Barack Obama

Conventional wisdom shows us that when a politician makes a personal connection with a citizen, and provides a personal service – the politician will gain that citizen’s support regardless of whatever differences they may have on the issues. Fortunately, that one enduring quality didn’t faze me in the least and I’ve spent most of my professional life fighting everything that Senator Helms stood for.

There are currently fifteen of us. One I know. We had a few beers at Natty's after last October's ConvergeSouth. He's a first rate thinker and journalist, so I'm encouraged.

On-line tool available for NC canvassing available on my.barackobama.com

Celebrate Graig Meyer's Birthday and
Support Barack Obama!!

Sunday, July 13
2:30-5:30 PM
The Station at Southern Rail in Carrboro (adjacent to Weaver Street Market)

This event frontpaged by James

(cross-posted at dKos)

Public Policy Polling confirms what we already knew--North Carolina is in play presidentially. However, news from the Senate race here isn't quite as encouraging.

On the presidential side, McCain only leads Obama 45-41--just one point over the margin of error. Barr gets 5 percent. Note, this is a Democratic polling firm--but as with the last poll from NC, from a Republican polling firm, there's virtually no good news for McCain.

On the Senate side, however, Liddy Dole appears to be pulling away from Kay Hagan. She now leads 51 percent to 38 percent ... and the trends suggest Hagan's got some work to do.

Remarks of Senator Barack Obama
(As prepared for delivery)
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Zanesville, Ohio

You know, faith based groups like East Side Community Ministry carry a particular meaning for me. Because in a way, they're what led me into public service. It was a Catholic group called The Campaign for Human Development that helped fund the work I did many years ago in Chicago to help lift up neighborhoods that were devastated by the closure of a local steel plant.

I think the expression "kind of a big deal" is really funny. It comes from the movie Anchorman, where the gregarious newscaster introduces himself as "I'm kind of a big deal."

Folks on MySpace and Facebook use the expression as a way to say "I think this important, maybe you will too" as opposed to "I will force you to recognize the inherent importance of this." At least I think that's what it signifies; I mean, it's a joke and all.

Any rate, I think this event will be cool, fun, and important. I'm going, and I hope you will too:

Our unprecedented primary season helped build our infrastructure in all 50 states -- not just for Barack Obama, but for all of the Democratic candidates.

This past week there has been a lot of talk from both Bush and McCain about the necessity for the Congress to start permitting new drilling sites for Oil companies in the face of high oil prices, as seen in this video
from the BBC, even though there is plenty of evidence that the real reason for the high prices are the insiders and speculators that Randi Rhodes first documented this week.
Followed by KO's investigation:

Democracy NC sent this out on Sen. Obama's opt out of public financing:

Statement from Bob Hall, Executive Director of Democracy North Carolina, regarding Barack Obama’s decision to forego participation in presidential public financing program:

Senator Obama’s decision is predictable, given the shortcomings of the presidential public financing program and his capacity to raise money from private sources. The current program lacks the carrots and sticks – the incentives and penalties – to attract and sustain participation by major party candidates.

The head of the Congressional Black Caucus, Carolyn Kilpatrick from Michigan, met with Barack Obama's vice presidential selection team to deliver a list of potential candidates the CBC would like considered for Obama's running mate. The news of the meeting comes from the UK's Daily Mail.

Caroline Kennedy and Eric Holder who make up the vetting team indicated to Rep. Kilpatrick that two names on their list are under consideration - Sam Nunn, former Senator from Ga. and John Edwards, former NC Senator and vice presidential candidate.