Obama Gets Waffles
John Kerry is set to endorse Barack Obama at a campaign event in North Carolina. The Politico waxes poetic about Kerry as a "popular figure" in the Democratic party, but also admits that such an endorsement rarely brings votes. What it does bring, however, is access to Kerry's fundraising contact list.
But Obama needs to show donors, voters and activists that he can attract more traditional support and win over the decision-makers in the party.
Thus far, he has succeeded mostly at bringing young voters and independents into the fold.
Moreover, Kerry maintains a pretty strong fundraising network and impressive e-mail list of potential donors.
Kerry is putting an e-mail list with millions of addresses at Obama's disposal, according to party sources.
The e-mail list will be very helpful for fundraising as well as organizing.
However, endorsements — even one like this, which will get huge news coverage — rarely transform a campaign.
They provide good momentary buzz, and a surrogate with star power for campaign stops. But it is rarely the reason a voter chooses a candidate.
I dunno if this is much of a coup for Obama. Kerry is not a popular figure, he is more like a popular punching bag - even for the Democrats. The Waffle boy has taken more than a little abuse from his own party faithful for losing in 2004. This far into the election cycle, it is also somewhat doubtful that Kerry's old donors have not already chosen sides, so I'm not sure that even that syrup is worth the waffles.
(If only the campaign event were being held at a Waffle House. That would be perfection.)
By Maggie, Thursday, 10 January , 2008 @ 10:38 am
Yeah, well, if Kerry himself doesn’t stick his foot in his )BHO’s) mouth during stump speeches, wife Terry Kerry will …
Hope BHO likes the taste of fine Italian leather.
By Snooper, Thursday, 10 January , 2008 @ 12:46 pm
This will only hurt Obama. We all know the animosity between the Kerrys and the Clintons. The Clintons were banking on Kerry’s loss to GWB so Hillary could run this time around. This ought to be a hoot!
By feeblemind, Thursday, 10 January , 2008 @ 1:00 pm
I believe Kerry has a penchant for endorsing losers. If I am Obama I would give the endorsement back. This could be the kiss of death for Obama’s campaign. Heh heh.
By Maggie, Thursday, 10 January , 2008 @ 1:14 pm
We could always hope for a Jimmy Carter endorsement for Hillary … and then she and BHO could divvy-up the Castro, Chavez, Putin, Amydidherdad, UBL, A.Q. endorsements.
By Tom, Thursday, 10 January , 2008 @ 3:08 pm
Now Obama will lose his party’s nomination for sure…
By Mockin'bird, Thursday, 10 January , 2008 @ 3:29 pm
Attention, Sen. Kerry! Report to your Swift Boat immediately! Repeat! Sen. Kerry! Report to your Swift Boat immediately! We sail for Cambodia in fifteen minutes! That is all!
By Uncle Pinky, Thursday, 10 January , 2008 @ 7:12 pm
Oh Great Ghu, I just watched the video of the endorsement. Kerry started out okay, but then forgot that he wasn’t running. Out of left field he threw in “I have the confidence (perhaps “competence”, audio was poor)” big pause, then back to Obama.
The man is astoundingly inept.