The Blog World Showing Support for Barack Obama

Strength of results sends message to 2008 candidates

WASHINGTON, June 17 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Pre-K Now today released results of a national poll on voters’ views of state and federal support for high-quality pre-kindergarten programs. The findings reveal broad support for making voluntary pre-k for all children a larger fiscal priority, and suggest that candidates’ positions on the issue could influence many Americans’ votes this fall.
“The results show that Americans of diverse backgrounds, incomes and political beliefs recognize the importance of ensuring that all families have access to affordable, quality pre-k so that our nation’s children can start school ready to learn and thrive,” said Libby Doggett, executive director of Pre-K Now. “If I were a candidate in a competitive Congressional race, this is a poll I’d pay attention to.”
A bipartisan polling team from Peter D. Hart Research Associates, Inc. and American Viewpoint surveyed 800 registered voters, along with an additional 200 “swing voters” who typically split their votes between Democrats and Republicans. Strong support for a new federal investment in pre-kindergarten is evident across all demographic groups, though support is particularly strong among swing voters between 18 and 39 years of age, swing voters in the South, and black and Latino voters.
“We found solid support for both a federal role in pre-k and federal funding, and compared with other issues we survey, we saw significantly less drop-off in support when we put a price tag on the idea - even among Republican voters typically leery of government spending,” said Jay Campbell of Hart Research Associates. “These are very positive numbers.”

  Additional findings:
  --  Seven in 10 voters 					Hidden List 					 -- 					Hidden List
      and 7 in 10 swing voters 					Hidden List 					 -- 					Hidden List
      		 support a new federal grant to help states increase the quality and
      availability of their pre-k programs.
  --  By nearly 3:1, voters are more likely to support a Congressional
      candidate who backs increased funding for pre-k.
  --  Asked what makes a persuasive case for federal pre-k grants to states,
      72% of voters found it very or fairly convincing that pre-k should be
      an opportunity for all children, including those from the middle-class
      families.
  --  Almost 7 in 10 voters want state and local governments to provide
      voluntary pre-k for all children.
  --  A large majority of every demographic 					Hidden List 					 --
      Hidden List 					 including 64% of Republican voters 					Hidden List
      				 -- 					Hidden List 					 said that a lack of high-quality pre-k
      programs in their community would be a problem.
  --  A solid majority (56%) of voters said that federal, state and local
      governments are doing too little to make sure that all children have
      access to affordable pre-k programs.

“We know from decades of research that quality pre-k is a smart use of public dollars; now we have evidence that voters of nearly every stripe recognize the value of pre-k and want lawmakers to make greater investments,” said Doggett. “Among other candidates for office, we hope Senators McCain and Obama take note as they work to appeal to voters hungry for strong leadership on pre-k education.”
To learn more about the poll and the results, visit: http://www.preknow.org/media/pressreleases/nationalvotersurvey.cfm .
Source: Pre-K Now

CONTACT: Holly Barnes Higgins of Pre-K Now, +1-202-862-9863,
hhiggins@preknow.org
Web Site: http://www.preknow.org/

Christopher Bean from Slate.com has a mock email that he suggests should be used by the Obama campaign to deal with the negative emails that have floated around the net for months.  Bean’s post on Slate is so funny I have to share it in its entirety.

From: [Redacted]
To: [Redacted]
Subject: WHO IS BARACK OBAMA?

There are many things people do not know about BARACK OBAMA. It is every American’s duty to read this message and pass it along to all of their friends and loved ones.

Barack Obama wears a FLAG PIN at all times. Even in the shower.

Barack Obama says the PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE every time he sees an American flag. He also ends every sentence by saying, “WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.” Click here for video of Obama quietly mouthing the PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE in his sleep.

A tape exists of Michelle Obama saying the PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE at a conference on PATRIOTISM.

Every weekend, Barack and Michelle take their daughters HUNTING.

Barack Obama is a PATRIOTIC AMERICAN. He has one HAND over his HEART at all times. He occasionally switches when one arm gets tired, which is almost never because he is STRONG.

Barack Obama has the DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE tattooed on his stomach. It’s upside-down, so he can read it while doing sit-ups.

There’s only one artist on Barack Obama’s iPod: FRANCIS SCOTT KEY.

Barack Obama is a DEVOUT CHRISTIAN. His favorite book is the BIBLE, which he has memorized. His name means HE WHO LOVES JESUS in the ancient language of Aramaic. He is PROUD that Jesus was an American.

Barack Obama goes to church every morning. He goes to church every afternoon. He goes to church every evening. He is IN CHURCH RIGHT NOW.

Barack Obama’s new airplane includes a conference room, a kitchen, and a MEGACHURCH.

Barack Obama’s skin is the color of AMERICAN SOIL.

Barack Obama buys AMERICAN STUFF. He owns a FORD, a BASEBALL TEAM, and a COMPUTER HE BUILT HIMSELF FROM AMERICAN PARTS. He travels mostly by FORKLIFT.

Barack Obama says that Americans cling to GUNS and RELIGION because they are AWESOME.

According to CNN.com the famous “Yes We Can” video that spliced together clips of Barack Obama’s New Hampshire primary night speech and set it to music with celebrities singing along has won an Emmy award. CNN reports that the Will.i.am produced video won in the first time “New Approaches in Daytime Entertainment” category that “recognizes innovative production techniques and the use of media enhancement to support content.”

At Dipdive.com, Will.i.am talks about creating the video:

I was sitting in my recording studio watching the debates…
Torn between the candidates

I was never really big on politics…
and actually I’m still not big on politics…
but 4 years ago, me and the black eyed peas supported Kerry…
And we supported Kerry with all our might…
We performed and performed and performed for the DNC…
doing all we could do to get the youth involved…

So this year i wanted to get involved and do all i could early…

So for awhile I put it off and i was going to wait until it was decided for me…

And then came New Hampshire…

And i was captivated…

Inspired…

I reflected on my life…
and the blessings I have…
and the people who fought for me to have these rights and blessings…

and I’m not talking about a “black thing”
I’m talking about a “human thing” me as a “person”
an American…

Congrats to Will, Senator Obama, and everyone who worked on the video.

Tonight, Al Gore will endorse Senator Barack Obama for President of the United States.  “A few hours from now I will step on stage in Detroit, Michigan to announce my support,” Al Gore says in an email to Obama supporters.

“Over the next four years, we are going to face many difficult challenges,”  Gore goes on to say.  “Barack Obama is clearly the candidate best able to solve these problems and bring change to America.”

Click here to see Gore’s entire message.

Barack Obama on today’s Supreme Court decision…

Today’s Supreme Court decision ensures that we can protect our nation and bring terrorists to justice, while also protecting our core values. The Court’s decision is a rejection of the Bush Administration’s attempt to create a legal black hole at Guantanamo - yet another failed policy supported by John McCain.

This is an important step toward reestablishing our credibility as a nation committed to the rule of law, and rejecting a false choice between fighting terrorism and respecting habeas corpus. Our courts have employed habeas corpus with rigor and fairness for more than two centuries, and we must continue to do so as we defend the freedom that violent extremists seek to destroy.

We cannot afford to lose any more valuable time in the fight against terrorism to a dangerously flawed legal approach. I voted against the Military Commissions Act because its sloppiness would inevitably lead to the Court, once again, rejecting the Administration’s extreme legal position.

The fact is, this Administration’s position is not tough on terrorism, and it undermines the very values that we are fighting to defend. Bringing these detainees to justice is too important for us to rely on a flawed system that has failed to convict anyone of a terrorist act since the 9-11 attacks, and compromised our core values.

Folks have been asking me what they can do to help out the Obama campaign. Yard signs and bumper stickers are easy, but it’s going to take more that that to make sure November turns out in our favor.

First, sign up for an account at my.barackobama.com. I have to say that I’m very pleased with how my account has worked out since I signed up back in January. The campaign is very good about sending good info regarding the election, even emailing you before Senator Obama goes up to give a speech. They also make it easy to make campaign contributions.

Second, you can host or attend a Unite for Change event on Saturday June 28th. According to the website:

You’ll gather — not just with Obama supporters, but with anyone who’s tired of the politics of the past and ready for something new — to discuss our common vision for the future. And you’ll start planning how to build this movement across the country in the weeks and months ahead.

This is part of the 50 state strategy that Barack Obama has been running since day one. Click here to see how to host a Unite for Change event in your community.

This may not seem like an important undertaking, but it’s the type of thing that has made Senator Obama so successful up to this point. I’ll continue to send updates on how to get involved as I get them.

I am proud to announce that Dallas Superblogger Mike Davis has joined Senator Barack Obama’s Urban Policy Committee. Many of Dallas South’s readers are familiar with Mike’s work via his blog Dallas Progress.

Mike D. has been recognized by D Magazine, the Dallas Observer for his work helping to close down hot sheet motels and knock down drug houses in the community. He also serves on the Dallas City Plan Commission.

As President, Senator Obama plans to create a White House Office of Urban Policy to develop a strategy for metropolitan America, and Obama will appoint a Director of Urban Policy who will report directly to him, as president, to “coordinate all federal urban programs.”

Click here to see Senator Obama’s official position on Urban Policy. On his website, Obama says there is a failing commitment to America’s economic centers:

Today, government programs aimed at strengthening metropolitan areas are spread across the federal government with insufficient coordination or strategy. Worse, many federal programs inadvertently undermine cities and regions by encouraging inefficient and costly patterns of development and local competition.

Back to the news at hand, congrats to Mike D., who we may even see on T.V. discussing the Senator’s Urban Policy. Obama and his people could not have selected a better person.

So much for character.  What happened for better or for worse???

The wife John McCain callously left behind | Mail Online

Ok, now that Obama has built this huge digital movement, what are his plans for it when he wins the general election?

techPresident – Obama’s Organization, and the Future of American Politics