Barack Obama: Our Moment Is Now, full speech

Senator Obama and his family

Obama: Four New Endorsements in 48 Hours

As a further sign of Democrat momentum shift, Barack Obama has received four new political endorsements in the last 48 hours. While endorsements were slow coming out of the gate, Obama's increasing assault on Hillary Clinton's lead in key early states seems to be convincing-enough evidence for some that his campaign is nationally-viable.

It started on Monday afternoon, with the announcement that anti-war proponent U.S. Representative Barbara Lee (D-CA) was endorsing Obama. More good news followed later from one of the earlier battleground states when news broke U.S. Representative Carol Shea-Porter (D-NH) also came out in favor of Obama, resisting a strong consideration to remain neutral.

After that, U.S. Representative Betty McCollom (D-MN)announced she, too, was now supporting Obama, as a leader she "respects and has sound judgment on the most important issues facing the nation".

And earlier this afternoon, the former chairman of the South Carolina Democratic Party Joe Erwin threw his backing behind Obama, stating:

"I believe in his message and I think in Senator Obama we see a candidate who does what to me is the most important thing we can do in this election and that's to change the course of American politics."

As Obama is beginning to hit his stride and get his message in front of voters, it seems some undecideds are beginning to get comfortable with embracing a candidate who geniunely represents a break from politics-as-usual.

Latest Poll: Obama Expanding Lead in Iowa, Closing Gap in SC

Strategic Vision just published the results of a 3-day poll taken in Iowa between November 30th and December 2nd, putting Barack Obama at 32% with John Edwards and Hillary Clinton tied at 25% with a 4.5% margin of error.

A new poll (link), released moments ago, shows Barack Obama riding a wave of momentum and slightly expanding his lead in Iowa.

And this is mostly before the recent switch by the Clinton campaign to attack mode. Such negative campaigning has historically not sat well with Iowa voters. John Edwards will undoubtedly benefit as well from the change in tone, but Obama's ground organization seems to be having an impact.

The email flap, Kindergate, and a number of other negative attacks sourced by the Clinton campaign are clearly not having the desired effect. Her national lead over Obama in the latest Rasmussen Reports presidential poll has dropped to just seven points.

Meanwhile, in SC, the Obama-Oprah roadshow has outsold the original 18,000-seat arena venue for their fundraiser to the point they've needed to move it to the 80,000-seat University of South Carolina football stadium. Within the state, Clinton's overall lead in South Carolina over Obama has dropped from 13 points in September to just 2 points.

There seems to be a movement underfoot.

[cross-posted at www.dailykos.com]

Dear Iowa, warm greetings from the O-Train w/video!

Dear Iowa, (and New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina)



It is my understanding that we Floridians have been known to botch an election or two. I am innocent I tell you but here I sit in the time-out beach chair just the same. Here's the thing; when you are in time-out, you have plenty of time to think. So, as I slather on my sunscreen, I am thinking about all the reasons to encourage you to vote for Senator Barack Obama.

I believe that Senator Barack Obama represents so many strands of who we are as a nation. I can feel the fierce urgency of now in the air. With Barack Obama's leadership, I believe that we can recover from 8 years of the current administration's dangerous and frightening lack of moral integrity. We have a good field of candidates but I can already see Obama inspiring unlikely volunteers to work together. I believe that Senator Obama is the one who can unite our country and turn us around. The fierce urgency is now. Now is our chance to stop them from driving us over the cliff. If the GOP maintains control of the White House in 2008, I don't think that our democracy can survive another term of attacks on the Constitution.

The Tampa Bay O-Train has been working to elect Senator Obama as the President of the United States, not the President of Florida, so even though our all-volunteer grassroots group continues to introduce Barack Obama's message to Florida, we also recognize the importance of what the four early primary states will be doing very soon. We have continued our fundraising efforts to help Obama win in your states.

We also created an all-volunteer Youtube music video. No, we are not professionals and probably shouldn't have tried this at home, but we have an abundance of audacity, so here it is in all its optimistic and amateurish glory. We hope that it inspires you as you suffer blustery conditions up north over the next month or two.



We shot our video at a few locations on both sides of Tampa Bay. We started in historic Ybor City, known as Tampa’s Latin Quarter. From its origins as a cigar manufacturing center, Ybor has become one of Florida's top-ranked nightspots. Ybor has a charm and beauty that is unique and is also one of only two National Historic Landmark Districts in Florida. The O-Train group meets regularly in Ybor City at the historic Marti-Maceo Club. The O - Train also organized a $25 fundraiser/rally last April at the Cuban Club in Ybor City where 3000 people welcomed Senator Obama to the Tampa Bay area.

We began our video shoot at King Corona Cigar Bar & Cafe where the owner, Don, welcomed us and you to come on over:



What is remarkable about Senator Obama is that he has attracted enthusiastic volunteers from all walks of life, all political parties, all ages, all races, religions and income levels. We discovered that our music video volunteers also represent that wide variety of people who would not normally be found working side by side. Obama's fresh unbeholden approach has brought us together. We are each trying to be part of the solution with newfound common ground and a strong sense of purpose.

Dr. Smith is feeling that sunshine!


Boofdah:


Sisters, sisters. There were never more devoted sisters:



Our next video shoot location was at Dr. Marty's home in the Clearwater area. Dr. Marty told us

"Just call me Marty because my mother didn't name me doctor."

Marty was a wonderful host who treated each volunteer with warmth and enthusiasm.


Marty's beautiful home:



O-Train volunteers getting ready to go.


Yeah, we had choreography but no spirit fingers:


We took the time to listen to the wisdom of our elders,

O!


while our youth taught their elders a thing or two:


The peanut gallery was fired up and ready to go:


Bobnbob tried out Marty's hammock.


mommabobnbob and law ninja taking a break:


Barbara for Barack!



Our last location was on Bayshore Blvd not far from MacDill Air Force Base. We received quite a few thumbs up and honks from cars driving by as we shot this footage.

thefos, jjackso1, bobnbob, Rozrod, Georgia & Mizonglohong


Eric & Frank:




That's a wrap!


Please come on over and caucus for Senator Obama on January 3rd!

More O-Train pics here:http://www.flickr.com/groups/362034@N21/


A very special thank you to Eric Billington, Mo Eppley and all the volunteers who participated and made this such a fun adventure!

'Twas the month before Caucus

'Twas the month before Caucus, when all through the state

Iowans were stirring, wanting a choice in their fate;

The candidates came before voters with care,

In hopes that the Caucuses soon would be theirs;

The volunteers were nestled all snug by their cell phones,

While visions of canvassing chilled them to their bones;

And mamma with her PC, and I with my laptop,

Had just settled down for a long-winded blog,

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,

I sprang from the keyboard to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a flash,

Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow

Gave the luster of mid-day to objects below,

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,

But Senator Obama, armed with hope and not fear,

With young volunteers, so lively and quick,

I knew in a moment that Clinton must feel sick.

More rapid than eagles his followers they came,

He inspired optimism, and called them by name;

"Now, Red! Now, Blue! Now, Independent and Green!

Come Black! Come White! Come elderly and young, so lean!

To the top of the polls! Don’t you hear the call?

Now caucus away! Caucus away! Caucus away all!"

As our weary country did hunger for hope,

when met with an obstacle, they did not mope,

So up to the poll-top Obama’s crew flew,

With a sleigh full of audacity to hitch themselves to.

And then, in a twinkling, The Register did leak

Obama’s surge in the polls is strong and not weak.

As I drew in my hand, and was turning around,

Senator Barack Obama came in with a bound.

Equipped with integrity, from his head to his boot,

just hitting his stride, old polls and cynicism now moot.

With the wind of momentum now at his back,

he looks like a winner, who is right on track.

His eyes -- how they twinkle! His smile, wide as a brim

His ears sticking out, yet looking just right on him!

His manner a rare mix of confidence and humility,

Just what we need to break through hostility.

And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;

A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,

Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;

He spoke of the law and Senate Foreign Relations

And pledged to work with all to bring peace to the nations.

As he left us with challenges to do more than our foe,

We said yes! We are fired up and ready to go!
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a nod,

leaving behind clear visions for here and abroad.

And I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,

"Happy O-Caucus to all, and to Bush a good-night."