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Obama Urges Virginians to Bring Out the Vote for Democratic Gubernatorial Candidate Deeds
October 27, 2009 5:44 PM
ABC News' Karen Travers reports:
President Obama hit the trail for Virginia gubernatorial candidate Creigh Deeds this afternoon and urged people to get out and vote and ignore the polls and pundits.
"I don't believe in can't. I don't believe in giving up," Obama said at a rally at Old Dominion University in Norfolk.
Deeds is trailing Republican candidate Bob McDonnell by double digits in recent polling and Obama tried to strike an upbeat tone while acknowledging that Deeds has an uphill battle.
"We knew this was going to be tough," Obama said. "But even though Virginia's moving in the right direction, this is an evenly split state, pretty independent-minded folks. And that's good. That's healthy."
Obama won Virginia in last year's presidential election –the first time the state went Democratic since 1964.
The state appeared to be trending blue over the last few election cycles. Democrat Jim Webb defeated incumbent Republican Senator George Allen in 2006. Democrat Tim Kaine was elected governor in 2005 with a centrist approach that followed the example of outgoing Gov. Mark Warner, also a Democrat
Today he tried to cast Deeds in the same light as those popular Democratic governors.
"You'll have the chance to elect somebody who is cut from the very same cloth as Tim Kaine and Mark Warner; somebody who listens to folks, even when we don't always agree; somebody who focuses not on short-term politics, but on a practical, long-term vision. And that man is Creigh Deeds," the president said.
Obama struck a casual, folksy tone in his remarks and brought out of retirement "Cousin Pookie," a fictional reluctant voter who needs to be dragged out to the polls. Pookie often popped up in campaign speeches by candidate Obama last year, usually in the south.
Perhaps in an effort to appeal to the common man, Obama noted that Deeds is "not perfect."
"His tie gets a little askew His hair's a little frizzy," the president said. "I hope you'll vote based on how good a governor he's going to be for the people of Virginia
-Karen Travers
October 27, 2009 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (18)
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Posted by: Fascist Hyena | Oct 28, 2009 10:00:12 AM
Meanwhile, an interesting look at the WSJ/NBC poll from First Read:
"While impressions of Obama's professional performance are mixed, the same can't be said of the Republican Party at large. Put simply, the GOP's brand is still a mess. According to the poll, just 25% have a positive opinion of the party (compared with 42% for the Dem Party)... "
"only 23% approve of the way in which congressional Republicans have handled health care (compared with 43% for Obama). And looking ahead to the 2010 midterms, 46% prefer a Democratic-controlled Congress, versus 38% who want a GOP-controlled Congress. Last month, Dems held a 43% to 40% advantage."
Posted by: Alyson | Oct 28, 2009 10:31:23 AM
The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Wednesday shows that 30% of the nation's voters Strongly Approve of the way that Barack Obama is performing his role as President. Forty-one percent (41%) Strongly Disapprove giving Obama a Presidential Approval Index rating of -11.
Posted by: Fascist Hyena | Oct 28, 2009 10:00:12 AM
I'm shocked I tell you.
No mention of the mess he inherited?
Where was the socialist mop to clean up Bush's mess?
Posted by: larry | Oct 27, 2009 8:42:09 PM
Obama isn't campaigning for Deeds.
Obama is there for himself.
A loss for Deeds is a huge red flag for Obama.
Posted by: hank | Oct 27, 2009 8:39:13 PM
"They are still drinking the kool-aid."
_____________________________________
"kool-aid" - now that is clever! Did you think that up yourself? Wow, that is clever . . . good to see independent thinkers - not people parroting things like . .. oh like "kool-aid" drinkers would.
Posted by: julieterra | Oct 27, 2009 7:55:11 PM
President: your full time job is GOVERNING, not CAMPAIGNING ... Please bear that in mind.
Posted by: talk from sf | Oct 27, 2009 7:51:49 PM
Those people behind Obama..
You can see it in their faces.
They are still drinking the kool-aid.
Obama is going to take care of them.
He's going to save them.
Probably with some of that "Obama Money".
Posted by: millie | Oct 27, 2009 7:46:32 PM
Isn't Cousin Pookie one of those fictional characters registered by ACORN?
Posted by: larry | Oct 27, 2009 7:41:26 PM
If Virginia is "moving in the right direction", why is the Democrat double digits down in polls? Gravity?
Posted by: Sigmonde | Oct 27, 2009 7:41:20 PM
Where did Obama learn that folksy accent?
In Snakeoil School?
Posted by: kyle | Oct 27, 2009 7:37:54 PM
Come on Virginia,
Send a strong message to Obama.
You may have voted for him, but you don't like the direction he is taking our country.
Let Obama know:
You put him in the White House and you can take him out!
Posted by: hank | Oct 27, 2009 7:35:04 PM
ACORN is getting ready to fire up the buses. They'll drag anything with a pulse to the polls.
Posted by: luke | Oct 27, 2009 7:32:39 PM
Obama sounds very patronizing when he uses "Cousin Pookie" and other folksy mannerisms anytime he is in the south. It will turn off most independents.
Posted by: Jason | Oct 27, 2009 7:13:28 PM
Obama seems to be patronizing the people down here in Hampton Roads, maybe there are a few that will not see it that way, but I sure would be offended if I was at that rally. I think Deeds will likely be hurt more than helped by the Obama visit, the roads are bad enough here already without the Obama visit making the trip home today hell.
Posted by: Jason | Oct 27, 2009 7:11:42 PM
No need for turnout. Deeds has got it in the bag. ACORN & SEIU have his back.
Posted by: BCR | Oct 27, 2009 7:00:19 PM
Does this guy know he has a day job?
Posted by: betsy | Oct 27, 2009 6:15:48 PM
Getting a little worked up about a governor's race ... isn't he?
Posted by: Hmmmm | Oct 27, 2009 5:59:42 PM
Libs are on their way to defeat in Virginia, New Jersey, and NY-23 next week. The Obama regime is already a lame duck. Government run healthcare and Cap & Tax are dead.
Posted by: Vast Right Wing Conspiracy | Oct 27, 2009 5:56:08 PM
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