Peachy
By Sean Reagan
Matt Stoller laments Obama’s “rightward drift.” His beef is that Obama is cutting an ad to help Rep. John Barrow defend his seat against a July 15 primary challenge in Georgia’s 12th District. Barrow is conservative – a real blue dog Democrat – and his opponent is Regina Thomas, a progressive African-American state legislator.
Barrow had endorsed Obama in late February, a few weeks after the Illinois senator won the Georgia primary. And within weeks of Thomas joining the race, Barrow, a conservative Democrat, was placed at the top of a list of 14 national co-chairs for Obama’s massive, 50-state voter registration drive — along with the likes of singer Melissa Etheridge and the Rev. Joe Lowery.
Barrow has plenty of cash to make use of the Obama ad. He reported $1.3 million in cash on hand this spring.
Color me unsurprised.
What I think’s going on is that Obama is making a real play for Georgia here. You’ll recall that it’s on his “sweet seventeen” list. He’s already within ten points of McCain in what ought to be a Republican lock. Backing a blue dog Democrat may lure moderate voters to Obama’s side. And backing one over a black woman signals that he’s not toeing a racial line. Does it mean he’s taking African-American votes for granted? I think you can read it that way.
But a good strategy for winning Georgia? Or at a minimum forcing McCain to spend time and money there? I think you can read it that way, too.
I think Obama is serious about winning in November. And serious too about expanding the electoral map in favor of Democrats. The truth is, getting there isn’t always going to be pretty.
Posted on June 19th, 2008 by seanreagan
Filed under: 2008 House races, Obama
nice post, sean. very perceptive.
Obama should not take AA votes for granted. Period. He should work hard for AA votes in the non-southern states similar to his current chasing for Appalachian/RustBelt White votes.
I still doubt that Appalachian/RustBelt White voters will go for Obama. If not, then Obama is doomed for McGovern type of landslide defeat.
As i mentioned before, the reality is Obama may not win VA, GA, NC or any of the southern states for that matter because no matter how much AA voters turnout, he needs to get atleast 35% of the White vote which is impossible for Obama, because his opponent is ‘war hero’ McBush, which unfortunately, southern voters worship regardless of the policies.
“I think Obama is serious about winning in November. And serious too about expanding the electoral map in favor of Democrats.”
As opposed to him not being in favor of that? Did you just run out of words at the end of that?
Obama took black voters for granted in Philadelphia, refusing to campaign in black communities. Can’t be seen in poor urban black communities just like he can’t be seen with Muslims, I suppose. And guess what happened? Black voters came out, but NOT in the numbers that he needed. He needed an overwhelming show of support of new voters flooding the voting booth.
Obama is not taking AA votes for granted. It’s offensive to think that people make decisions on their leaders based on race. This is a multi-racial country. AA’s support Obama overwhelming because of his leadership and character, not his race.
It is also offensive to say that people base their decisions based on gender.
I don’t see why Obama would ignore someone who took the risk to endorse him early on, especially since he is still campaigning. I think he is doing the right thing here.
No Drama 4 Obama
Elle in MI, correct.
kssn11, incorrect.
Kay, Obama did not refuse to campaign in “poor black urban communities”. He refused to pay payola.
Check out this blog for more info;
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/4/11/124223/530/500/493764
Folks should be happy that John Barrow has a D after his name. He is a Blue Dog and the great thing about the Democratic Party is there is room for moderates like Barrow (a member of the House Agriculture Committee by the way). People need to accept the political geography of rural America.
[...] The Back Forty’s seanreagan reminds us that winning won’t be pretty, especially on plantation [...]
Kay - took for granted? I can’t recall the details but there was some sketchy “you pay or we don’t play” activities in some of the urban areas.
Obama stuck by his principles of ethics and didn’t pay. I wouldn’t call that taking for granted.
[...] was desperate for superdelegate recognition. You remember your friends in this business. Second, he’s trying to win Georgia, and Barrow’s a good way to do that. Does it mean he’s taking black votes and [...]
I think it’s ignorant of you to say Obama is taking advantage of the black vote because he is not supporting Regina Thomas….Could it be he thinks Barrow has a better chance of winning against the Republician nominee? Uh, Sean? I guess you believe all blacks are suppose to vote for other blacks just because they’re black?
I’m from Georgia….Even if Regina Thomas won the primary, she will not win the general…that district is too conservative…..
Hi Arelle_Dee,
Thanks for reading & commenting. The post is pretty clear - I think Obama has good reasons for backing Barrow, chief amongst which is because it will help him score points with Georgia moderates and - after he and Barrow win - gives him a good ally amongst blue dog democrats. That will help him when it comes to governing.
I never said that “all blacks are supose to vote for other blacks.” The reality is that Obama has an exceedingly comfortable margin amongst AA voters, and as he plays the big game and tries to pick off votes from McCain - which he is obligated to do - those are votes that he doesn’t have to worry about protecting. They’re there for him.
That’s a political reality, certainly on the ground in Georgia and calling attention to seems reasonable to me. As you wisely point out, Thomas isn’t going to win the district anyway. What I see here is Obama making savvy moves that are likely to put him in the White House.
Thanks again for reading & commenting.
Sean