Obama and the Reds

"How well can Obama really do in the Southern, Red States?": It's what Democrats, unsure of how to cast their primary vote, have been saying under their breath.

Yesterday, those Dems got at least part of their answer when Obama charmed a rally full of people in Oklahoma, one of the reddest states in America. 1,000 people came out to support Obama in Oklahoma City, the state's capitol, a city that boasts a population of just over 500,000—the state’s largest.

Just as surprising, Obama's biggest selling point for Oklahomans was his stance against the war.

Historically very Republican, at least in National elections, Oklahoma's electorate voted for Bush in a landslide in 2000. And again in 2004. Even in 1996, while the country was voting for Clinton as an incumbent, 48 percent of Oklahomans voted for Bob Dole. Clinton trailed at 40 percent.

Obama did better yesterday than any might have predicted—perhaps even Obama's own campaign. The Obama camp, possibly trying to forecast their own draw in this reddest of red states, may have billed themselves accordingly. The afternoon rally/fundraiser cost a paltry $25 to attend as compared to the previous afternoon's fundraiser in Colorado where attendees forked over $100 to catch a glimpse of the Senator. Still, Obama’s campaign was able to raise $25,000 in Oklahoma yesterday.

"I have never seen a man in politics that had that much sincerity, purpose, vision," Gregory Shields of Collinsville, Oklahoma said.

Many rally attendees went looking to be inspired and many left fulfilled, according to NewsOK's Jennifer Mock, the local reporter covering the story.

Obama told the crowd in Oklahoma that the days of divisive politics are numbered. He could have said, however, the days of Democrats doubting his legitimacy as a presidential candidate are numbered. And we would have known exactly who he was talking to.

Watch and read local news coverage of last night's rally here.

--Jessica Savage

Comments

Trojan Horse?

Posted by: Poppy on 03/20/07 at 11:47 AM Respond

Maybe Obama can pick up the red states if he gets a hick, imbred running mate. We all saw who the red states voted for in 04'- what is going to change this time? As long as the candidate opposes gay marriage and supports sleeping with family members, the red states can be secured. Is Jeb Bush available? Tom Delay?

Posted by: Freedumb Ain't Free on 03/20/07 at 1:49 PM Respond

1,000 people probably represents 10% of the state democratic party of Oklahoma. Obama's race isn't going to be a factor in most of the country, but Dixie isn't going to stomach a black candidate for president. Look at what happened to Congressman Harold Ford Jr. The state of Tom Coburn will not elect any Democrat for president anyways.

Posted by: Robert on 03/20/07 at 5:34 PM Respond

I live in Atlanta and there is a lot of talk here about Obama. But what really has me excited is a visit I just made to some family in South Carolina. It doesn't get any redder. My whole family there was saying they would vote for either Obama or Hillary, but not any of the republicans. There was also a life-long republican friend there who has never liked any democrate and only watches Fox news who said he has already decided to vote for Obama. These are white southerners who dumped McCain because of fear he had a black baby.

Posted by: Jcorley on 03/21/07 at 7:09 AM Respond

Obama takes $0 from lobbyists. That's the best news!!

Posted by: shannon on 03/21/07 at 12:42 PM Respond

Anybody that knows anything about marketing and more important marketing-politics knows that for a 1000 people to show up this far in advance of an election equates to another 10,000 that wanted to come. For a democrate in one of the reddest of red states it equates to 100,000. For them to put their hand in their pocket and pull-out $25! ONE MILLION-PLUS voters . Equate this to other red-states OH BROTHER! Carry this over to the blue states and if the election were being held today Obama would/shoud pull in 70% plus of the electric. The election is still aways off and time will tell.

Posted by: the phoenix on 03/21/07 at 1:21 PM Respond

I certainly hope for the best from whoever the Democratic nominee may be.

However, I have the feeling that the white, mostly Southern Baptist, people in the South will never vote for a black or a woman for any office.

Picture this:

Condi Rice runs for the GOP nomination, and wins it; will the whites down South vote for her?

And should either Hilary Clinton or Barack Obama win the Democratic nomination, will the white down South vote for either one of them?

Not even a snowball's chance on South Beach!

So I can expect to see a large number of white Southerners abstain from th4e polls should either of those two scenarios develop.

As for what happened to Harold Ford, that reminds me of a scene from "Blazing Saddles", only Harold ford is the new sheriff, and the whites in Tennessee are the old white woman he said "Good Morning" to; we all know what she told him.

That's just the way the majority of these white Southern Baptists are.

We must fight them with the truth.

Posted by: George The Male Amazon on 03/22/07 at 2:00 PM Respond