Comments on: Barack Obama to speak at Colorado State University today

By: Historiann

Historiann — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 03:01:46 +0000

Rendell is a decent guy–I remember when he was first elected mayor of Philadelphia, back in my grad school days. He seemed so earnest, hard-working, and wonkish, that he could deliver bad news and the people would say, “well, he must be right, let’s fix this problem his way.” That’s how anti-glamour can work for a politician–he’s clearly not in this line of work for the adulation and fawning crowds, so maybe there’s something to this guy after all?

(Just a theory of mine about Ed Rendell.)

By: Indyanna

Indyanna — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 02:58:17 +0000

Obama’s not quite as far ahead here as in Colorado, Historiann, but an average of several polls today is suggesting that about 11 % may not be too far off the number. Ed Rendell is coming over here to soft coal country on Wednesday evening to make sure that support does not go soft at the last minute. I’ll try to check in on the event and report if there’s anything noteworthy stirring. It shouldn’t be necessary to camp out. Our gov is a pretty popular guy, but I wouldn’t be looking for any camp meeting dynamics.

By: Historiann

Historiann — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 00:09:51 +0000

Mary, thanks for the on-site report. If anyone else is a local who was up there, I’d like to hear your impressions. (I think ej was there briefly, and will try to file a report.)

By: mary

mary — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 22:49:12 +0000

I got to see so of the action up close. (I didn’t attend though—I was stuck grading papers from an apartment on campus.) The turnout was truly incredible. The line stretched all the way from the Oval to Prospect Road. Many people (including John’s brother) parked near the Oval only to discover they had to make a nearly two mile trek to the end of the line.

Some McCain/Palin supporters showed up only too be booed. One appeared to be dressed as a Cat?!

People are still filing out now.

By: Historiann

Historiann — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 22:05:10 +0000

I find it hard to believe that Obama is doing better than a 12-point margin in Pennsylvania, but I guess we’re getting all the love this year because we’ve been a solid Red state in the Bush years. This year, we’re poised to have 2 Dem U.S. Senators; maybe a 5-2 split in our congressional delegation D to R; and a Dem Governor, Assembly, and State Senate. That’s pretty true-blue by my lights, and quite a change from when I moved here 7 years ago. At that point, it was the opposite of how it may be in 9 days’ time: the Governor, Assembly, and State senate were all Republican, we had 2 Republican U.S. Senators, and our congressional delegation was 5-2 Republicans to Dems. That’s a remarkable turnaround, but then I suppose we can credit George W. Bush for trashing the R brand, even here in Colorado.

By: Indyanna

Indyanna — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 20:39:10 +0000

This is the kind of attention we thought we’d be getting up here in the west slope of the Alleghenies. I guess we went too blue, too soon. I think they calibrate the prospects by weighting not only current polling but also outcomes in recent four year cycles, and by that measure, CO, NV, and NM should indeed be getting the emphasis. If youse can hold the fort out there in Fort C., I think we can deliver this part of the Rust Belt.

I just heard from a well-placed source in Arkansas. The Big Dog is going in there this week. They think it’s purple at best at this point, but will be doing what they can to flip it over.

NB: Jefferson said whoever was in possession of New Orleans must infallibly be “our natural and habitual enemy.” This was before he bought it, of course. It looks like liberation could come within ten days down there.