Should Obama even bother with West Virginia?

I can't possibly think of a state more favorable to Hillary Clinton than that one. An overwhelmingly white state, with no sizeable black population; a blue collar, uneducated state; these are not Obama voters. If WV was a bigger state, I might be inclined to say that he should fight for as many delegates as he could get there, but if he pours money and his time into WV, then I only see him moving the numbers a little bit, and that will then allow the Hillary people (better known as the Establishment) to spin any victory there as a major win. Furthermore, campaigning in WV would only drain time for which Obama could be campaigning in other states. Even Kentucky, which I expect him to lose, is worth more of his time than WV. Obama should visit Morgantown (home of WVU), and maybe do a stop in Charlestown, and then leave the state.

as many surrogates out there speaking, too. I believe the campaign has the money to do so. It wouldn't hurt to get Sen. Kennedy out there. RFK did much to help the people of Appalachia.

He's no quitter - he'll put up a fight for votes there, imo. If he brings those cute daughters around on the weekend trips, it can't hurt! :-)

F those white trash types...they are irrelevant to *so called* elites like the obama voters! (sarcasm off)

Man I just cannot wait to say I told you so in November, you BO freaks are clueless!

so what if he gets only 3 delegates, it's 3 that Hillary wont get.
Plus, it might be over by then

the idea of having a national candidate pay attention to them. Unsure how well it would translate into votes, but it does fit with the "50 state strategy".

that Obama himself may show-up at the little thing we are hosting on May 11th.

Last cycle Ted Kennedy was here for Kerry.

Most would be surprised... I have made 153 local calls in the past 2 days, the results are very good in the 18-50 and 75+ women, men 45+ do not like Hillary.

"a white state, with no sizeable black population; a blue collar, uneducated state" you write it off as though it doesn't matter?

when he said Jesse Jackson won it, so obviously the state wasn't that important, by his implication.

Every state that has a voting population made up of more than 35% black voters, the state is automatically written off. I don't see a difference here with WV.

But now you take offense. Figures.

He should take his name off the ballot. Everyone will say that Hillary shouldn't even get the WV delegates, because it wasn't a real primary.

Later, like with MI and FL, Obama can demand that 50% of the delegates should be assigned to him. That's fair, isn't it?

Besides, those West Virginians are so bitter and clingy, they'll never make it to the Creative Class. Really, should those goddamn iceberg-eaters even be allowed to vote?


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The Vast Left-Wing Conspiracy, now at my new home: Correntewire.com

But from the sound of your vitriol, it sounds like your mind is made up.

For the record, Hillary Clinton has written off a lot more states than Obama ever has or will. She ignored caucuses in Kansas and Idaho and then had her people sniff that they didn't "matter".

Hillary has 2.

Certain states only matter to hillary.

His 50-state strategy is the right strategy, and lays an excellent foundation for the general election. Because, of COURSE, he will be the Dem. nominee.:)

1) 50 State Strategy at Work.
2) Owes it to Senator Jay Rockefeller who endorsed him long ago.
3) Has money to burn so why not.

Kentucky needs to get to know Obama so that there can be a chance to unseat Mitch McConnell in November.

When he goes into a state, the longer he's around, more people like him. Every delegate counts. Ignoring them would be hypocritical to the whole 50 state strategy, plus, even though he knows he won't win there, doesn't mean he shouldn't try.

And honestly, I'm tired of waiting. I want to see what this campaign is capable of against McCain.

he just needs to avoid the HRC supporters in WV...

Party-building for the future is common sense for the present.

Ignoring WV or any other state is not a good idea. It is part of what lost it for Clinton - acting as if some states were not worth any effort. WV can be turned blue again.

If Obama should be fortunate enough to be president, he would be their president, too. Just because they are largely the working white folks that some Obama people want to dismiss, the fact remains that they are a huge part of what makes this country strong and without this demographic in November, the Democratic candidate has no chance.

When will she be scheduling her next rallies in Idaho and Nebraska?

Remember that?

other predominantly White States. Recall that the wins in the northeast are likely what prompted the Rev. Wright barrage in an effort to remind white voters that "Hey, Obama is a BLACK man".

"An overwhelmingly white state, with no sizeable black population; a blue collar, uneducated state."

Where Obama has done poorly is where the above demographic competes against a substantial African-American population for jobs. What you describe above sounds a lot more like Montana and Idaho than Ohio and Pennsylvania.

Besides, whether he wins there or not, his campaigning there will help down the ticket, 50-State Strategy, etc. And you never know with West Virginia. They weren't supposed to vote for that Papist JFK either, but they did once JFK actually bothered to campaign there.

The Clintons/DLC strategy of writing off states may win you the presidency. But it sacrifices everything else. And it probably wouldn't have won the presidency without Ross Perot's interference.

And more to the point, he must compete in West Virginia because it is the right thing to do. West Virginians are Americans too.

but he needs to concentrate the bulk of his time over the next two weeks on Oregon. He should get a very strong win there. (assuming he doesn't get a sweep today)

whether they voted for him or not. They should hear what he has to say, and he should hear what their concerns and issues are.

I can't stand when candidates only go where they think they've get votes (Giuliani the extreme example- running for president of Florida). Every conadidate has a repsonsiblity to understand and talk to the people he/she will be working for.

If he can get even 35% of the vote he will pick up a share of delegates.

I had a friend who took a $15,000 pay cut to leave Charleston, West Virginia. The state is inhabited by troglodytes. I doubt if he could get 20% of the vote.

:dem:

and he can certainly afford a visit or two and some ads.

Make a few appearances, spend a little bit of money on TV, play his kick-ass ground game as always, but don't spend enough money to give the Clinton folks a talking point about being outspent. Make it clear he wants to do as well as he can there but doesn't expect to win. And try to not let it get too much attention. The media gave little attention to his victories in Wyoming and Mississippi because they were expected...hopefully they will do the same with West Virginia.

For what it's worth, I'm going there next weekend to canvass. I figure it couldn't hurt.

bigger towns.

He needs to cut her lead somewhat.