Black Voters Head to Obama - Poll

The latest Washington Post poll shows that Barack Obama is gaining on Hillary Clinton as preferred Democratic nominee for President.

While Obama trailed Clinton in the same poll in January, 41%-17%, he is now only 12 points behind, 36%-24%. Al Gore was in third place on 14%, with John Edwards on 12%. Gore has risen from 10% in the January poll.

And in good news for the Obama campaign, black democrat voters now prefer Barack Obama over Hillary Clinton 44%-33%. The last poll conducted by the Washington Post/ABC in January had Clinton in the lead amongst black voters, 60%-20%.

In addition, Obama's favorable rating improved since January, to 53% in the latest poll.

This is the second poll released this week that shows that Barack Obama has narrowed the gap with Hillary Clinton.

Obama will march in Selma on Sunday

Barack Obama will be in Selma, Alabama this Sunday, to take part in the annual march to commemorate the voting rights marches in 1965.

Obama will speak at the Brown Chapel AME Chapel Church, and will also join Civil Rights veterans on the walk across the Edmund Pettus Bridge. Hilary Clinton will also join the march.

The Selma to Montgomery voting rights marches in 1965 drew international attention when Governor George Wallace ordered state troopers to break up the demonstrations. Troopers used sticks, whips and tear gas to disperse the crowd - all of which was captured on footage shown around the world.

The march was a major turning point for the civil rights movement, contributing to the introduction of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Obama Rocks Cleveland

Photo:barackobamadotcom

Perhaps it's the marching band or the thousands of cheering fans chanting "O-Bama". Maybe its the hundreds of signs carefully scattered and waving in the crowd proclaiming Obama 08.

But most probably it is the attendance of the main guest that ensures the crowd is going to be rocked. Oh yes, that's Barack Obama.

In Cleveland this evening, it was a sold out event. Thousands...again. 1700 in the hall alone, and many more in neighbouring rooms. An estimated 7,000 in all. Wow.

Add that to the fact that Obama raised over $400,000 from 3 fundraisers in Ohio earlier on, and it has been one almighty day.

Poll Shows Obama Gaining on Clinton

The latest Zogby International poll released today shows that Barack Obama is gaining on Hillary Clinton as the preferred Democratic nominee.

The telephone survey of 439 Democrat voters conducted in the last week, shows that Obama is on 25%, with Clinton on 33%. This is a gain of 11% for Obama since the last Zogby poll 6 weeks ago.

John Edwards is still in third place, on 12%.

And in even better news for the Obama camp, the survey of 1078 likely voters shows that he would defeat the leading major Republican candidates in a Presidential race. Obama leads Rudy Giuliani 46-40, John McCain 44-40 and Mitt Romney 51-29.

3000 in Kentucky for Barack Obama

Barack Obama was in Louisville, Kentucky yesterday and was greeted by a crowd of 3000 enthusiastic locals who had paid $25 a head for the opportunity to hear him speak.

He later went on to another higher priced fundraiser at the Henry Clay Hotel.

This has been a long 2 weeks of campaign events and fundraising from Obama. And it wont be stopping just yet.

Obama will be in Cincinnati first thing this morning for a breakfast fundraiser, followed by a luncheon in Columbus.

And this afternoon, he will be in Cleveland, Ohio at the Cuyahoga Community College at 6pm. The event is already booked out.

FEC Considers Obama Funding Proposal

The Federal Election Commission have released a draft which supports in principle the question posed by Barack Obama regarding public funding for a Presidential campaign.

Obama would like to be able to raise funds between now and the election, but if agreement is reached with the Republican nominee to use the public funding option, that monies raised can be then given back to donors.

A campaign without public funding could cost each campaign as much as $500 million. Public funding would net each candidate an estimated $85 million.

Leading Democrats, Hillary Clinton and John Edwards have already said that they would forgo the public finance option. Opting out of the public finance option means that candidates have no spending limits.

The draft plan from the FEC supports Obama in principle, but it will be discussed further at their next meeting on March 1.

Barack Obama has long been an advocate for public funding for election campaigns.

Obama Turns it On for Austin

Photo:Speedye

Close to 20,000 people came to hear Barack Obama this afternoon, as he turned it on in Austin, Texas. This was the biggest rally of its kind in living memory in Texas. And it's important for the Obama campaign - this is a State with strong ties to the Clinton family.

Obama spoke again of his commitment of turning the country's attention to health care, education and ending the war in Iraq. He also spoke of the need to focus on the rebuilding of New Orleans, saying that the city still looked like a war had been fought there.

This was his first trip to Texas since making the announcement on February 10 that he would seek the nomination.

Last night Obama was at a fundraiser in Houston, his second for the day.

Obama Statement on Vilsack Withdrawal

Barack Obama has released the following statement regarding the decision of former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack to withdraw from the race for the Democratic nomination.

“Tom Vilsack is an outstanding public servant whose initiatives in Iowa on education reform, health care and alternative energy are models from which our entire nation can learn. More than that, Tom brings a badly needed sense of honor and decency to our politics, and a passionate advocacy for an end to the war in Iraq. I hope he will continue to speak out in the months and years to come, as his is an important and valued voice.”

Oprah Winfrey Endorses Obama

Oprah Winfrey supports Barack Obama's bid for the Democratic nomination and for President. Well that's a surprise right? Ok, maybe not.

But Oprah has today appeared on the Ellen DeGeneres talk show, and given her take on the Barack Obama campaign.

Oprah said of Obama that she doesn't "...just love him. I respect him. I think he's a fresh new voice in politics. I think what he can do for this country would be amazing."

Tom Daschle Endorses Barack Obama

Former Senate Majority Leader and prominent Democrat Tom Daschle yesterday endorsed Barack Obama in his bid for the Democratic nomination.

Daschle said that Barack Obama has a "...great capacity to unify our country and inspire a new generation of young Americans, just as I was inspired by the Kennedy's and Martin Luther King when I was young."

Iowa Rally a Success for Obama

Barack Obama last night had another successful campaign stop in Des Moines, Iowa. Obama had visited Iowa immediately after he made the announcement on February 10, but even so, over 2000 people arrived to hear him speak at the Polk County Convention Complex.

Other candidates for the Democratic nomination were yesterday in Carson City, Nevada for a forum organised by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.

Obama and Clinton Argue Over Donor

The campaigns of Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton today argued over the support of David Geffen, the Dreamworks movie studio founder.

Last night, Geffen, Jeffrey Katzenberg and Stephen Spielberg organized a fundraiser for Obama in Hollywood which netted his campaign around $1.3 million.

Today it was reported that Geffen made some comments to the New York Times which incensed the Clinton team. He said that Hillary Clinton was a polarizing and ambitious figure, and that Bill Clinton was a reckless guy.

The Clinton camp hit back, with Communications Director Howard Wolfson issuing a strongly worded press statement:

"While Senator Obama was denouncing slash and burn politics yesterday, his campaign's finance chair was viciously and personally attacking Senator Clinton and her husband.

"If Senator Obama is indeed sincere about his repeated claims to change the tone of our politics, he should immediately denounce these remarks, remove Mr. Geffen from his campaign and return his money.

Then the Obama camp responded, with Communications director Robert Gibbs issuing his own statement:

"We aren't going to get in the middle of a disagreement between the Clintons and someone who was once one of their biggest supporters. It is ironic that the Clinton's had no problem with David Geffen when he was raising them $18 million and sleeping at their invitation in the Lincoln bedroom."

Gibbs then went on to refer to the remarks made by South Carolina State Senator Robert Ford, who said that if Obama was to win the nomination, the Democrats would lose the House, the Senate and the Governors, because he is black.

In his statement Gibbs said that "It is also ironic that Senator Clinton lavished praise on Monday and is fully willing to accept today the support of South Carolina state Sen. Robert Ford, who said if Barack Obama were to win the nomination, he would drag down the rest of the Democratic Party because 'he's black'."

That's not a bad point. We understand that Geffen is not the campaign finance chair, as alleged by Wolfson. Therefore his comments are those of a private individual and donor to the Obama campaign. Asking for the money to be returned is taking things a little too far.

But, as with any issue involving the Obama and Clinton campaigns, this will have a little way to go yet. Let's wait and see what Clinton and Obama have to say today during their campaign stops.

Clinton is in Carson City for the candidates forum, while Obama will be in Iowa tonight for a rally.