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Obama to focus on Florida

Posted by Foon Rhee, deputy national political editor October 19, 2008 03:08 PM

Barack Obama's campaign announced this afternoon that it will put a full-court press on Florida, the scene of Democratic presidential nightmares, with the help of former rivals Hillary Clinton and Bill Richardson.

Obama, his wife Michelle, Clinton, and Richardson will crisscross the state Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday to encourage voters to cast their ballots early. That could be one way to avoid the long lines and other problems on Election Day that became a central part of the meltdown in 2000 that many Democrats believe cost Al Gore the White House.

Florida is among several battleground states where voters can go to the polls well in advance of Nov. 4. In Georgia, Iowa, North Carolina and Ohio, Democrats -- or at least those living in heavily Democratic areas -- are requesting and submitting ballots in large numbers, the Associated Press reports. In Florida, Republicans hold an edge, while in Indiana, absentee voting has been split among Republican and Democratic areas.

A sidelight: this campaign swing will be the first bringing together Clinton and Richardson on behalf of Obama since the New Mexico governor endorsed Obama. Former Clinton strategist James Carville famously called Richardson, who held several jobs in the Bill Clinton administration, a "Judas" for doing so.

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I have long ago endorsed Senator Obama, so I beg all Americans of good will to vote change, so that we can love USA as we loved it ten years ago. Change is the key to all the problem.

Posted by Michael Ntsoaole October 20, 08 05:07 AM
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He sure didn't "change" much in either Illinois as a state senator or in his brief tenure in the U.S. Senate where he decided that rather than do the job he was elected to do and gain some experience, he would instead go for the highest position possible, as soon as possible. Please don't just echo his sound bite about change - challenge yourself to think independently. All change is not necessarily good.

Posted by vkmd55 October 20, 08 07:13 PM
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Obama has done it , What a miracle !!!! South Africans must really learn the significance of loving -admiring foreigners , If he came here we would say he is the Koerekoere and ignore his skills ,Americans must keep that good spirit of Love.

Posted by Dyke Matjelo November 27, 08 05:07 AM
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Reports from Boston Globe reporters and editors about the transition to the new administration and other national political happenings.

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