Progressive Democrat Issue 183

Just got off grand jury duty today and am feeling pretty tired. The debate is starting (the one McCain tried to duck, much to everyone's disgust), but don't have the energy for it.

Obama is pulling further ahead in projected electoral votes again. Looks like in addition to all the Kerry States, Obama is likely to pick up CO, IA, NM, and VA. The polls are extremely close in NH, VA, MN, NV, IN, OH, NC, FL, and MO. Current projections are Obama wins with 286 electoral votes, though that hinges a lot on winning either Virginia or New Hampshire, both of which are close. If he can pick up Nevada or Ohio, though, he won't need either Virginia or New Hampshire. So Obama has several choices for a winning strategy.

The Senate races also are looking good. Democrats are currently poised to pick up Senate seats in AK, CO, NM, NC, OR, and VA. Races are very close in OR, MN, NC and NH.

Looks like there is new verseion of Republican Racism: pitting Hispanics against blacks. Divide and conquer has always been the only way the Republicans could win. They are at it again. From the GOP chairman in New Mexico's Bernalillo County:

"The truth is that Hispanics came here as conquerors," he said. "African-Americans came here as slaves.

"Hispanics consider themselves above blacks. They won't vote for a black president."

[UPDATE: the head of the Greedy Oil Party in New Mexico's Bernalillo County has resigned over this racist remark. When will Republicans learn that racism is NOT okay!]

Of course this is a complete lie, as the polls have consistently shown. I have reported before that Hispanics overwhelingly support Obama over McCain. That trend continues not just nationally, but in New Mexico as well:

SurveyUSA, 9/14-16:

New Mexico Latinos:

McCain (R) 28
Obama (D) 69

Nationally, according to the Research 2000 daily tracking poll for Daily Kos:

McCain (R) 27
Obama (D) 68

Thanks to Daily Kos for this info.

But truth won't deter Republican racism. Is it any wonder the KKK is gathering at tonight's debate in Mississippi? Republicans freely use racism as a political tool, then seem surprised when they attrack the likes of the KKK. I have always said racism is for losers. Let's hope it proves true this year and the Republicans playing the race card loses them the election.

I want to keep pushing my readers to get directly involved in the election. The Obama campaign has a Neighbor to Neighbor virtual phone banking effort, though this is intedned for you to reach out to voters in your local area. Call your neighbors and urge them to vote for Obama/Biden.

Once again I am going to continue to push a few ideas from recent weeks with some additions. First off, on Daily Kos there is an effort to do virtual phone banks to voters in North Carolina on behalf of the Obama campaign. Virtual phone banking can be done by anyone in any place from their own home and was an extremely successful strategy in winning Congressional races in 2006. This strategy basically brings Americans together one-on-one by phone. To join in, please email kim (dot) yaman (at) gmail (dot) com and ask how. You can also read about it here.

Next, I want to urge my readers to take some time and help our friends in North Carolina elect Kay Hagen to the US Senate right from your home. This is the kind of project that won big in 2006. Let's repeat the same success in 2008. Winning North Carolina is important in four ways. There is a close House race (Larry Kissell), a close and ever-tightening Senate race (Kay Hagen), a close governor's race (Bev Perdue), and there is a shot at Obama winning the state. Some effort now could have huge results in November. This race is now officially a toss up.

Another way you can help is virtual phone banking for Jill Derby for Congress in Nevada:

You call the voter and read the easy-to-follow phone script, record the responses of the voter and click ENTER. The information is automatically recorded in the
campaign’s database. If you reach an answering machine or voice mail, you can leave a short message for the voter. Make as many calls as you can and if you finish them all, you can sign up for more.

Questions? Want to organize your friends as a team to call for Jill? Call Derby for Congress Field Director Julie Wedge at 775-770-2008.

Finally, from Marjorie I get the following:

MORE OBAMA VOLUNTEERING

You'll need to apply for an Absentee Ballot if you want to work the battleground states.
http://www.elections.state.ny.us/NYSBOE/download/voting/absentee.pdf

PENNSYLVANIA: The campaign would like our part of the state to concentrate on Pennsylvania. The voter registration deadline is 10/6. Sign up using this link: http://my.barackobama.com/page/s/PAborder For other questions, contact Paige Gebhardt, Border States Director at pgebhardt@paforchange.com

OHIO: Contact Rosie Goldensohn, Out of State Director. Long-term volunteers should call her directly at 614-743-4365. rgoldensohn@ohioforchange.com or volunteerohio@ohioforchange.com

NEW HAMPSHIRE: Contact Mike Cassel, Out of State Coordinator in the Manchester office. Tel: 603-668-2008 or email: mcassel_at_nhforchange.com

If you are a Woman for Obama traveling to NH and need housing, please contact Ann Greer by email The_Greers_at_mns.com Her mobile number is 603 860-2092.

Pennsylvania, Ohio, New Hampshire, Nevada and North Carolina are critical swing states, so all of these efforts are important. Do whatever you can, even if it's just for a day or only a couple of hours of phone banking.

Get out there and win this thing.

Here is this week's newsletter:

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

REPUBLICAN INTOLERANCE: Michael Savage Edition

FORMER POW SAYS McCAIN UNFIT TO LEAD

ELECTION PROTECTION: The Secretary of State Project

NYC TO PENNSYLVANIA BUS TRIPS: Get Out the Vote for Obama

NEVADA FOCUS (new)

MINNESOTA FOCUS

COLORADO FOCUS

OREGON FOCUS

MICHIGAN FOCUS

MISSISSIPPI FOCUS

ALASKA FOCUS

VIRGINIA FOCUS

NORTH CAROLINA FOCUS

NEW JERSEY FOCUS

WISCONSIN FOCUS

OHIO FOCUS

IOWA FOCUS

PENNSYLVANIA FOCUS

NEW YORK STATE FOCUS

CALIFORNIA FOCUS

WASHINGTON FOCUS

FLORIDA FOCUS

GEORGIA FOCUS

ILLINOIS FOCUS

ARIZONA FOCUS

TEXAS FOCUS