 AM | Reply | Permalink
Hey, Tena--have you voted your absentee ballot yet? I'm heading over after work to vote this afternoon. First time I've ever voted early, but even in this solidly red state (UT) we may actually be able to make some inroads this year.
October 21, 2008 10:16 AM | Reply | Permalink
Today. I'm going to pick it up at my friend's office where I had it sent which I realize was really smart since it came so fast - which never happens here - and I'm overnighting that puppy back to Dallas FedEx.
Yes we're making a difference. If you look at the numbers over the last 2 elections - '04 and '06, it's a steady progression back to blue.
We'll at least be purple, I think.
October 21, 2008 10:20 AM | Reply | Permalink
Pollster.com has BO polling at almost 30% here which is really wild. It'll be interesting to see if it has any affect on the local races, as the Republicans here have been dealing with some nasty ethical/racist/etc. issues left over from the last legislative session. Go Barak/Joe!
October 21, 2008 10:35 AM | Reply | Permalink
It should - but you're sitting in the middle of the most liberal area of the state. Y'all sent Lloyd Doggett to Congress.
Your problem is the redistricting which carved Austin into really weird pieces because it is a Democratic voting area. We have to fight extra hard because they fucking gerrymandered the shit out of Texas.
So we fight the red state mind set and the gerrymandering.
IT's tough fight and we don't get the credit we deserve for winning what we win ALL BY OURSELVES.
October 21, 2008 10:41 AM | Reply | Permalink
Obama enters October with $133.6 million in hand
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/C/CAMPAIGN_MONEY?SITE=CONGRA&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT
October 21, 2008 10:04 AM | Reply | Permalink
IF there's one thing I'm sick of hearing out of McLame, it's this whine over Obama's fund raising.
Does John McLame know how to do anything other than whine and throw fits?
October 21, 2008 10:31 AM | Reply | Permalink
It will be interesting to see how the overwhelming turn out works in practice. Many states have had such low numbers in the past that long lines will be the rule rather than the exception.
Some of those mega ballots won't help things.
As a counter example of how elections are run. Here in France there is only the election for one office at a time. All votes are on Sunday. Each voter puts a pre printed slip with the name of one candidate in an envelope then after they have been approved they place the envelope in the urn. Polls close at 6 and by 8 there are the results.
October 21, 2008 10:12 AM | Reply | Permalink
I'd say he has sufficiently closed the deal with the working class white voters.
October 21, 2008 10:22 AM | Reply | Permalink
Agreed. His margin will be greater among union voters, but even among non-union workers, he'll get enough votes to win.
October 21, 2008 10:28 AM | Reply | Permalink
I am so disappointed in MSM...I Hope they can get the truth out
Why are they allowing McCain to run with his lies?
First he lies about Joe the Plumbers
Then He Lies about Obama's Tax for small businesses
Then He Lies about captial gain tax cuts
Then he Lies about people who do not pay taxes, getting money from people who do
WHEN DO YOU SAY STOP THE LYING, THESE ARE HARD TIMES AND PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW HOW OR WHO IS TELLING THE TRUTH...HOW I MISS TIM RUSSERT, HE WOULD BE THERE TO LET PEOPLE OTHER THAN COMPUTER USERS KNOW THE TRUTH, NO MATTER WHAT.
Please, who ever is in charged, now is the time to help everyone.
October 21, 2008 11:10 AM | Reply | Permalink
Tires being slashed in NC. The beating of the actress who had a bit part in "W". Other threats and intimidation.
So far I've been fairly safe when I've gone canvassing, but should I start carrying a gun! Pepper spray at least. OMG
October 21, 2008 12:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
Another labor effort in the campaign -- a :30 fire fighters union spot attacking McShame's health plan:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlHrS9o2vS4
October 21, 2008 2:42 PM | Reply | Permalink