Signing up new Dems is key for Barack Obama

April 22 may be primary day in Pennsylvania, but as Barack Obama gears up to at least try to hold his own in that vote, there's another date that is first and foremost for him and his staff.

That would be March 24, the last day for Pennsylvanians not currently registered as Democrats to sign up with the party in order to vote in the primary.

The contest is closed to non-Democrats -- a problem for Obama, who generally has performed better in states where independents can participate in the party's primary. So here's the latest test for the ground-level skills that the Obama camp has displayed in so many other places: Getting as big a chunk as possible of the almost 1 million Pennsylvanians who are unaffiliated with a major party to officially declare themselves Democrats. Obama staffers also are targeting those who are simply un-registered.

The campaign has set an ambitious goal: adding about 100,000 folks to the Democratic rolls before the books close on March 24. To that end, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported earlier this week that a wave of Obama organizers has been routed to Pennsylvania. They are paying particular attention ...

to swelling the number of Democrats in Pennsylvania's 35 college towns.

While this grassroots activity takes place, Obama has sought, for public consumption, to lower expectations for himself in the Keystone State.

Rival Hillary Clinton, he said during a brief bit of stumping in Pennsylvania on Tuesday, "is favored to win in a blowout." And he's repeated variations of that comment to anyone who asks.

Clinton has the early lead in facetime in the state. She campaigned there Monday and Tuesday (starting in Scranton, her dad's hometown), and has an appearance scheduled in Pittsburgh on Friday.

Obama, by contrast, is in his hometown of Chicago on Friday and campaigns Saturday in Indiana (where a May 6 primary, much to the surprise of all concerned, now matters).

-- Don Frederick

Comments

[Marks]

Is Obama supposed to follow Hillary's campaign around? 6 weeks is a long time. I'm sure the DNC is trying to get new voters signed up in Pennsylvania. Obama campaign supporters are out there too.

It's okay if Obama campaigns in Indiana for a day or two. He could go to North Carolina. He should go to Michigan and Florida, no matter what happens, he hasn't campaigned there.

He should give big rally speeches in Michigan and Florida. 3 or 4 days in each state. Take that argument from Hillary's campaign, she owns voters in those states.

He shouldn't spend more than 10 days in Pennsylvania. The obvious signal to Gov. Rendell and Hillary's campaign, other states matter too.

Hillary's confetti moment in Ohio didn't put her in the lead.

[Wolfgang Voroshilov sr.]

Obama is not talking about campaigning in Michigan or Fla.
Seems he prefers to do all he can to short circuit any
solution to these 2 abject injustices. A snowball's chance
in hell is all he has in those states. He will loose the
nomination if justice prevails in these shabily treated
parts of our country. Obama's top aides were in cahoots
with republican locals to create this mess.May democracy
prevail over mob rule.

[chris]

"Obama's top aides were in cahoots
with republican locals to create this mess"
Provide links to back up your claims, please.

[Lord Falcon]

Swelling the democratic ranks with independents for Obama is an awesome idea. Wonderful strategy. Even if he loses, he's not going to concede more than a handful of delegates.

[Gabs]

As Wolfgang demonstrates so succinctly, Hillary supporters (and particularly those who will vote Republican when she loses the Dem nomination) are the poorer, lower class (and this is NOT something to be ashamed of) and UNEDUCATED.
If they were smarter, they would not buy the Clinton lies. Fortunately for HIllary, their lack of education works for her.
Does it not make you feel silly that someone exploits your lack of education?
Smart people are supporting Obama for a reason. Cos they're SMART. Cos they have an education. Obama is proposing $4000.00 a year credit for college students. Too bad you cant benefit from this.
BE SMART. VOTE OBAMA!

[Darrell]

Look to the international community. They are hoping almost universally for Obama. Think of automatic 1UP US citizens traveling abroad will get when Obama is elected. Imagine the excitement of the hundreds of thousands of new people suddenly interested in politics only because of Obama.

Now realize, if Hillary wins, we don't get any of that. Those thousands of new voices will feel once again that they don't matter. The international community will see Bill Clinton back in the White House. Do you really want Bill back in there?

Hillary is NOT from the middle class. At least not the middle class I grew up in. If she is from the middle class, then it was the highest bracket possible to be categorized as "middle".

Negative politics of the past 20 years?
Or positive, hopeful, passionate politics reminiscent of the nation's founding?

[Tom]

The choice is simple:

One is a leader the other a politician.
One is about the future the other about the past.
One is about our hopes the other about our fears.
One will unite the country; the other will divide it even further.
One refuses to use negative campaigning the other stoops in it.
One is about transparency, the other about keeping us in the dark.
One is inclusive, the other excusive.
One feels called to server, the other entitled to power.
One’s campaign is funded by average Americans and therefore beholden to them, the other’s mostly by lobbyist and answerable to special interest.
One is guided by a moral compass, the other by a self-interest compass.

Who are we going to make our next leader and the leader of the free world? This is not about personal likes and dislikes, nor about race or gender. This is about where we want to be in ten, twenty, thirty years. We need to claim our future with this election. Let us not allow fear mongering and divisive politics to win again!

Barack Obama is the only real choice.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/huffpost/20080310/cm_huffpost/090690

[maz hess]

Since the republicans are coming out to vote in huge numbers for hillary like they have did in mississippi the primaryrules like in pennsylvania are by far the best for obama

[David]

Barack should visit North Carolina and South Dakota as well as Pennsylvania in the weeks ahead. The Billary effort in Pennsylvania will prove too little too late.

[Julie]

Please say no to Bush/Clinton/Bush/Clinton!!!

Vote for change, Vote Barack Obama!

[mia]

It is time for change, no to old school, no to divisive politics, no to conspiracy theory, no bi-partisan politics in Washington no to threats and blackmails of Clinton that if you don't nominate me my supporters will vote to McCain in General Election. By the way Clinton supporters are republican who vote for you in Ohio. Pennsylvania is the test ground and youth, blue color and women will come in mass and dump your lies and Machiavellian politics and will vote for Obama.

[Rezko Lover]

When Obama bought a 1.6 mil dollar mansion for 650K he was thinking..

a.The gods must love me.
b.Rezko has a golden heart
c.Screw ppl itz a million bucks..what do u want rezko

When he again bought a corner property from Rezko he was thinking..