Obama's day off, but he still hits a crucial corner of Indiana

Sen. Barack Obama allegedly took the day off back home in Chicago today, but he still managed to get in some campaigning in Indiana -- without even being there.

On a day he was supposed to refrain from campaigning and stay home, his campaign alerted news organizations that he'd be making an unexpected speech at Chicago's McCormick Place convention center.

That speech was to the annual convention of the United Food and Commercial Workers, a union organization with more than 1 million members in the United States that endorsed him earlier this year.

It was the latest example of Obama's home field advantage in Indiana, where the upcoming May 6 primary is viewed as a critical test for both him and Sen. Hillary Clinton in their marathon struggle for the Democratic nomination.

Twenty percent of Indiana's Democratic voters live in the Chicago media market up in the northwest corner branching out from Gary. That means they'll likely see extensive coverage of Obama's appearance on the news tonight and tomorrow morning.

The Illinois Democrat sought to rally the union vote, a critical part of the Indiana electorate. "You were fighting with me in Wisconsin," he told the members today. "You're fighting with me in Indiana, and I understand some of you just came back from Pennsylvania."

Obama never mentioned his Democratic opponent. Instead, as he is increasingly doing, he kept his focus on Sen. John McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee. He specifically mentioned tax cuts McCain once opposed.

"They may have stopped offending John McCain's conscience somewhere along the road to the Republican nomination," Obama said, "but George Bush's economic policies still offend my conscience."

Obama heads back to the Hoosier State on Friday. Clinton will be there as well, campaigning in Bloomington, and then up to that crucial northwest corner in Gary and East Chicago.

-- John McCormick

John McCormick writes for the Swamp of the Chicago Tribune Washington Bureau.                                                 Photo Credit: AP

Comments

[John B Sheffield]

Barack Obama over recent months has had everything including the kitchen sink thrown at him by Hillary, but she can't knock him out even using Smears and Lies, now even the GOP are afraid of Obama, why otherwise would they choose to run the TV commercials against him, because they would rather have Hillary as they know they can beat her! - Barack Obama has stood his ground, his campaign has been based most on Policy rather that Hillary's negative campaign just running up DEBTS!

What has the Democratic Nomination Race got to do with the GOP, why run the anti Obama TV commercials ????

Why is Hillary running up more Debt over States for her campaign, why has she had to rely more on smears and lies rather than Policy ????

These are the serious questions those to vote need to answer, also the so called Superdelegates!

The Democratic Party need to start getting down to to fight McCain, not each other! the quicker this race is brought to an end the better, this year it is clear it has not worked for the good of the Party.

[maz hess]

McCain would be over 80 years old at the end of his second term. I hope the superdelegates are aware that with a broken convention most of their reelections in the fall are at risk and that they get behind barack still in time.

[WAYNE FROM CAROLINA]

In spite of all the votes he's lost because many won't vote for him because of the color of his skin and the smear tactics .........it's truly amazing he still leads this race in all categories!

This man is the answer to thousands of prayers on slave plantations many years ago. God works in his own way and in his own time. It is ordained and their is no stopping it or him. The struggle is part of that journey and will only make him stronger in the end.

[Chas]

"Do we need a separation of media and state?"
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North Carolina TV blocks anti-Obama attack ad
By staff writers
April 25, 2008 12:27pm

Republican attack ad uses pastor's sermon
Pastor breaks silence on controversy
US presidential election: Follow it with us
US television stations have refused to run a controversial Republican ad attacking Democratic candidate Barack Obama and those who support him.
The ad has been running in North Carolina, which votes along with Indiana on May 7 (Australian time) in the next contests in the marathon Democratic presidential nomination contest.
It features excerpts of the sermon by Senator Obama's former pastor, Rev. Jeremiah Wright, which exploded onto the campaign agenda last month after it appeared on the internet. Rev. Wright is shown saying "God damn America".
The ad criticises local Democrats for endorsing Senator Obama, who it says is "just too extreme for North Carolina". Republican nominee John McCain has distanced himself from the ad, but the state branch of the party has vowed not to pull it.
However some TV bosses have decided the ad is "offensive" - and possibly even racist, according to a report in the Charlotte Observer.