Note to Sen. Obama: Wake up and smell the change in Florida images.salon.com
Note to Sen. Obama: Wake up and smell the change in Florida
Added 839 days ago on May 17th, 2008
Memo to: Sen. Barack Obama
Re: Blowing off 27 electoral votes
Thanks for coming by next week for a three-day campaign swing, Senator.
There has been lots of chatter about you ceding Florida to Sen. John McCain, given the way you've ignored the state for eight months and dismissed the 1.75-million Democrats who voted in our disputed Democratic primary. We're trying not to take it personally when you keep talking about the old electoral map - i.e., Pennsylvania, Ohio and US! - being so 2000/2004.
But here's something you and your advisers might be missing: Florida is turning bluer by the day.
The trend is easy to miss when you see the popularity of our Republican governor, Charlie Crist. Add John Kerry's five-point loss here in 2004 and Jeb Bush's 2002 landslide re-election despite being the Democratic National Committee's top target, and nobody could blame you for thinking Florida is solidly Republican red.
Take a closer look, though, because the latest voter registration statistics show Florida's political landscape is shifting dramatically:
"This is a unique cycle for Florida. The competitive environment is like nothing we've ever seen, and it's up and down the ballot," Democratic strategist Steve Schale said. "Barack Obama's road map to the presidency ends right here."


Added by: Julia
Votes: 95
Ratings: 6
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You
Poll
Is Obama's strategy to ignore Florida the right one?
Yes, Florida will not be the deciding factor this year
17%
No, Mistake Florida's political landscape is shifting dramatically
83%
Closed on June 16th, 2008
This is not a scientific survey, click here to learn more. Results may not total 100% due to rounding and voting descrepencies.
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Posted by: Charles43
12:30pm, May 17th, 2008
Re: Note to Sen. Obama: Wake up and smell the...
News reporting today had mentioned that next week that Senator Obama was going to head to the sunshine state! Have I missed something?
Posted by: bish66
1:21pm, May 17th, 2008
Re: Note to Sen. Obama: Wake up and smell the...
Florida was the deciding factor in the 2000 election. It will be the deciding factor of 2008. Obama makes a big mistake by snubbing the voters in Florida. 1.75 million votes. that's more than 1/20s of all votes cast in the primaries so far. 27 electoral votes are 1/10 of what you need to win. and there are only a few prizes worth more than the Sunshine State.

Clinton would win the state against McCain, just as she would win Arkansas or Ohio or West Virginia against McCain. The ability to win the important swing states (and to pick up surprises) make her the better candidate.

The sad thing is that back in January, the party looked to be winning without any trouble. Now we have a presumptive candidate who decided to stop campaigning and to do without Florida and Michigan and West Virginia and maybe Kentucky.

The Democrats will win both houses, but McCain will win the White House.
Posted by: james2044
6:57pm, May 17th, 2008
Re: Note to Sen. Obama: Wake up and smell the...
I took YES, not for the reason given in the answer. Obama's chances of taking Florida sre slim to none. He is active in keeping the FL deligation from being seated at the convention and he has refused to dpen real time in the state. The Democrats in FL are being slammed by all of this and have little leverage with their members much less anyone else.
Posted by: Wackiekat2
4:34pm, May 24th, 2008
Re: Note to Sen. Obama: Wake up and smell the...
Senator Obama has disconnected from the voters of the US. He has stated he is bored with the primary process. His disount of WV and Kentucky are indicitive of his investment to the American people. He only looks at states where he believes he will benefit. He does not look at how he can help the voters benefit. He is arrogant and not Presidential material.
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