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Obama Says Childers' Win is Proof of his MI Chances
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ShareMay 14, 2008 1:44 PM
ABC News' David Wright, Andy Fies and Sunlen Miller Report: Senator Obama used Congressman-elect Travis Childers’ win last night in a Mississippi special election as proof that he can beat John McCain in Michigan.
Obama, in his first visit to Michigan since June, told a Warren audience that regardless of the fierce Republican attacks, the Democratic candidate was still able to win over a Republican seat.
“They just lost an election yesterday in the heart of Mississippi,” Obama said of the Republicans, “They were trying to do every trick in the book to try to scare folks in Mississippi and it didn't work.”
The Republican party of Mississippi ran ads in the special election trying to link Childers with Obama– attempting to turn white conservatives away from voting for Childers.
“They did everything they could to, you know - they ran ads with my face on it and they said, 'oh you know look at this - you know former liberal and you know his former pastor said offensive things.'” Obama said referencing the Mississippi Republicans party’s ads which evoked his former pastor, Rev. Jeremiah Wright.
Obama argued that even with these tactics, the Democrat won in a Republican stronghold by eight points – which he claimed is proof that the chances for him, in a match up with McCain, in states like Mississippi are good.
“The reason it didn't work is because the American people know we need a new direction in Washington," said Obama. "That's why we're gonna win Michigan, that's why we're gonna beat John McCain here in Michigan."
This marks Obama’s first campaign event in Michigan since the state was stripped of its delegates because the state, like Florida, held its primary earlier than allowed by the DNC’s rules.
Obama reminded the crowd that his poor showing in the Michigan primary, which Clinton won, was because he was following the rules.
“Because of the whole hoopla around when Michigan held its primary, my name was not on the ballot," Obama said. "We did not do campaigning here and I just want to remind everybody that wasn't my choosing.”
Obama said that if he is the nominee he will guarantee that the Michigan delegation is seated at the convention.
The Senator unveiled a manufacturing agenda aiming to fuel innovation and boost the economy. Obama, wearing a flag pin, spent his morning meeting with workers and touring the Chrysler Stamping Plant in Sterling Heights, an attempt to woo key working class voters.
Obama focused all his criticisms in opening remarks on the presumed Republican candidate John McCain, “When John McCain came to Michigan in January and said that we couldn’t bring back all the jobs that we couldn’t bring back all the jobs that had been lost back to America, he was right. We can’t bring back every single job. But where he’s wrong was in suggesting that there’s nothing we can do to replace those jobs or create new ones.”
Watch video of Obama knocking McCain and discussing his job policy HERE.
Obama continued to tie McCain to George Bush’s policies of the last eight years – saying that’s “essentially giving up.”
The McCain camp released a statement today refutting Obama's claims.
"Senator Obama launched a partisan-style attack questioning John McCain's straight talk, without providing any evidence of his own leadership or experience on the issues that are hurting Michigan and states like it,” Tucker Bounds, McCain spokesman said in a paper statement.
May 14, 2008 in Kucinich, Dennis | Permalink | User Comments (78)
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Yup, but You, Mr. BHO, lost 41 points in a swing state, being presumed nominee. Do we have a problem here, duh?
Posted by: fool | May 14, 2008 1:47:55 PM
Boy this guy is arrogant. No mention of his 41% loss in the heart of Deomcratic America?
Posted by: geevill | May 14, 2008 1:48:24 PM
Boy this guy is arrogant. No mention of his 41% loss in the heart of Democratic America?
Posted by: geevill | May 14, 2008 1:48:32 PM
What he isn't saying is that Childers did everything he could to distance himself from Obama.
Posted by: Kris | May 14, 2008 1:54:44 PM
A person out of race for 5 months almost beat BO!!!!
Man, what the world is going on?
Posted by: Olbermnn3 | May 14, 2008 1:55:57 PM
Obama with his "typical" remarks....go figure!
Posted by: david from texas | May 14, 2008 1:58:36 PM
Democrats will win Michigan if Clinton is the nominee, otherwise, Michigan will go to McCain.
Posted by: david from texas | May 14, 2008 1:59:52 PM
"Obama said that if he is the nominee he will guarantee that the Michigan delegation is seated at the convention"
and if he is not the nominee he will give Michigan the finger like he gave Clinton and West Virginia.
Posted by: geevill | May 14, 2008 2:03:40 PM
Obama didn't win any swing states, didn't win any big states (except his home Illinois), didn't win blue-collar in any states.
Why do we want him to be nominee?
What are the superdelegates doing??
Posted by: golfgirlusa | May 14, 2008 2:10:40 PM
What's this about Chris Matthews calling HRC "The Al Sharpton of White People"?
Now that is funny.
Posted by: The IN-famous El Guapo | May 14, 2008 2:16:18 PM
White people don't matter; according to Obama and the democratic party.
Posted by: CJ | May 14, 2008 2:19:10 PM
Last time I checked MI was the abbreviation for Michigan and MS was Mississippi...
Posted by: Dem in Chicago | May 14, 2008 2:20:57 PM
Travis Childers of Mississippi espouses political views consistent with those of Pat Buchanan and Lou Dobbs. How does help Barack Obama in Mississippi?
Posted by: althusius | May 14, 2008 2:21:12 PM
Travis Childers denounced Obama; said he's never met him!
Posted by: CJ | May 14, 2008 2:23:57 PM
Barak is a loser. Too bad the dems won't wake up in time.
Dem who is now Indy.
Posted by: al | May 14, 2008 2:24:03 PM
Lets not forget West Virginia only has 28 delegates.
And Obama would not be the democratic nominee if he had a "white voters" problem.
He's only won 3-4 States with a heavy AA vote.
Obama has won the endorsement of 4 SDs today... WV who??? lol
Posted by: Vanessa | May 14, 2008 2:24:44 PM
The Dems will get what they deserve!
Posted by: CJ | May 14, 2008 2:25:17 PM
You're almost correct, although you undercounted by two.
I actually saw 59 stars. I guess he did say he had visited 57 but didn't go to Hawaii or Alaska. If I remember correctly.
Posted by: Brent | May 14, 2008 2:27:26 PM
“Because of the whole hoopla around when Michigan held its primary, my name was not on the ballot," Obama said. ....
???
He makes it sound like some passive accident, but he CHOSE to TAKE his name OFF the ballot. He should admit it - and then explain why.
Posted by: Davis | May 14, 2008 2:28:51 PM
Quite a thumping you took in WV yesterday, big BO. What makes you think Michigan will be any different?
Mississippi voted for Childers, not for you. In spite of you, BO, not because of you.
Posted by: Emily | May 14, 2008 2:31:26 PM
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