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The Note: For a Night, No Avoiding Obama Message

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October 29, 2008 8:54 AM

ABC News' Rick Klein reports in Wednesday's Note:

While you’re watching (or not watching) the Great Roadblocked Obama Show over on those other networks -- framed by a “World News” interview, a “Daily Show” appearance, and other entertainment known informally as Late Night with Bill and Barack -- pause to consider the plight of Team McCain six days out.

No cash to respond in kind. No loyalties to enforce kindnesses. No kind of consistent message to refocus the race.

Yet something may shift yet in this campaign -- and that still-softish middle is Sen. Barack Obama’s audience for his unique infomercial Wednesday night.

Maybe this is a silly waste of money and time (and at $3 million and 30 minutes, it a lot of both). Maybe Malia Obama isn’t the only American who wants her programming lineup intact. Maybe this is just too weird, or too boring, or too Ross Perot (one “deep voodoo” reference, and we click), for an electorate to swallow.

(And maybe this is an odd time for Obama to be attacking Gov. Sarah Palin so directly in a TV ad -- wink and all.)

Read the rest of The Note -- and get all the latest on the 2008 election, Congress, the White House and the wide world of politics every day -- from Rick Klein by bookmarking this link.


But Wednesday’s primetime buy can be Obama’s most valuable type of forum -- the kind where he gets to look like a president. It’s a fireside-chat moment, in front of that most sacred of American boxes -- Obama’s last best opportunity to appear presidential before he actually might get a chance to be president.

“At times he will speak directly into the camera about his 20-month campaign, at others he will highlight everyday voters, their everyday troubles, and his plans to address them,” writes The New York Times’ Jim Rutenberg, who got to see a one-minute trailer of the 30-minute address.

Rutenberg: “The trailer is heavy in strings, flags, presidential imagery and some Americana filmed by Davis Guggenheim, whose father was the campaign documentarian of Robert F. Kennedy. As the screen flashes scenes of suburban lawns, a freight train and Mr. Obama seated at a kitchen table with a group of white, apparently working-class voters, Mr. Obama says: ‘We’ve seen over the last eight years how decisions by a president can have a profound effect on the course of history and on American lives; much that’s wrong with our country goes back even farther than that.’ ”

Obama continues, “We’ve been talking about the same problems for decades and nothing is ever done to solve them. For the past 20 months, I’ve traveled the length of this country, and Michelle and I have met so many Americans who are looking for real and lasting change that makes a difference in their lives.”

“This is going to be more like a television show, rather than a speech, top Obama campaign officials tell ABC News,” per ABC’s George Stephanopoulos. “We're going to see a ‘lively half-hour of television,’ one Obama aide told ABC News, speaking only half tongue-in-cheek.”

Continue reading today's Note by clicking HERE.

ABC News' Hope Ditto contributed to this report.

October 29, 2008 in Ballotwatch, Biden, Joe, Clinton, Bill, McCain, John, Obama, Barack, Palin, Sarah, Romney, Mitt, Vote 2008: Democrats, Vote 2008: Republicans, Washington, White House | Permalink | User Comments (117)

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"No avoiding Obama message? Really? I've managed to avoid it for months. I just switch channels or tune it out. I figured this charlatan out a long time ago. Half hour of prime time just confirms what I already figured out - loads of money coming from God knows where. Half a billion dollars from college kids on the internet? Come on. Only the deluded Obamabots will buy that sh$T."

...

So you never listened to him AND you figured him out. Sounds pretty fair and balanced.

Is it "deluded Obamanots" or is it the largest grassroots effort in the history of politics"?

Posted by: Reason | Oct 29, 2008 9:45:10 AM

Republicans have done their part to bring division and hate to this country, thank you, I don't need to watch Obama tonight, I already voted for him, the last eight years have been a nightmare, losing jobs, losing homes, high gas prices, just need to make a change....

Posted by: Paul T. | Oct 29, 2008 9:49:45 AM

E_DAY - 6: ELECTORAL COLLEGE EV POLLS

2008
Obama 364
McCain 157
Tie 17

2004
Bush 281
Kerry 236
Tie 21

State-by-State Polls Are What Matters And Always Predict The Winer.

Source: http://www.electoral-vote.com/

Posted by: Steve_NJ | Oct 29, 2008 9:50:07 AM

ABC's "Pushing Daisies" will have record ratings for this evening.

Posted by: Watch ABC | Oct 29, 2008 9:50:27 AM

"I think people are finally realizing this guy is a great speaker and nothing more! His true agenda is coming out over the last couple of weeks with Joe the Plumber/1196 Speach/2001 Interview all about spreading the wealth. His relationship with Rashid Khalidi/Tony Rezko/Bill Ayers. Why are all these people keeping silent? Now we have his Birth Certificate under seal by the Govenor of Hawai, and proff that Rezko was funded by a bagman for Sadam Husain. The LA Times not releasing a tape of Obama addressing a pro Palestinians event for his good friend Khalidi? Too much Obama is covering up and the people of America are starting to ask "IF YOU HAVE NOTHING TO HIDE, WHY?" "

---

Why do you fall for all that stuff? Empty you inbox and stop watching Fox News. Obama's got so much positive energy and is a very nice man who loves his family.

Attacking him is like attacking a teddy bear.

Posted by: Reason | Oct 29, 2008 9:51:13 AM

How could anyone vote for someone who accuses people of bias if they speak his middle name? Wake up, America, before all your rights are gone!

Posted by: tina | Oct 29, 2008 9:52:07 AM

McCain = DISHONORABLE; Palin = SCARY!!!

Posted by: Howard Gallas | Oct 29, 2008 9:52:47 AM

Break away from the madness people and watch something else:
ABC has on Pushing Daisies
BIO has on The Horrors of Hussein(for those that are too young or do not remember)
Animal Planet has on Animal Witness (for you PETA fans)
There are also reruns: Law & Order;The Cosby Show; House etc
The point is, if you are as sick of seeing and hearing about Obama as a lot of people are; turn the channel.

Posted by: Sarah | Oct 29, 2008 9:54:25 AM

If you go right now and donate online to Obama under the name Aldolf Hitler his campaign will accept the donation. That is where he gets his money. He is unethical. He did not keep his promise on campaign financing. He is so unAmerican that he will delay the start of the World Series. He asks people to take the day off of work to vote for him utterly unaware that companies cannot afford to have people out of work. He changed the American seal on his plane to some New World seal. He gets a pass from ABC News on fundraising. When he wins- you better get in the food line early because it will be a long cold depression.

Posted by: Cameron | Oct 29, 2008 9:55:36 AM

Either watch it or rent a DVD. I, for one, am looking forward to hearing what Mr. Obama has to say when he's not being interrupted by a sputtering, spitting, angry old man who keeps shouting campaign bumper sticker slogans. Many of us have contributed whatever we can to give Obama the opportunity to address us like this.

Posted by: paintpaintpaint | Oct 29, 2008 9:57:48 AM

I would never get sick of seeing an intelligent, articulate president with a real plan. Bush, yes. The prospective of a bumbling McCain repeating himself over and over and avoiding real answers - definitely.

Obama/Biden baby! Pennsylvania is blue all the way!

Posted by: PA | Oct 29, 2008 9:58:42 AM

To the people hating on Obama:
"Dear Red States: We've decided we're leaving. We intend to form our own country, andwe're taking the other Blue States with us. In case you aren't aware,that includes California, Hawaii, Oregon, Washington, Minnesota,Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois and all the Northeast. We believe this split will be beneficial to the nation, and especially to the people of the new country of New California.To sum up briefly: You get Texas, Oklahoma and all the former slavestates. We get stem cell research and the best beaches. We get the Statue of Liberty. You get Dollywood. We get Intel and Microsoft. Youget WorldCom. We get Harvard. You get Ole' Miss. We get 85 percent ofAmerica's venture capital and entrepreneurs. You get Alabama. We get two-thirds of the tax revenue, you get to make the red states pay their fair share. Since our aggregate divorce rate is 22 percent lower than the Christian Coalition's, we get a bunch of happy families. You get abunch of single moms. Please be aware that Nuevo California will be pro-choice and anti-war, and we're going to want all our citizens back from Iraq at once. If you need people to fight, ask your evangelicals. They have kids they're apparently willing to send to their deaths for no purpose, and they don't care if you don't show pictures of their children's caskets coming home. We do wish you success in Iraq , and hope that the WMDs turn up, but we're not willing to spend our resources in Bush's Quagmire. With the Blue States in hand, we will have firm control of 80 percent of the country's fresh water, more than 90 percent of the pineapple and lettuce, 92 percent of the nation's fresh fruit, 95 percent of America's quality wines (you can serve French wines at state dinners)90 percent of all cheese, 90 percent of the high tech industry, mostof the U.S. low-sulfur coal, all living redwoods, sequoias andcondors, all the Ivy and Seven Sister schools plus Stanford, CalTech and MIT. With the Red States, on the other hand, you will have to cope with 88 percent of all obese Americans (and their projected health care costs), 92 percent of all U.S. mosquitoes, nearly 100 percent of the tornadoes, 90 percent of the hurricanes, 99 percent of all Southern Baptists, virtually 100 percent of all televangelists, Rush Limbaugh, Bob Jones University, Clemson and the University of Georgia. We get Hollywood and Yosemite, thank you. Additionally, 38 percent of those in the Red states believe Jonah was actually swallowed by a whale, 62 percent believe life is sacredunless we're discussing the death penalty or gun laws, 44 percent say that evolution is only a theory, 53 percent that Saddam was involved in 9/11 and 61 percent of you crazy bastards believe you are people with higher morals then we lefties. Finally, we're taking the good pot, too. You can have that dirt weedthey grow in Mexico. Peace out,Blue States" I believe that sums it up.

Posted by: Laura | Oct 29, 2008 9:59:28 AM

No Avoiding? LOL. I guess it if you are addicted to that thing in you living room.

But it hardly matters what those of us who have mad up our minds what we think, watch or don't watch, what matters is those who have yet decided think. Will they watch? Probably

Posted by: Thinking | Oct 29, 2008 9:59:58 AM

Anyone who is not an Obama supporter should simply not have their TV for this 30 minute info commercial. Take a walk, read a book, play a game. Wash your hair, do your laundry, anything but watch TV. Just my way of saying thanks, but no thanks to the useless Democratic party who have managed to do absolutely nothing for the American people since President Clinton left office.

Posted by: neo | Oct 29, 2008 10:03:03 AM

Laura...here here!!! I love you. When are we moving?!

Last time I drove through a red state I was practically run off the road by an old redneck who thought going 65 in a 40 was too slow. He was obviously drunk, honking and swearing, and gave my elderly mother the finger as he passed us on the right hand shoulder of the road and proceeded to drive into a field. He "proudly" displayed his confederate flag in the back of his pickup window, along with his gun rack. It was quite a welcome to the South.

Posted by: Amy | Oct 29, 2008 10:07:33 AM

Laura, that has to be the best post I've ever read. Thank you.

Posted by: PennsylvaniaBlue | Oct 29, 2008 10:12:18 AM

"looking forward to hearing what Mr. Obama has to say'


Obama said it is a shame the Supreme Court does not manadate his socialist spread the wealth agenda. You can hear for yourself on you tube.

Posted by: geevill | Oct 29, 2008 10:15:22 AM

Obama has nothing but words... and frankly, we've heard enough. He has No Qualifications Whatsoever upon which to run (save for a GretBlackHope and a WhiteRacistGuilt)His greatest achievement appears to be his ability to LIE, cover up, justify, reframe (and throw his friends under the bus). He lies about who he is, whom he chose for pals, his wrok product, his school work, his voting record, his writing, his BELIEFS! Everything he has done in this race - starting ith the false narrative of Dreams (written by Ayers to construct a "struggling black" fairytale) has been to protect and defend a LIE. If that's what you want to lead your country, then you deserve it. He is a fraud and he will bring a massive group of fraudsupporters with him into office. You don't know one thign about him (except what people have been able to dig up on their own) and you are placing your trust in his words...

Posted by: gael | Oct 29, 2008 10:15:46 AM

Obama wants to control your income just like he is trying to control what you watch on TV. what kind of egomanic dictator in the making monopolizes Tv channels like this?

Posted by: geevill | Oct 29, 2008 10:17:08 AM

Here in Missouri armed sherriffs like Glen Boyer of Jefferson County, and St. Louis County prosecutors like Jennifer Joyce and Bob McCullough, have enlisted as members of the “Obama Truth Squad.” Their goal is to “address” any statements or writings that they deem “untrue” about Barack Obama. They don’t spell out exactly how they will address these so-called “untrue” statements about their Messiah, but the fact that they have guns and/or legal powers is a little scary. Isn’t this the kind of thing that happened in Nazi Germany? I’m a Democrat, but I find Barack Obama frightening. Almost as frightening as the people who blindly follow him.

Posted by: Jeff County Red Neck | Oct 29, 2008 10:19:51 AM

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