Clinton & Obama in WV

[LadyTevar]

Wednesday March 19, 2008
W.Va. could be recurring battleground in Clinton, Obama race
Hillary Clinton heading to Capital High today; Obama appearing at University of Charleston on Thursday


The contentious knockdown, drag-out between Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama is spilling into little 'ol West Virginia.

Starting today, these two final Democratic presidential contenders hope to woo West Virginia voters in what is likely the beginning of a round of appearances in the Mountain State.

Clinton, D-N.Y., was hosting a town hall meeting 2 p.m. today at the Capital High School gymnasium in Charleston. The event is free and open to the public. Doors open at noon.

Later, the former first lady was heading to Huntington for a 4:15 p.m. meeting with veterans. That event is by invitation only.

Her rival, Obama, D-Ill., will roll into Charleston to speak about Iraq and the economy on Thursday. That event is 11 a.m. at the University of Charleston Geary Auditorium, according to the candidate's Web site. That event is also free and open to the public, though a ticket is required because of limited seating.

Obama will then host a town hall meeting at the Beckley-Raleigh County Convention Center Arena at 4 p.m. Thursday. That event, too, is free and open to the public.

West Virginia Democratic Party Chairman Nick Casey figures this won't be the last time you'll see either candidate here because the two senators are engaged in a near deadlock.

"I'm delighted to see them," Casey said. "They're showing a great deal of respect to the West Virginia voters by visiting us now. They're not taking us for granted, and that shows you how important West Virginia is not only for the primary, but the general election as well."

With the state's primary not until May 13, many political officials and analysts are expecting the two to duke it out here two months beforehand.

In the overall race for the nomination, The Associated Press reports that Obama has 1,617 delegates to Clinton's 1,498 delegates. A candidate needs to secure 2,024 delegates to win the nomination. West Virginia has 39 delegates to the Democratic National Convention.

The state's significance in this battle is a rarity because historically the nomination has been determined by the time West Virginia's primary election comes around.

Some observers are comparing it to the state's Democratic nominee war between John F. Kennedy and Hubert Humphrey in 1960. Kennedy ended up winning West Virginia, a turning point for him, as he later became president.

"My guess is that the media will be attracted to cover West Virginia because of all the retrospective stories that can be done about the historic 1960 Democratic West Virginia primary, won by JFK," said Larry Sabato, one of the nation's top political scientists and director of the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia.

"Of course, the 2008 JFK-like candidate may wind up in the loser's column - an ironic twist on that slant."

But Sabato explained that capturing West Virginia, or any other individual state for that matter, wouldn't be enough to single-handedly push either candidate solidly toward the White House.

"Just as every state and delegate matters, it's unlikely that any state, large or small, can make that much difference as we wind up the primary season," he said. "Clearly, this nomination won't be determined for sure until after the season is over, barring some gigantic misstep or an unlikely Clinton loss in Pennsylvania."

That state's primary is April 22 and both candidates have already launched fierce campaigns there.

In West Virginia, Sabato foresees voters favoring Clinton. A poll released last month by Charleston-based Mark Blankenship Enterprises showed that West Virginia Democrats and Independents were more likely to vote for Clinton than Obama for nearly a two to one margin.

Sabato noted, "The demographics of the state are somewhat similar to those of other states she has carried, such as Ohio and Tennessee, with a large pool of low-to-middle income white voters, senior citizens, women-and a relative scarcity of African-Americans. Bill Clinton was always very popular in West Virginia, too."

At least one West Virginia congressional member will be on-hand to vouch support for one of the candidates.

U.S. Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., and his wife Sharon will campaign with Obama in Charleston and Beckley. Rockefeller, who's also a super delegate, has strongly endorsed Obama for several reasons, including his belief that he has a better shot than Clinton at defeating Republican contender John McCain. Rockefeller has also trumpeted Obama's character and his stances on intelligence and national security.

Regardless of his presidential preference, Rockefeller believes it's an exciting time for West Virginia voters.

"West Virginia is gearing up to play a pivotal role in the Democratic presidential race," Rockefeller said Tuesday. "That's why it's more important now than any time in recent history to get informed, get involved, and get voting. Ours is a unique state, and our voters will be bringing a distinct perspective to this race that hasn't yet been heard."

The only other West Virginia Congress member to officially endorse a candidate has been Rep. Nick Rahall. He, too, is backing Obama. But Rahall will be unable to campaign with Obama when he comes to West Virginia this week. The congressman is currently in Europe discussing coal and energy, said his spokeswoman Lara Cottingham.

Sen. Robert Byrd and Rep. Alan Mollohan, both D-W.Va., have not committed to either candidate.

Neither has Gov. Joe Manchin, who has offered to introduce both Clinton and Obama at their respective appearances this week. .

"He's made it known that he welcomes both to the state," said Manchin spokeswoman Lara Ramsburg.

Now... I would like to point out two things.
Clinton will be at a HIGH SCHOOL.
Obama will be at a UNIVERSITY, in the very auditorium that JFK kicked off his WV campaign.

Now, in a town which has a large civic center, an auditorium, and a state-of-the-art, brand new broadway-capable theatre downtown, WTF is Clinton going to a HIGH SCHOOL?! The students can't even VOTE!

[Glocksman]

Heh....she's doing the same thing here tomorrow at my old high school.
I certainly hope we'll draw Obama to town before our May primary.


Goddamn, I'm not used to our primary actually meaning anything in a Presidential race.

[Coyote]

High school auditoriums, being typically smaller, will pack 'em in to look more crowded. Poor Hillary. It's because they hate women, and Obama wants an extra pillow.

[LadyTevar]

From a co-worker's granddaughter, who got to see Clinton's speech:

I don't know ... what she said while the cameras were on was pretty good, but what she said when the cameras turned off I didn't like. I'd not vote for her, just for that.

Unfortunately, the granddaughter would not repeat what HRC said off-camera.

[LadyTevar]

Headline in today's morning paper:

Tickets to See Obama Sold Out

(note, the tickets were free, but the auditorium only holds so many. Only those with tickets will be allowed inside.)

[Jadeite]

Now... I would like to point out two things.
Clinton will be at a HIGH SCHOOL.
Obama will be at a UNIVERSITY, in the very auditorium that JFK kicked off his WV campaign.

Now, in a town which has a large civic center, an auditorium, and a state-of-the-art, brand new broadway-capable theatre downtown, WTF is Clinton going to a HIGH SCHOOL?! The students can't even VOTE!

Ahem:



That's an Obama rally from last week, at my old high school. Of all the things to criticize Clinton for, this isn't one of them.

[CaptainChewbacca]

Now... I would like to point out two things.
Clinton will be at a HIGH SCHOOL.
Obama will be at a UNIVERSITY, in the very auditorium that JFK kicked off his WV campaign.

Now, in a town which has a large civic center, an auditorium, and a state-of-the-art, brand new broadway-capable theatre downtown, WTF is Clinton going to a HIGH SCHOOL?! The students can't even VOTE!

Ahem:

That's an Obama rally from last week, at my old high school. Of all the things to criticize Clinton for, this isn't one of them.

They're not criticizing her just for speaking at a highschool. They're criticizing her for holding a rally in a highschool auditorium when there are larger venues available so the place she goes will be 'packed'. I imagine Obama went there to actually talk to Students.

[The Original Nex]

When politicians go to smaller towns there simply aren't any large venues for them to go to to speak, so they go to high schools because they tend to have the largest spaces. Being at a high school doesn't mean you are speaking to students, it just means that the high school gym or auditorium is best venue in that town. Many town meetings are conducted in High School auditoriums too; it has nothing to do with reaching out to students, and everything to do with the SPACE. My bet is that there will be a day in which Hillary is speaking at a larger venue while Obama is at a HS.

[Glocksman]

When politicians go to smaller towns there simply aren't any large venues for them to go to to speak, so they go to high schools because they tend to have the largest spaces. Being at a high school doesn't mean you are speaking to students, it just means that the high school gym or auditorium is best venue in that town. Many town meetings are conducted in High School auditoriums too; it has nothing to do with reaching out to students, and everything to do with the SPACE. My bet is that there will be a day in which Hillary is speaking at a larger venue while Obama is at a HS.

She's speaking here today in a 2500 seat HS gym (my old HS, btw), while the 12,500 seat municipal stadium, 8500 seat amphitheater, and 2500 seat county convention center auditorium go unused.

The rally here isn't being held in a HS gym because of lack of available space.

[The Original Nex]

Glocksman:

Well then perhaps there is more to it than I thought. It is certainly interesting that Hillary is resorting to smaller spaces when a larger venue is available. At the same time, my point remains that going to High Schools for rallies isn't a sign of a poor campaign, and there is certainly something to be said for smaller crowds in a more intimate setting.

[Glocksman]

Glocksman:

Well then perhaps there is more to it than I thought. It is certainly interesting that Hillary is resorting to smaller spaces when a larger venue is available. At the same time, my point remains that going to High Schools for rallies isn't a sign of a poor campaign, and there is certainly something to be said for smaller crowds in a more intimate setting.

There is, and that's why she does it.
If Obama comes to town like many local Democrats are predicting he will (our primary is May 6), it'll be interesting to see which venue he uses.

[Mange]

A small question, is it possible for Obama to recover from the Wright issue?

[Edward Yee]

High school auditoriums, being typically smaller, will pack 'em in to look more crowded.

This is discussed in pro wrestling on the business side as well (promotional pride vs. financial prudence) and thus it's no surprise for me to see it in politics.

[Cairber]

A small question, is it possible for Obama to recover from the Wright issue?

I think so, all the polls we are seeing right now are from the height of the pastor thing but BEFORE the speech he gave. I am betting that next week we will see improved Obama numbers, esp if he stays on focus with Iraq.

[Coyote]

Obama's response, his speech just a couple days ago, seems to have made up for the damage. Hell, in the long run, the whole thing may well have ended up doing him a sort of favor.

Imagine how Hils would have reacted to something similar [insert screeching Harpy image here].

[MKSheppard]

Not to mention that you know, High schools are more dense than universities, and tend to be in areas where people ACTUALLY VOTE. Universities are in "college towns", where virtually nobody votes.

[LadyTevar]

Not to mention that you know, High schools are more dense than universities, and tend to be in areas where people ACTUALLY VOTE. Universities are in "college towns", where virtually nobody votes.

When the 'college town' is the State Capitol, you can bet your bottom that the vote gets out, Shep. Now, Morgantown and Huntington (WVU & Marshall) might have that problem, but not the University of Charleston.

Still, Obama gave a great speech, not his normal stump speech, but pointing out how the War in Iraq is tied to economics back here.

"When you're spending over $50 to fill up your car because the price of oil is four times what it was before Iraq, you're paying a price for this war,'' Obama said. "When Iraq is costing each household about $100 a month, you're paying a price for this war.''

[MKSheppard]

Still, Obama gave a great speech, not his normal stump speech, but pointing out how the War in Iraq is tied to economics back here.

Yeah, what a fucking idiot Obama is. IRAQ has everything to do with the price of gasoline; not teh Asian economies like china rapidly automobiling up?

Next, he'll complain that concrete and construction rebar is expensive because of Iraq

[Darth Wong]

Still, Obama gave a great speech, not his normal stump speech, but pointing out how the War in Iraq is tied to economics back here.

Yeah, what a fucking idiot Obama is. IRAQ has everything to do with the price of gasoline; not teh Asian economies like china rapidly automobiling up?

Next, he'll complain that concrete and construction rebar is expensive because of Iraq

Actually, the price of oil is much higher than what it would be due to supply and demand alone. The substantially increased price premium is due to investors engaging in risk speculation, ie- the price of commodities goes sharply up when investors fear that the source is unstable.

In short, political instability does cause sharp price increases in related commodities, irrespective of supply and demand.

[K. A. Pital]

IRAQ has everything to do with the price of gasoline; not teh Asian economies like china rapidly automobiling up?

Both have; one reason does not invalidate the other.