The Flyover View, I Deputize You
In Scranton, PA 10/12, Bill and Hillary Clinton joined Joe Biden at a rally billed as a homecoming for Scranton-native Biden and the city's "goddaughter," H. Clinton, whose father was born and is buried in Scranton. National and local press reported that one goal of the rally was to shore up support for Obama among Dems in an area of PA H. Clinton won by more than 70%.
As the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported from the event, the Scranton area remains a tough sell for the Obama/Biden ticket, which otherwise has enjoyed relative success in the Keystone State, according to polls:
This was Clinton country during the Pennsylvania primary, and while Mr. Obama's poll numbers have climbed statewide, the region remains a challenge for the Democratic ticket.
A Franklin & Marshall College poll released earlier this month, showed Mr. Obama with an expanding lead statewide, but Sen. John McCain retained a narrow advantage here in Pennsylvania's northeast corner.
At the rally, as the Philadelphia Inquirer reported, H. Clinton directly addressed her supporters in the crowd:
Alluding to the fact that the Democratic ticket remains a tough sell to at least some local Democrats, she added, "I know you have friends and neighbors who aren't decided yet. ... So I am deputizing every one of you to go out and make the case because Barack and Joe are not asking you to marry them. They are asking you to vote for them -- and vote for yourselves."
In a series of interviews with Clinton backers in the crowd at the rally, the Scranton Times-Tribune asks about the strategy: "But will it work?"
More from the story:
For Larry and Lola Scheid, who attended the rally for the Democratic presidential ticket in Scranton, it’s a strong statement.
The Dingmans Ferry couple were disappointed when their candidate, Sen. Hillary Clinton, lost the Democratic primary. They were disappointed again when she was passed by for vice president.
The Scheids even considered not voting for Sen. Barack Obama in November, but have since changed their minds. As Mrs. Scheid observed, it helped to see Mrs. Clinton, in person, supporting her former opponent.
“I’ve heard her say it on TV, but I just didn’t know,” Mrs. Scheid said. “Just seeing her speak, though, I could feel she really believes the Democrats should win this.”
It was to voters like the Scheids that Mrs. Clinton spoke Sunday when she “deputized” them to go out and vote for Mr. Obama next month — and to persuade their friends to do so as well."
Not all Clinton supporters at the rally were convinced, though. More from the Times-Tribune story:
"Holding dog-eared “Clinton Country” primary signs, Michele Kollar, Mary Scheib and Sally Healey all gave the thumbs down, literally, to Mr. Obama. All three said they are writing Mrs. Clinton’s name in on the ballot this November.
"She should have won this race," said Mrs. Scheib. "She had the experience. She would’ve got things done on health care." Asked if there are others out there thinking the same thing, Ms. Kollar said: "We’re talking 18 million people who voted for (Mrs. Clinton). So sure, I think we’re going to see some of that."
On its blog "Philly Clout", the Inquirer reported that H. Clinton still has supporters to convince in Pennsylvania's largest cities, too. Clinton held a solo rally at the Jewish Community Center-Klein Branch in NE Philadelphia to "pump up voters" for Obama and local U.S. Rep. Allyson Schwartz (D):
Over 500 people packed into the auditorium at the center, mostly senior citizens. Many said they had supported Clinton in the primary, but had since transferred allegiance to Obama.
"I wasn't going to vote. My thoughts were that I don't know this man. I was disappointed that we didn't get Hillary," said Sara Ronson, 82, who lives in the Northeast.
Ronson told the blog that Hillary's words plus the addition of a Scranton native to the ticket helped make her an Obama supporter:
"[Vice President candidate Joe] Biden makes a big difference. He has the experience," she said. "I think a lot of people are going for Obama. He's working for the little guy."
(EVAN McMORRIS-SANTORO)
Some women just do not understand......and doing something stupid like writing in clintons name is just as stupid as the JM/P ticket.
You should be ashamed of yourselves. You were ONLY voting for her because she was a woman and that is not a valid reason to be elected to ANYTHING.
I have not always agreed with or supported Hillary Clinton, but as a woman I am deeply offended that any one would equate Palin w/ a such a thoughtful person.
I was also at the Scranton Rally on Sunday and the one thing that Hillery was begging her supporters to do was to vote for and work Obama/Biden to help ensure that the issues that she is passionate about, like healthcare reform, that those issues don't get whiped out by a McCain veto pen. With more democrats in office Hillery becomes a more effective leader in the Senate. We need a change.