Des Moines Register Final Poll: Obama Leads

From the Des Moines Register

New Iowa Poll: Obama widens lead over Clinton
By THOMAS BEAUMONT • REGISTER STAFF WRITER • Copyright 2007,
Des Moines Register and Tribune Company • December 31, 2007

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama has widened his lead in Iowa over Hillary Clinton and John Edwards heading into Thursday's nominating caucuses, according to The Des Moines Register's final Iowa Poll before the 2008 nominating contests.

Obama's rise is the result in part of a dramatic influx of first-time caucusgoers, including a sizable bloc of political independents. Both groups prefer the Illinois senator in what has been a very competitive campaign.

Obama was the choice of 32 percent of likely Democratic caucusgoers, up from 28 percent in the Register's last poll in late November, while Clinton, a New York senator, held steady at 25 percent and Edwards, a former North Carolina senator, was virtually unchanged at 24 percent.

The poll reflects continued fluidity in the race even as the end of the yearlong campaign nears. Roughly a third of likely caucusgoers say they could be persuaded to choose someone else before Thursday evening. Six percent were undecided or uncommitted.

The poll also reveals a widening gap between the three-way contest for the lead and the remaining candidates. No other Democrat received support from more than 6 percent of likely caucusgoers.

Rest of article can be read at link above.

Obama not only draws from Democrats, but Independents and Republicans.

It's time to prove the poll right.

CAUCUS
CAUCUS
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JANUARY 3RD.

6 Minute "How to Caucus" Video

Questions about the caucus process? Watch this 6 minute video, and you'll be an expert.

Ex-Felons Can Caucus

Any ex-felon who has finished his or her sentence, probation, or parole is allowed under Iowa law to caucus. If the ex-felon is not registered to vote, he or she may register to vote at his or her caucus location on Thursday, January 3, 2008 at 6:30 pm and then caucus.

Some ex-felons wrongly assume they cannot vote. The law was recently changed. On July 4, 2005 Governor Tom Vilsack signed Executive Order 42, which automatically restores the right to vote to ex-felons who have completed their sentence, probation and parole. Answers to common questions are here.

McCain Losing Votes to Obama in New Hampshire

Hat tip: Prometheus6

McCain losing votes to Obama in N.H.
By Maeve Reston and Doyle McManus, Los Angeles Times Staff Writers
December 30, 2007

NASHUA, N.H. -- Like many New Hampshire voters, Dave Montgomery considers himself a dyed-in-the-wool independent -- which in this state means he can vote in either the Republican or Democratic presidential primary when he goes to the polls Jan. 8.

This year, the semi-retired school bus driver from Milford finds himself torn between two candidates, one from each party: Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Sen. Barack Obama of (D-Ill.).

Montgomery likes McCain, he said, because "he seems to be enough of a rebel." He likes Obama for pretty much the same reason -- because he seems to be "his own man."

"I think either one of them could do the job," he said.

Independents like Montgomery may be the decisive factor for both major parties when New Hampshire holds the nation's first primary next week, hot on the heel's of Iowa's caucuses on Thursday. And the choices these nonaligned New Hampshire voters make almost assuredly will shape the nation's later primary races.

"This big group in the middle . . . has a chance to really transform the election," said Tom Rath, a veteran New Hampshire Republican strategist who is advising former Gov. Mitt Romney (R-Mass.). Describing the efforts to woo independents, he added: "It's more like a general election here."

If Obama bests national front runner Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.), he probably will owe his New Hampshire victory to independents, a Los Angeles Times/Bloomberg poll suggested last week.

Among the state's registered Democrats, the survey found Clinton led Obama, 35% to 28%. But among independents who plan to vote in the Democratic primary, Obama led, 37% to 24% -- turning the contest into a virtual tie.

Rest of the article is HERE.

The reason why this article is important, is because it points out the fallacy of Barack Obama's ' Unelectability'.

In the last month, poll after poll has consistently shown that Barack Obama polls well, against every major GOP Candidate in the General Election. He consistently polls BETTER than Hillary Clinton.

Why?

Because of his appeal to independents and some Republicans.

You see in this article that Hillary wasn't remotely a choice for him. It was Obama or McCain. Independents have already told the pollsters that they aren't voting for Hillary Clinton. They will consider Obama.

You win elections by trying to appeal to the broadest possible constituency. Of course you CAN win with '50%+1', but what has that brought us in this country the past seven years? Nothing but bitterness upon bitterness. Why set ourselves up for that AGAIN (with Clinton), when we don't have to. When you have a candidate that can gather a broad coalition to govern.

Barack Obama is electable.

He's NOT the one that HALF THE COUNTRY says they will NEVER VOTE FOR.

I have said it before; I'm not naive to think that Obama couldn't be victim to some sort of Bradley Effect. But, I stand by this: for him to catch up to where Clinton is RIGHT NOW?

It would have to be the size of a tsunami.


CAUCUS-JANUARY 3RD.

Michelle Obama Asks - ARE YOU READY?

The Future First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama, asked this question in Orangeburg, South Carolina last month.

If you need a reason to vote for Obama, if you have questions, then listen to Michelle Obama. Imagine this woman as First Lady, and then tell me again why you can't spend two hours on January 3rd to Caucus for Barack Obama.


Here is a link to the video:Michelle Obama's Speech in South Carolina

Two Key Things to do for Obama

So you don’t have time to volunteer this week and you can’t spare $2,300 for the campaign, but you support Barack Obama. How can you as an Iowan help the Obama movement? Two easy but important things:

1) Click here and complete a Supporter Card (if you haven’t already): Make sure you click on the "I will attend my precinct caucus for Barack Obama box.” It may seem meaningless, but it really helps.

2) Attend your neighborhood caucus at 6:30 pm on Thursday, Jan. 3 and support Barack Obama.

Monday is First Night Festival

Don't forget--Dec. 31 is the First Night Festival in Council Bluffs! First Night is a family-friendly New Year's Eve celebration filled with art, music, dance, and interactive entertainment. It features a wide variety of artists with a multicultural bent, including an African performance group and the Salem Church Steppers! A full schedule of events can be found at www.firstnightcouncilbluffs.org.

Our Council Bluffs/Omaha Advisory Committee member Inky Westfall is chairing the event, and it looks out of this world! Have a great New Years!

Joseph Nolte,
Director of Statewide Operations
African American Historical Museum and Cultural Center of Iowa
55 12th Avenue SE Cedar Rapids, IA 52401

PS--Don't forget! To be listed in the 2007 Annual Report, Museum memberships must be postmarked Dec. 31 or be made online via PayPal by Dec. 31! For more information, visit www.blackiowa.org.