Posted on 05/18/2008 6:50:31 PM PDT by WesA
WASHINGTON (AFP) — Barack Obama set his sights on November's general election Saturday as he campaigned in Oregon, where he hopes to declare victory in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination.
Obama has said Tuesday's primaries in Oregon and Kentucky could mark the end of his drawn-out battle with rival Hillary Clinton, and his campaign pressed home that message by announcing a symbolic return to Iowa that day.
Iowa was the scene of the Illinois senator's first victory in the 2008 presidential nominating race, and his campaign noted Saturday it is "a critical general election state that Democrats must win in November."
Polls show Obama leading in Oregon, where 52 delegates are up for grabs, while Clinton is ahead in Kentucky, a state with 51 delegates that has a similar demographic to West Virginia, where she won a thumping victory Tuesday.
His campaign says he needs just 17 more pledged delegates won through state votes to reach a majority of 1,627, not counting the "superdelegates," party officials who can vote either way at August's Democratic national convention.
Using a baseball analogy, Obama said May 8 that if after Tuesday's primaries "we have a majority of pledged delegates, which is possible, then I think we can make a pretty strong claim that we have got the most runs and its the ninth inning and we have won."
The official finishing line is 2,025 delegates, including superdelegates.
During a rally in Roseburg, Oregon, Saturday, Obama presented himself as the front-runner almost without question, attacking presumptive Republican nominee John McCain on foreign policy, the environment and healthcare.
Reviving Friday's furious row sparked by President George W. Bush's suggestion that Democrats wanted to appease terrorists, Obama said that not talking to North Korea and Iran had only made those states stronger.
"I want everybody to be absolutely clear about this because George Bush and McCain have suggested that me being willing to sit down with our adversaries is a sign of weakness and sign of appeasement," he said.
He also attacked McCain's plan for a gas tax holiday to cope with rising pump prices, which Clinton supports, as well as his other environmental plans, saying the Republican had consistently opposed fuel efficiency standards.
"For him to come to Oregon as an environmental president, but his big strategy is to do more drilling and to have a gas tax holiday for three months, that's a phony solution," he said.
Pitching his message to Oregon's environmentally-conscious voters, Obama called on the United States to "lead by example" on global warming, and develop new technologies at home which could be exported to developing countries.
"We can't drive our SUVs and eat as much as we want and keep our homes on 72 degrees at all times ... and then just expect that other countries are going to say OK," Obama said.
"That's not leadership. That's not going to happen," he added.
The Illinois senator also argued that the differences between his healthcare plan and that of Clinton "pale in comparison to the differences we have with John McCain," whose proposals would only work "if you're healthy and wealthy."
The escalating rhetoric between Obama and McCain has evoked the kind of campaign battles more common in the immediate run-up to an election -- and emphasized further Obama's pole position in the Democratic race.
But Clinton has vowed to keep fighting until the end of the primary season on June 3, and campaigning in Kentucky Saturday, she defended the plan for the gas tax holiday and accused McCain of having no idea how to fund it.
"Senator McCain said let's give everybody a gas tax holiday but doesn't want to pay for it. I think I've got the best plan. Let the oil companies pay it out of their excess profits," she said
You are dead-on accurate.
The generation graduating high school right now isn’t what I’d call ‘entrepreneurial’.
I want it all
And I want it now
Hussein is still bitter ?
The United States already practically supports the rest of the world.
Maybe we should all quit our jobs and go on welfare too.
“The United States already practically supports the rest of the world.
Maybe we should all quit our jobs and go on welfare too.”
It was even worse for a couple of decades after WWII re the USA supporting most of the rest of the world.
[It was even worse for a couple of decades after WWII re the USA supporting most of the rest of the world.]
Yes, I believe we were responsible for practically rebuilding much in Europe.
First the United States helps win a war that most of the European countries did little to prevent, and then WE help them rebuild.
The gratitude never ends.../S
Obama’s arrogance is equaled by his stupidity. Where does it say that the rest of the world rules the US? He’s out of his mind.
Don’t forget the rebuilding of most of Asia that was destroyed by the Japanese serial killers, who remind me of the current Islamofacists.
Japan quickly became the third ranking country in the world in terms of economy less than 10 years after WWII due to US Aid in Industry!
Here is an ironic quote;
“when you kill people and destroy the cities in a nation and then leave them to fend for themselves, they become resentful “.
But we always help and they forget after time passes and become resentful anyway. Not necessarily Japan, but other countries.
[”We can’t drive Our SUV’s and eat as much as we want...”]
Being an elitist that means “You can’t drive your SUV’s and eat as much as you want...”
He, on the other hand, can do anything he wants to do..he’s entitled.
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A dark-skinned NAZI is better than the other kind. [/sarcasm]
Very nice graphic devolve, as all of yours are.
I am having much slowness here today, will run scans to see if it helps.
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Thanks potlatch -
A bit slow for me today too
I’m not sure which side of the mansion Obama’s Muzzie/Mobster buddy Rezco (found guilty and awaiting sentencing now!) lives on!
I saw four (4) big garbage cans out front of Obama’s mansion - they must eat all lot of food......
Our city has just switched to the huge 96 gallon containers and once a week pickup. That’s the equal of 3 regular garbage cans - which are no longer allowed. “Cut ‘em up and throw them away” they said!! Amazing.
For some larger families that may pose a problem, can’t even imagine Christmas time and getting rid of all the boxes and stuff.
SPECIAL bags for lawn cuttings can be BOUGHT, 8 bags for $5.00! Think everyone can afford that? They will find trash on the roadsides again...
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I always amazed at the amount of trash and garbage some people can create in a day or a week
The raccoons have a midnight raid
My rabbit is out front checking out the flowers this afternoon -
People with a number of children can generate a lot of trash. Diapers, fast food containers, milk jugs and all the boxes and containers things come in.
Plus lawn and tree cleanup from around houses.
I’m pleased that your rabbit is still showing up, that’s neat.
You and other elites go first, Mr. Obama: you stop driving/riding in SUV, you go cold in winter and hot in summer, you go first, ok?
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