Barack Obama. On the Move.

I have always been amazed at Barack Obama's way of walking into, practically any corner of the country and people just, appear. That is the wonderment of Obama. It is. He goes straight to Democrats, Independents, and Republicans, as himself, and his discussion does not change.

It does not.

Then you have to ask yourself, is he really appealing to so many?

I have to say, yes.

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One of my mother's sisters lives in northern Alabama. Well, my mom got a phone call from her sister, excited that Barack Obama opened an office in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

Yes. Tuscaloosa.

The irony is that my aunt informed my mother that no presidential campaign has opened an office in Alabama for years. Not on the Democratic side.

I had to sit back and think. The excitement his campaign is drawing in all these communities that the Democrats have continued to ignore. Can we really outreach on using a 50 State Strategy?

Yes we can.

It really is called, campaigning, present your positions, and ask for the vote. Why should we, as Democrats, continue the same circle of 50+1? Aren't we smart enough to expand? Or even try? How do we know that we cannot be successful if we don't, try? That is why, I like Obama.

So, far the Obama Campaign has opened 19 offices in 13 of the 23 February 5th states. That is impressive. Along with the offices are staff, working and ready to go.

psericks, over at One Million Strong, highlight the newest offices opening. Three in Alabama. Fargo, ND just opened. Boise, ID not so long ago. And that an Alaska opening is coming. Yes, ALASKA.

While the Clinton Campaign has 5 offices opened, for the February 5th primaries/caucuses. Arkansas, New Jersey, California and New York.

Question, to you. What does this tell you? What does it mean?

It means that Team Clinton is a top down organization. Huh? It means that all the endorsements, willingly and otherwise, is meant to secure GOTV in the February 5th states.

Don't get it? It is called, "calling the chits in." Through endorsements, etc., Team Clinton can call the chits in and the chits better produce votes and caucus goers, for Team Clinton.

Basically, machine style politics. You don't invest, as a campaign, in any state. You may have a token office open, but the leg work is done by calling your chits in. These chits are known in the state and locally, and should have a GOTV in place, by picking up the phone.

Is this a solid, good way to go? For me, 50/50. I worked on machine style campaigns in Chicago. A real oiled machine. Ask, Mayor Richard Daley. And I worked on grassroots campaigns, Harold Washington. Which was more passionate, for me? The grassroots.

Why? Because sometime you meet a candidate or become informed of a candidate that makes you sit up on your couch and pay attention. That is what Harold Washington did for many Chicagoans, against the Chicago Machine. He won one vote at a time, through thousands of homes, and hundreds of churches. People that knew nothing about politics, but was hit by the messenger, started to appear.

That is what has happened with Barack Obama. He is running a true grassroots campaign. This is being run through thousands of homes, groups, churches, all over this country. When an Obama office opens up, the office is not token. It is all about working and getting the vote out. It is about registering folk to vote, canvass, phone bank, etc. It is not machine style driven. It is driven by us. The people.

So, if you need to know the drastic difference of Obama Campaign and Team Clinton, it is how the approach is. Obama is grassroots. Team Clinton, chit driven.

Who will win? Well, Harold won with the roots. What do you think?

And the Time Magazine Cover goes to:



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