22% for Obama in CNN Poll

Barack Obama has secured 22% of support for his candidacy for the Democratic nomination in the latest poll conducted by CNN/Opinion Research Corporation.

The poll which was released yesterday, was conducted between March 9 and 11, and surveyed 447 registered voters who described themselves as being Democrats. The margin of error for such a poll is plus or minus 4.5%

Hillary Clinton was still the preferred candidate, with 37% support. Third was Al Gore on 14% followed by John Edwards on 12%.

Obama's support has jumped 4% from the same poll undertaken in January.

Iraq Has Distracted America - Obama

Speaking this morning on the NBC Today show, Barack Obama again said that Iraq has distracted America from the real war on terrorism.

Obama was responding to the recent report on the confessions of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed that he masterminded the attacks on 9/11 and other worldwide plots that killed thousands.

Obama said that the Bush Administration had neglected to fight the real war on terror, by pursuing a failed strategy in Iraq. He again stated that there will not be a military solution in Iraq, the only way forward is through pursuing political options.

There is need to divert troops currently in Iraq to Afghanistan, where the kinds of terrorist plots Khalid Sheikh Mohammed organized have been hatched.

Barack Obama also said of Attorney General Gonzales that he has had a tendency to inject politics into decision making and that he is too close to the president. He said that this was an example of the continuing process of politicization and a lack of accountability in the Administration.

Obama was also asked about personal lives intruding into the campaign, such as questions over the former marriages of Rudy Giuliani. Obama said that he believes that people will make decisions on basis of track record, that everybody has personal issues, and what is more important is what are you, as a candidate going to do for the people of America.

Barack Obama also said that he would "absolutely not" use personal issues to attack other candidates.

CBS Poll - Obama's Standing Soars

A CBS/New York Times poll released on Monday afternoon shows that Barack Obama's favorable rating has soared amongst Democrat voters.

The poll conducted between 7 and 11 March shows that Barack Obama has a favorable rating of 54%, up from 40% in January. And his unfavorable rating is just 9%.

The favorable rating of the other leading candidates Hillary Clinton and John Edwards is 59% and 44% respectively.

The same poll also showed that an overwhelming majority of voters believe that the Democrats will take the White House in 2008.

Michelle Obama to Play Major Campaign Role

Barack Obama's wife, Michelle, will be playing a much larger role in his campaign for the Democratic nomination.

Many Americans got their first real glimpse of Michelle in her appearance with Barack last month on 60 minutes. (That's right, the interview where she said that he had to quit smoking)

But on Friday night in New York, Michelle took part on stage at a fundraiser for Barack at the Grand Hyatt Hotel. Endorsing the qualities of her husband, Michelle said that Barack "...is really exactly who he says he is. You know, there's no hidden agenda to this guy. He is decent, he is sincere, he is authentic, he isn't manufactured."

Obama spoke after Michelle, saying that "I hate following my wife."

So was this appearance the start of something bigger for Michelle? The answer is undoubtedly, yes.

With other candidate's spouses already on the campaign trail, most prominently the husband of Hillary Clinton, Michelle's role will be stepped up over the coming year.

She has changed her job at the University of Chicago to part time, and the campaign has hired former Joe Lieberman staffer Melissa Winter to assist Michelle.

So what kind of effect can we expect from campaign appearances from Michelle Obama? Well, if her appearance on 60 minutes and the speech on Friday night are anything to go by, she can only be a major boost to the Obama 08 campaign.

But perhaps in the most ringing endorsement of her, on Friday night it was suggested that she should be the one running for President. Barack responded, "She's too smart to run. It's true my wife is smarter and better looking. She's a little meaner than I am."

Barack O'bama Has Irish Heritage Too

To coincide with St Patrick's Day this Saturday, it has been revealed that Barack Obama's maternal great great great Grandfather arrived on a ship to America from Liverpool, England.

And, yes, his birthplace was listed as Ireland.

Falmouth Kearney arrived in New York on March 20, 1850, settled originally in Ohio, then Indiana. He had 8 children, one of whom is Obama's great great grandmother.

This information comes just after it was revealed that Obama's ancestors once owned slaves, and obviously shows the diversity that makes up modern America.

No comment yet from Obama on this latest revelation - perhaps he is saving something for St Patrick's Day?

Hope Action Change - Obama Live March 31

This from the Barack Obama campaign - major community gatherings on March 31 across the country, with a discussion by Obama in the home of an Iowa family broadcast live from his website.

Kick-off the Campaign

Millions of Americans are building this campaign one community at a time. On March 31, we’ll all come together in a day of community gatherings around the theme of “Hope. Action. Change.” We’ll kick off this campaign to change America and to restore faith in our political process.

On Saturday, March 31 at 3:00 pm Central time, Barack will be speaking to a small group gathered in the home of an Iowa family. It will be a candid discussion, streamed live at www.barackobama.com, about the challenges facing us today and how we can work together to change America.

Join Barack in this discussion by opening your homes on this day and gathering friends and family to watch the live webcast. For those who would like to host an event but do not have access to the Internet, sign up to receive a conference call number to dial into and listen to the Iowa discussion.

Obama to New Hampshire this Friday

Barack Obama will be making another visit to New Hampshire this Friday for a Town Hall Forum at the Keene High School.

That's the same high school that Hillary Clinton visited mid February, with over 2500 people in attendance. It was also the visit that marked increased attention on her Iraq war stance.

Obama will be at the Keene High School Gymnasium, doors open at 6.30pm. Tickets are free but an RSVP is needed to secure a ticket.

Some people made mention about Barack Obama's Iowa schedule on the weekend that there wasn't a lot of room for questions - this forum is likely to be addressing these concerns.

Barack Obama - Move On Up

Ok, we are about 2 months late in finding this You Tube video produced by the Run Obama website. Our mistake. But in the spirit of bringing you all the best things of the campaign, we have to provide it now.

It features Barack Obama in New Hampshire late last year. And a well chosen Curtis Mayfield backing track (as featured of course in "Bend it Like Beckham" with the wonderful Parminder Nagra...)

Alright, back to the video.

Barack Obama interview in Iowa

Barack Obama conducted an interview with the Muscatine Journal on his weekend visit to Iowa. It's always good to have a solid grass roots local paper doing interviews with candidates. Doesn't happen often enough.

By Melissa Regennitter of the Muscatine Journal
MUSCATINE, Iowa — After his speech at West Middle School on Sunday, Barack Obama sat down with the Muscatine Journal for a one-on-one interview. Here are excerpts from that meeting:

Q: We always hear people talk about Midwestern values, as you did throughout your speech. What are Midwestern values, in your opinion?

A: I do think that Midwesterners are sort of no-nonsense, not a lot of hoopla. They don’t think in ideological terms, but think more in terms of how to solve problems. Now obviously these are huge generalizations, but I do think that there’s a certain sensibility that is healthy.

Q: The Iowa Legislature is considering a “fair share” bill. What is your stand on such legislation? (The bill would require employees at unionized workplaces to pay fees to a union if they are not union members.)

A: We need to restore some balance in terms of enabling unions to organize. I think that unions have been under assault for many years. A lot of that has been taking place at the federal level; it’s one of the reasons that I support the Employee Free Choice Act.... There’s a reason why we’ve seen growing inequality in this country and salaries and wages stagnating at a time when corporate profits and productivity have gone sky high, and it’s because workers are getting less of a share of what they are helping them create.Our middleclass in this country has always been built on making sure the prosperity is shared and the burdens and benefits of a free market are shared. I think unions today are an important part of it.

Q: Do you believe the federal government should play a role in school security? (Obama was briefed on local concerns regarding unfounded bomb threats at area schools and the arrest of a student who made online threats last year toward Muscatine High School.)

A: I do think that it’s important for us to have good systems in place to deal with what may be serious threats in terms of homeland security and creating systems where first responders can communicate with each other and have the equipment they need, those are important issues. But for the most part, I trust local law enforcement to deal with the kind of problems you’re talking about.

Q: Regarding the DREAM Act that is being considered by Congress: Do you support it? (The DREAM Act would allow undocumented immigrant students the opportunity to gain permanent residence status if they have lived in the United States for at least five years, and were younger than the age 16 when they came to the country.)

A: I believe in comprehensive immigration reform. I think we have to have border security (and) a tamper-proof employee verification system that ensures employers are held accountable for who they hire. With those two things in place, I think it’s also important for us to have a pathway to citizenship for the12 million or so undocumented workers who are here.I think that most Americans believe that it’s important to have some control over who comes in and who comes out of the country, and we don’t have that right now. But I think that people also believe ... that families who have been here a long time, whose children weren’t born here and have gone through the school system, that we need to give them a chance to be part of the American dream, although if they want citizenship they’ll have to probably go to the back of the line. Under the legislation we provide for, they would have to pay a fine and learn English and take a series of steps over the course of a decade before they would actually be eligible for citizenship.

Iowans Turn Out in Force for Barack Obama

Its a bit hard to believe that there is still 10 months to go before the first primary, such is the pace at which Barack Obama is campaigning around the country.

On the weekend, Obama had yet another successful visit to Iowa, having no less than 5 rallies in front of thousands of enthusiastic locals.

Obama visited Dubuque, Clinton and Davenport on Saturday and on Sunday ventured to Muscatine and Burlington. And the crowds were overflowing at each event - over 2,500 turned up in Dubuque and more than 4000 in Davenport.

Last week, Obama had a busy Senate schedule. On Friday, he conducted 2 fundraisers in New York. And this weekend, Obama is back to California for a rally in Oakland.

Much of the focus on Obama's visit to Iowa was his pledge to bring the troops home from Iraq by March of next year. Obama said that there were no good options left in Iraq, "...only bad options and worse options" and if the Iraqi Government don't make serious reforms then America is only throwing money away.

Obama also paid attention to the growing concern of Veterans' Affairs, saying that "We need to put veterans services on equal footing with other social services in this country."

20% for Barack Obama in Nevada

Barack Obama is clearly in second place in the key state of Nevada, according to a poll conducted there last week.

Hillary Clinton is still in the lead, on 32% with Obama on 20%. Following behind are former Vice President Al Gore on 11% and Vice Presidential candidate in 2004, John Edwards also on 11%. New Mexico Governor and Former General Wes Clark are both on 2%.

The poll was conducted by Research 2000 on behalf of the Reno Gazette Journal and KRNV-TV and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4%.

Nevada has taken on a key status in the primaries this time, coming immediately after the Iowa caucus next January and before New Hampshire. Although Barack Obama did not take part in the Democrats candidates forum last month, he did campaign in Las Vegas, and does plan o make many more trips to Nevada over the next year.

Obama to Oakland Saturday 17 March

Barack Obama will again head to California, making an appearance next weekend at a rally in Oakland. The rally will take place at the Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, outside City Hall. Tickets are free, but RSVP at Barack Obama's website.

California now has a greater significance than in previous elections - the primary has been moved forward from June to early February next year. A poll taken last week had Barack Obama clearly in second place as preferred Democratic nominee on 31%. Hillary Clinton was in the lead on 41%.

California has had most of the major candidates visit since announcing their bids for the Presidency.