Obama's full- court press in R I

Interesting sidebar on a so-far slow news morning:

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http://www.fox64.com/Global/story.asp?S=7948298


For Brown University Coach, Obama's Campaign is a Family Affair

Updated: Feb 29, 2008 04:44 PM CST

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) -- Barack Obama's most prominent salesman, cheerleader and fundraiser in this upcoming presidential primary state is also one of Rhode Island's better-known sports figures Brown University men's basketball coach Craig Robinson.

Robinson's family connection to Obama the Democratic front-runner has been married to Robinson's sister, Michelle, since 1992 makes him a natural for the role. He can speak about the candidate with a degree of personal knowledge and authority that few campaign surrogates can match.

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While he doesn't have an official role with the campaign, Robinson fields at least four interview requests a week and has appeared at events around the country when Obama can't make it. He's a frequent presence on TV and radio in Rhode Island, and has done everything from post-debate analysis to discussing what local venue might be big enough to accommodate a rally for his brother-in-law.

He also encourages people to get out to vote and plugs the campaign's Web site. At a February rally in Warwick, Robinson introduced his younger sister as the "next first lady" and reminisced about staying up late talking with her as kids in the bedroom they shared growing up on the south side of Chicago.

The crowd cheered, then went wild as she came out and he gave her an extended hug.

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"When people get to know Barack, they'll make their own decision," Robinson said in an interview with The Associated Press. "I'm just trying to facilitate that, trying to convince people to take the time to get to know him."

Sports figures are popular, and people come to hear Robinson's stories, like the one he tells often about the first time he played basketball with Obama after his sister brought him home to meet the family. Robinson says he learned about Obama's character from his unselfish playing style passing to his teammates, taking a shot when appropriate and not calling fouls unnecessarily.

"They are what they appear to be: regular folks trying to get something done the right way," he said of his sister and brother-in-law.

That personal connection to the candidate appears to resonate with voters.

"I think he really touches home about the reality of who these people are behind it all," said Kelly Taylor, a campaign volunteer who attended a fundraiser that Robinson headlined in Providence.

"You're meeting someone who is giving you a window into the humanity behind all this, and I think it's very important what the character of our president is like."

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this one loves jumping in threads and making obnoxious comments.

I love this article. The Obama campaign and its supporters stay positive.
That's very telling.

What is that all about?

Obama is very lucky in that he has excellent people in his life. Michelle's people sound top rate and his sister is a great representative for him also.

former OSU star Greg Oden endorsed him in Ohio the other day. I sure wish Clinton and her supporters would get a clue.