Obama campaigning quietly from the White House

[onehandle]

Source: AP

WASHINGTON – Less than a week before Election Day, President Barack Obama is quietly using the power of his office in a final effort to get Democratic supporters to the polls and nudge close races in his party's favor. Though Obama is off the campaign trail for three full days this week, he's personally targeting key Democratic constituencies from the White House, holding conference calls with union activists and campaign volunteers, and doing interviews with radio stations that draw largely black audiences. He'll also target younger voters when he tapes an appearance on "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" on Wednesday.

The president will wrap up the week with a final campaign swing through five states where Democratic candidates are locked in tight contests. It's a homestretch strategy based on how the White House believes the president can be most effective in an election in which his name is not on the ballot but his agenda is up for debate. According to a recent Associated Press-GfK poll, nearly half of likely voters say their votes for the House are intended to send a message about Obama.

White House officials say that while they still see value in the large rallies Obama has been holding across the country this month — he'll headline three more this weekend — they also recognize that with just six days until the election, many voters have already made up their minds. "You've identified who your voters are," White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said Tuesday, adding that now is the time to get those voters motivated to show up on Election Day.

Obama held a conference call with thousands of union activists Tuesday night to thank them for the hours they've spent knocking on doors and working phone banks to boost turnout for Democratic candidates. Union officials said Obama was acknowledging the critical role that organized labor's get-out-the-vote machine will play in helping Democrats hold onto as many congressional seats as possible.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_obama_campaigning

[Kingofalldems]

1. K and R

[FailureToCommunicate]

2. Great. But is it too little too late?

[Iliyah]

3. No it's not

Dems will win thats why all this voter fraud allegations are coming up in the corporate media b/c the GOP knows that they have been lying about the so called polls, etc.

Defense for them will be - blaming the people of color for voter fraud, and of course the racists will eat it up and the media will run with it totally.

Ya see the Paul incident with the young lady is no where to be found or even talked about with our media? If it was in reverse, it would be on every headlines on every paper and internet and Fake News would destroy Conway.

[NewJeffCT]

6. they'll still blame ACORN

I remember Bush blaming FDR for problems in Russia...

And RWers still blame Carter & Clinton for any problems with North Korea...

[Plucketeer]

4. I don't see it that way.

We've been expecting the worst for some time now. I have a feeling the worst case scenario is not gonna come to pass. :kick:

[emulatorloo]

5. Of course not. And besides he's been doing this since around Labor Day

and polls have been moving our way. GOTV!!!!!

[wpelb]

7. I don't think this is too smart

Ronald Reagan's campaign strategy was always to "run scared" right up to an election. In other words, even if the polls showed you up twenty points on election eve, you campaigned as if you were a little behind (or at least tied). That's why he won several elections against opponents that should have beaten him easily, IMHO. (I don't know if he applied that strategy when campaigning for fellow Republicans, though.)

I think it would be much better to assume that you need to get out there and scramble for every last vote (and I don't necessarily mean by phone or on TV). Make appearances. Be seen with candidates you support. Look presidential while doing so, of course. But if you're Pres. Obama, sitting in the White House and keeping out of sight makes the opposition think you're hiding. The only justification he could make for staying in the Oval Office would be if there were some sort of national emergency (e.g., terrorist attack or the like). That's not going on now.

[piggy2000]

8. Get out and Vote, People!

“People often say that, in a democracy, decisions are made by a majority of the people. Of course, that is not true. Decisions are made by a majority of those who make themselves heard and who vote - a very different thing.” - W.H. Judd

[Change Happens]

9. Doesn't have to worry about calling my household!!! We are ALL FIRED UP

and ready to go...In Florida :)