by John McCormick
ALBUQUERQUE – With Sen. Barack Obama about to appear at a campaign event here, he has started to focus nearly as much attention on the Republican frontrunner as his Democratic nomination opponent.
Sen. John McCain, meanwhile, is expected to campaign in Obama's backyard this evening, attending an event in Chicago's suburban DuPage County.
Before leaving Los Angeles this morning, Obama was asked why he thinks he could beat McCain among independent voters, a group the Arizona senator has always strongly appealed to and one Obama has aggressive courted.
"I haven't gone head to head with him, obviously," Obama said. "But, you know, I've consistently gotten sizable independent votes. And I actually think that independents are predisposed to voting Democratic in this election because they are tired of George Bush. I think John McCain has enormous biographical appeal as a consequence of his service to our country, and I in no ways diminish, or would sell short, that appeal. But the fact is that he has tethered himself to Bush policies, both foreign and domestic. And I think the America people, particularly independents are looking for a different approach."





Comments
The senate's most liberal senator will simply not be able to compete with McCain for independent votes.
Posted by: Jeff | February 1, 2008 3:21 PM
"OBAMA SPEAKS"
I CAN TANGLE WITH MCCAIN.
ME AND MY NEW SAGGY BOTTOM BROTHA'S WILL VOTE HIM RIGHT BACK TO ARIZONA.
NO THEY WON'T, BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE A JOB, THEY DON'T HAVE A PERMANENT RESIDENCE THAT CAN BE VALIDATED WITH ANY LOCAL COUNTY VOTING PRECINCT. THEY DON'T ALLOW THEIR WIVES OR GIRLFRIENDS TO VOTE, THINK, OR GO OUTSIDE WITHOUT EXTENDING THEM A MINUTE BY MINUTE BY HOUR "SCHEDULE"
YES, I WENT THERE, YOUNG BLACK MALES IN AMERICA ARE NOT GOING TO VOTE. TALK IS TALK AND THE VOTE IS "REAL"
YES, I SAID IT, YOUNG BLACK WOMEN MIGHT VOTE FOR YOU, IF THEY ARE ALLOWED. AS THEY ARE NO DIFFERENT THAN ANY WOMAN IN AMERICA THAT IS BEING SUPPRESSED BY HER "MAN"
YES, I SAID IT, NOT EVEN OPRAH WILL BE ABLE TO RALLY ENOUGH BLACK VOTERS TO VOTE ON THE DAY OF THE ELECTION.
PLUS, THE BLACK VOTE IS CAGED. "PURGING OF THE PROSECUTORS" WAS REAL, AND IT HAPPENED. NOTHING HAS CHANGED, UNTIL CONGRESS GETS TO THE BOTTOM OF IT, AMERICA'S MINORITY VOTE, BOTH BLACK MEN, WOMEN AND WOMEN OF ALL RACES "YOUR VOTE DOESN'T COUNT"
SO THAT IS WHY YOU CAN'T BEAT JOHN MCCAIN. ALONE!
ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE BANKING ON THE SAGGY BOTTOM NO BELT WEARING BROTHA'S GETTING OUT THERE TO VOTE!
Posted by: Roger Morris | February 1, 2008 3:24 PM
Obama's advantage is that he can inspire more than McCain. McCain's going to put us all to sleep with his soft-spoken approach. Amd Hillary's just going to yell at us.
Posted by: Roger | February 1, 2008 3:26 PM
The republicans most liberal senator (McCain) will not be able to win the idependents with the longwar, more war rhetoric.
Posted by: bill r. | February 1, 2008 3:37 PM
Roger Morris:
Since no one else has the courage to call you out on your inappropriate comments, I will. Is racist and demeaning rhetoric all you have to resort to? How about actually arguing on the merits, as intelligent people do? Apparently, it's much easier to resort to the ugliest part of human nature, than to give intelligent, measured considerations to the issues. Your comments are illustrative of why this nation remains so bitterly divided.
Posted by: Mark | February 1, 2008 3:54 PM
DEAR MODERATOR: I am offended that no one has spoken up regarding Roger Morris's comments. Since you allowed his deplorable comments to be posted, I certainly hope you allow what I wrote in response.
Posted by: Mike | February 1, 2008 3:56 PM
Roger Morris,
Your all caps typo filled rant is just laughable and showcases your ignorance. Actually in every democratic race, blacks comes out in large numbers. Either way, Obama appeals to a wide spectrum of voters. Lucky for us, the ignorant white trash like you are actually the ones who don't vote. Now go back to whatever hole in Dundalk you crawled out of.
Posted by: Jesse Cline | February 1, 2008 4:28 PM
There is an old American expression, "No taxation with out representation." Illinois deserves fulltime representation in the U.S. Senate so lets make sure that we get it. Lisa Madigan for U.S. Senator in 2010.
Posted by: jmariotti | February 1, 2008 4:33 PM
The senate's most war supporting senator will simply not be able to compete with Obama for independent votes.
Iraq, Iran, Cuba....
Posted by: JT | February 1, 2008 4:38 PM
PLUS, THE BLACK VOTE IS CAGED. "PURGING OF THE PROSECUTORS" WAS REAL, AND IT HAPPENED. NOTHING HAS CHANGED, UNTIL CONGRESS GETS TO THE BOTTOM OF IT, AMERICA'S MINORITY VOTE, BOTH BLACK MEN, WOMEN AND WOMEN OF ALL RACES "YOUR VOTE DOESN'T COUNT"
I think SC proves this KKK propaganda for what it is.
Who can forget Iowa.
Obama has huge cross support. The white debate audience treated him with respect and intelligence.
He has every chance of winning the Demo candidacy.
Despite KKK insidiousness
what a joke.
Posted by: hinamanu | February 1, 2008 4:50 PM
Jeff- this is response to your email about obama and brothas.
YOU MUST BE VERY UNEDUCATED.
Obama is not a brotha and he did not grow up in your stereotypical world of brotha's you are eluding to.
he grew up in indonesia and hawaii with his white family.
so please stop trying to stereotype him.
he is white- he is black! he is what this country needs.
GO OBAMA!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: chandiga | February 1, 2008 4:53 PM
McCain is not doing so well on the fund raising side of things.
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2008/02/news-shocker-ro.html
He better hope that the media continues to give him free coverage otherwise he might lose his grip on becoming the nominee to Paul or Romney.
Posted by: Nick | February 1, 2008 4:59 PM
Will McCain make a POW out of the USA?
How many more sons and daughters is McCain willing to sacrifice to preserve Bushs war legacy? Will McCain surrender the border to Mexico with his Open Border views? Will McCain surrender your wallet to give entitlements out to illegal aliens? Will McCain surrender Roe vs. Wade to the liberal lobbyist and partial birth advocates? Will McCain surrender your First Amendment rights?
Will you surrender your vote to McCain on Super Tuesday?
Posted by: Peter | February 1, 2008 5:03 PM
I will vote for Obama or Clinton before I vote for John McCain.
I would rather have our party rebuild itself for four years than have a RINO in the White House.
Posted by: Dave | February 1, 2008 5:21 PM
Johnny McSurge doesn't stand a chance against Obama and he knows it:
If McCain is the "best" the GOP has to offer, it's all over for the GOP but the funeral, right through November, "my friends".
No war mongering candidate is going to offer any chance of beating the Democratic party, I don't care what the polls say now, check back on them in Nov 08.
Here's some straight-talk, "my friends":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioy90nF2anI
Posted by: John E | February 1, 2008 5:45 PM
At risk of baiting the troll who uses CAPS (the surest sign of a troublemaker), I'll respond...
Obama to me is like Tiger Woods. He isn't Black, he isn't White.
He's multicultural, and that's just one of many reasons he is perfect for leading and exciting others.
Iowa is a great example of that.
Posted by: David | February 2, 2008 12:10 AM
I respect McCain's service to this country but this surge is not working. This war is not working. I think he can't back off the war because we lost too many people over it and it makes you want to keep fighting until it's all for a good cause. Or we are just there for oil, I have no idea. Can't keep hearing about the losses anymore of our young people going over there or the Iraqi people getting killed from insurgents, maybe that will stop if we get out.
We just have to end it and find another way to help them rebuild their country (again). We have to avoid war with Iran, it will be the same story.
Posted by: v | February 2, 2008 1:38 AM
SELF MADE BILLIONAIRE vs Gov.Leeches.
Self Made Billionaire, Mitt Romney, President
Fred Thompson VP
Giuliani, Sec State
Tom Tancredo;Int. Secy
NO DEMO-ALQAIDAS IN THE WHITE HOUSE!!!
macobahill= Gov leeches,demoalqaidas.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVeFVtcdSYY
Posted by: John Frost | February 2, 2008 8:29 AM
I’m a Psychologist and here is my take on Obama:
Obama is a pathological liar that comes from a very dysfunctional family.. His Mother had several Muslim African husbands who influenced Obama, but It was Muslim Lolo Soetoro who indoctrinated and enrolled Obama into a Muslim Madrassa for 6 yrs in Jakarta. Obama lies about his Muslim religion and then shamelessly hides the fact.
Did Obama used and sold drugs to other students? Yes, he did.
Obama is a man who Muslims think is a Muslim, who feels some sort of psychological need to prove himself to his absent Muslim father.
He’s a successful crack cocaine dealer-user, that was never caught.
He never takes responsibility for anything, he lies about change and then tries to peddle false hope. He’s a complete Muslim fairytale.
This is the sign of a deeply troubled person who might also be addicted to crack cocaine.
We have asked him to show proof he did rehab and he accused us of being racists..
Women must be aware what this man means; Obama means slavery for Women forever. Muslims believe Women are inferior, way below dogs.
Obama was born a Muslim and is a closet Muslim. He was indoctrinated 6 years as a radical Muslim. Obama is a Muslim ticking bomb. Obama is a Black Hitler.
Posted by: John Frost | February 2, 2008 8:32 AM
John Frost, you must be a stupid phychologist liar!
Obama 2008!
Posted by: Cathy | February 2, 2008 12:36 PM