Obama: First Stop, Virginia Coal Country; Second Stop, "Classic Applebee's America"
By: Lowell
Published On: 6/4/2008 6:17:31 AM
Patrick Ottenhoff's Electoral Map reports:
Barack Obama will campaign through the same Appalachian hamlets, hills and hollows on Thursday that thoroughly rejected him in his primary bid against Hillary Clinton.
He'll start with a town hall meeting in Bristol, a small community on the Virginia-Tennessee border and the hometown of the legendary half-mile NASCAR track. From Bristol, the campaign will shoot up I-81 up to Abingdon, where Rep. Rick Boucher has his campaign offices. Boucher, you might remember, was an ardent support of Obama even as his district gave Clinton a walloping 30 point victory.
From Abingdon, he'll turn west and hop over Clinch Mountain - yes, that's the same mountain that gave its name to Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys, the band that campaigned for former Gov. Mark Warner - to Castlewood where he'll stop at the United Mine Workers office.
That sounds a lot like Mark Warner's "flyaround" kickoff tour a few weeks ago, except Warner didn't make it to Castlewood on that trip as far as I know. It also sounds like my friends Brian Patton and Joseph Puckett are going to be busy the next few days. :) Seriously, though, I think this trip to Appalachia (and to Virginia in general) is a great decision by the Obama campaign as the general election campaign begins. I find it highly impressive that Obama is paying so much attention and respect to a region that overwhelmingly voted for his main Democratic primary opponent, Hillary Clinton. I mean, he could have just written it off as unwinnable and not even tried there, but he made a different decision. To me, that summarizes Obama's entire appeal, that there's no "red America" or "blue America," but one "red, white and blue America." It will be very interesting to see Obama touring southwestern Virginia -- and southside, and all over Virginia -- with Mark Warner, Rick Boucher, John Edwards, Jim Webb, Tim Kaine, etc. -- this summer and fall.
After "coal country," Obama moves to "Classic Applebee's America":
After leaving Bobcat Country, Obama flies up to Prince William County outside of Washington for an appearance at Nissan Pavilion. The venue is about 45 minutes outside D.C. (allocate an hour and a half for a summer Jimmy Buffett show) and is classic exurbia. It's right in the thick of what the Washington Post has described as the "Ring of Fire" of home foreclosures. Classic Applebee's America.
It's also shock full of young independent voters and is the kind of county that Obama needs to win if he hopes to take the Old Dominion's 13 electoral votes in November - especially if Appalachia decides that they're not ready for the skinny black kid from Chicago with a funny name.
This is another excellent move by the Obama campaign, taking their candidate from Appalachia to exurbia, two important parts of America that he'll try to be competitive in this November. If you're interested in attending the Nissan Pavilion event, you might want to think about carpooling. You can also help out Bruce Roemmelt. Or both. Either way, enjoy being part of a "swing state" for a change! :)
Comments
Touch of class . .. (Bernie Quigley - 6/4/2008 6:37:09 AM)
Like everything Obama has done so far there is a touch of possibly genious. He heads straight to the country where he was told that he will need Clinton. But Clinton did well in these regions, as Dick Morris has written, by tapping base and regressive sensibilities best left behind in the 1950s. We don't want that - we want to elevate; that is the job of politics since the Enlightenment, and that is what Barack and Michelle do. As Jim Webb says, blacks and Scotch-Irish, the common folk of Appalachia, are " . . . siblings left behind by global economy." I hope Jim can catch up with him out there (where I have kin) in the Clinch Mountain area, and maybe Mudcat can introduce him to Ralph Stanley.
This an Opportunity... (TMSKI - 6/4/2008 6:50:09 AM)
for Jim Webb to travel with and help Obama as best he can. It could be a launching point for a real dialogue on these race and cultural issues which need to be addressed.
It was talked about in Born Fighting .... so What if??... Jim Webb was asked to be on "THE TICKET" and accepted??
It would be Historic!!
Obama Webb 2008!!
Important and perhaps necessary . . . (Bernie Quigley - 6/4/2008 7:32:20 AM)
It is most important that Jim Webb calls himself specifically Scotch-Irish and tells a real history of a very important part of the South in
Born Fighting. I've been there and reared my kids in Appalachia and in rural North Carolina, primarily Scotch-Irish regions with few blacks. But to the North, the white South as been charicatured, exploited, lied to and lied for and about; patronized and used; abused and manipulated. Most important, the South has come into national and world economy only since the 1950s. Jim Webb is the first to explain not only to the outside, but to the South itself. He is the essential figure here at the birth of the new millenium and so is Barack.
Obama is proving to be a class act for sure (Alter of Freedom - 6/4/2008 3:07:00 PM)
His speeches are priceless but IMHO he needs to leave Michelle Obama out of this type of focus. I think she represents much of what this area has against Obama in the first place. Her criticisms of life in America may have contributed to the defeat numbers and the exodus it seems to Hillary in Appalachia more so I think than anything Obama did per say. Many I have spoken to relate Wright not so much to him, but in terms of Michelle Obama. I truly believe she was the driving force for staying at Trinity and on a trip like this she could create even more trouble for Barrack. Or she could also shine I guess. Its a risk but I guess they feel they have nothing to lose and they maybe right. I would hope however he would focus on southern Ohio moreso than say western Va. Very conservative elements there even if you look at Huckabees numbers in the Rep. primary. Obama should focus on NVA and limit any gaines McCain can make with Independents. Also, how about a round with Warner down in Suffolk/Chesepeake to challenge those there (independents and moderate Reps) who are unhappy with McCain as nominee. Giving thata shot could help him carry VA but I think if he takes 60% of NVA its over for McCain here.
Follow-up (Alter of Freedom - 6/4/2008 4:54:23 PM)
GM just announced this week it is closing four plants, two of which are in states that Obama truly must have in the electoral. One plant is in Moraine, OH an the other Janesville, Wisconsin.
Obama should go to these towns. Ohio is already in bad shape and on the evrge of turning into another Michigan in terms of the economy. His message could resinate in these places.
GM has reduced its workforce by some 17% since 2005. This is but one story inside this economy that can illustrate a few things we need to focus on.
Caroline is the antidote . . . (Bernie Quigley - 6/4/2008 6:44:25 PM)
I understand and sympathize with Michelle and kind of love her . . . but I think you are right. Somebody needs to invite them to join some like
regular church in their region whereever they live; that is, a church with an old tradition. He may not yet have had that opportunity. It is a tradition, at least in the South, for people to invite newcomers to their church. He seems to be getting fed up with the kind of thing he's been getting. I think he & Michelle seek some anchorage in a church which conforms to their situation and their times. Bringing Caroline in on the VP search is a mark of political genious (by which I mean that it is so much smarter than anything what I would have thought of; neutralizes current polarizations; entirely changes the paradigm and lifts the theater to a different level). Maybe Caroline should invite Barack and Michelle to her church. Maybe Jim Webb should or one of you all. There are so many great churches in your region. They appear to want something solid for themselves and their children. At the end of the Civil War General Lee was at his Episcopalian church in Richmond and at the communion, the newly freed blacks went up to the communion rail where they were not allowed before. When they did, the whites got up to leave the church rather than share communion with the blacks. Lee then got up and joined the blacks in communion and the whites came back. Maybe the Obamas should join that church; that moment of ultimate zen warrior's honor which Robert E. Lee brought to our country today brings metamorphosis to this historic moment.
Churches (Alter of Freedom - 6/4/2008 9:56:44 PM)
Are representative of nothing more than the people sitting in the pews. If people are not aligned with where the powers of the church come down, they leave and join another church. I fear it was Michelle Obama who kept the Obama family there mor so than Barack.
I remember an exodus, or at least what felt like one, when many gay and lesbian Americans left the Catholic faith to become Episcopalian in large part because they were accepted.
Church is about just that, acceptance. The congregation accepts that which the church stands for and attendance communicates such acceptance.
Nissan Pavilion (TMSKI - 6/4/2008 6:52:09 AM)
and Obama is rallying at Nissan Pavillion tomorrow 5 June.
are you going, lowell? (pvogel - 6/4/2008 7:57:05 AM)
cause yesterday your first thought was this
Nissan!!!!!! (0.00 / 0)
Obama at Nissan Pavilion!!!!! Thursday be ther at 3pm, rally at 6pm!!!!! Spread the news.......
by: pvogel @ Tue Jun 03, 2008 at 6:26:59 PM EDT
Massive traffic jams (0.00 / 0)
Good luck, I'm staying home!
Lowell
what about castlewood? (Adam Malle - 6/4/2008 11:24:17 AM)
.
I'm thinking about it. (Lowell - 6/4/2008 11:28:12 AM)
The last time I went to Nissan, the traffic was horrendous. On the positive side, the concert (Springsteen Seeger sessions) was great! :)
Access? (Bubby - 6/4/2008 11:43:50 AM)
I was there a few years ago (for the spectacular Tina Turner), and it took 1.5 hours to get out that skinny-ass two-lane access road. Have they fixed that?
Didn't seem too great to me (Lowell - 6/4/2008 11:51:20 AM)
but maybe it's better than a few years ago, I don't know.
Improved (TurnPWBlue - 6/4/2008 2:14:54 PM)
If your last trip to Nissan was a few years ago, things have improved.
First, 66 is now four lanes westbound all the way to Rt. 234 just before Gainesville.
Second, if you take the 29 NORTH exit at Gainesville there is a new, four-lane connector road (University) that puts you nearly at the entry gate to Nissan on Wellington Road.
I live about 4 miles from Nissan Pavilion and can attest tot he fact that traffic used to really suck when there were big events there (Jimmy Buffett in particular). The situation has definitely improved over the last few years (though I'm not saying traffic will be a breeze--you are talking about 66 W from the beginning of the rush hour right through the peak of rush hour).
On to Bristol, Virginia for Obama! (cycle12 - 6/4/2008 8:34:45 AM)
Going to Bristol, Virginia early tomorrow morning to help continue supporting the Obama movement where Barack will start his campaign as the presumptive Democratic nominee for President of the United States.
What a fitting beginning to what promises to be an historical result...
Thanks!
Steve
Kudos to the Obama staff! (Bubby - 6/4/2008 10:52:29 AM)
This is a brilliant move. He is reaching out to a skeptical and cynical demographic and his message is perfect. Let 'em know what
their change is going to look like, and let 'em know they matter. Tear down the fence and move on!
Tim Kaine and Jim Webb... (lgb30856 - 6/4/2008 12:47:02 PM)
should be campaigning with him.
I'll be there at Bristol! (Will Write For Food - 6/4/2008 2:06:48 PM)
Got my e-ticket and I'm ready to go! Barack the vote, baby!
Looks like the nuts are starting to organize (TurnPWBlue - 6/4/2008 2:18:20 PM)
Looks like there may be some "protesters" along the route...
BVBL ("Nobama Comes to Prince William County")
For grins and giggles see my 4:34 P.M. comment to Greg L. on BVBL. (Tom Counts - 6/4/2008 5:52:04 PM)
I just commented on my original comment to Greg, so to speak, expressing to Greg my disappointment that he hasn't removed my comment from his blog.
F.Y.I., in my original comment to Greg I told him I always call myself T.C., which is how I identified myself on his blog. And I told him that if he wants to know who I am he can find my real name if he reads any of my RK posts. I thought maybe he could actually learn something if he started reading RK diaries. Now that's a double joke on my part: Greg would die of embarrassment if one of his cult members learned he was reading RK. And he is no more capable than George the Lesser of Crawford of learning anything by reading.
Greg is such a bigoted idiot that he didn't even realize how really stupid and juvenile (in the tradition of, say, George Allen) his latest idea is until he started getting some feedback from some of his own supporters that he is now only embarrassing himself.
I do have to admit that he's such a (sick) joke that this most recent idiocy might be an unintentional public service: Today he made me laugh.
T.C.
All tickets gone for Bristol rally!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (lgb30856 - 6/4/2008 2:25:48 PM)
Woot.
Just wave at the protesters!!