Obama to Iowans: Pick Me At Least as 2nd Choice

[DeepModem Mom]

NYT/Reuters: Obama to Iowans: Pick Me At Least as 2nd Choice
By REUTERS
Published: December 31, 2007

INDIANOLA, Iowa (Reuters) - As the January 3 vote in Iowa to choose U.S. presidential nominees nears, Democratic Sen. Barack Obama is making an unusual plea to voters -- pick me second if you don't pick me first. The request is part of the Illinois senator's final pitch just a few days before the caucus vote in Iowa launches the state-by-state contest to pick a nominee from each party for the 2008 race for the White House.

"Even if you're not caucusing for me, go to caucus," Obama told several hundred people in a church's parish hall in this town south of Des Moines. "Make me your second choice, although you are wiser making me your first," he said to laughter and applause. To another crowd in Knoxville, Obama issued a similar appeal but added that he realized people might have already committed to vote for another candidate and "you're kind of embarrassed about it ... then make me your second choice."

In the Iowa contest's system in which voters gather in groups -- or caucuses -- to select a candidate, Republicans do not have an option for a second choice. But with the state's complex system for Democrats, a voter's second choice could be as important as the first.

Under the rules, a Democratic candidate must receive at least 15 percent support of the attendees in each precinct to be considered viable. Since the votes are held in rooms where supporters gather in separate groups depending on their preferred candidate, they can move to another if their first choice fails to get the 15 percent support. The top three Democratic candidates -- Obama, New York Sen. Hillary Clinton and former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards -- are neck-and-neck in recent polls in the state. But polls show the other four Democratic candidates are not expected to get to the magic 15 percent mark, so their supporters will be vital vote sources for the front-runners....

http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/washington/politics-usa-politics-obama.html

[Egnever]

1. Second choice may well decide this one

We will know soon I cant wait !

[last1standing]

2. Obama needs to fire the advisor who suggested that move.

Regardless of where you stand in the polls, never let anyone else think that you don't believe you will win. People tend to mistake it for defeatism instead of precaution.

[babylonsister]

4. Bullshit. That's the nature of caucuses, and every single candidate

would love to at least be considered in whatever place someone wants to put them in.

[last1standing]

5. Bullshit back at you.

There was no reason to be so foul about my post. What the hell is wrong with you?

[babylonsister]

6. Foul? Ha! Your BULLSHIT post called for it.

Then again, from what I've seen, most of them do. Yawn.

[last1standing]

8. Exactly what from my post was so offensive, then?

It's hyperpartisan hacks like you who are making everything that was good about this board less so. You're too wound up to even realize that I didn't say anything negative about your precious candidate. I made a simple comment about a bad campaign tactic.

If you had read any of my posts you would have noticed that I've mostly said very good things about Obama, but instead you just felt the need to attack without looking into the reality. What a sad shame.

[pacalo]

3. Oh, I just love confidence in someone who is running for the most important job in the U.S.

"If I'm not good enough for first place, please make me your second choice."

Experience is so important, isn't it?

[hisownpetard]

9. George Bush is nothing if not confident. He's still confident that there are WMD in Iraq.

Is that a good selling point?

[last1standing]

10. He has two ears as well but I won't hold that against other people with both ears.

He may have stolen the office (twice) but his confidence helped him get there.

[hisownpetard]

11. Exactly.

[Colobo]

7. Obama is being smart.