Obama's campaign has been amazing - true grass roots

[rurallib]

I was reflecting on where the campaign is and hwo it got here. One thing thast stuck out to me is that Barack Obama has runa truly amazing campaign. Probably the first true grass roots campaign on the national level. Considering that he was supposedly the least experienced and lacking a campaign apparatus that all the others had to some degree, you have to admit what he has done is truly remarkable.
Edwards maintained a high profile in Iowa. Hillary had all the carryover from her husband. Even Biden and Kucinich had some previous apparatuses. I guess Richardson did not, although he probably had better name recognition.
A year ago Hillary was the presumed nominee and the nomination was hers to lose. Obama was pretty much unknown. He had a message, experience as an organizer and belief that he could win and change the country.
I think it is safe to say I will never see the likes of this again. Kennedy was close, but he had been angling for the presidency for a long time before he actually ran.
Should Obama win it will restore at least part of my belief that we can have a say in this country.
And should he win, he will be barraged by the right wing media from the day after the election on. Let us hope he can at least bring our party back together the way he has forged an unlikely candidacy.

[ClassWarrior]

1. That's one thing that has amazed me. How much it's guided bottom-up...

...rather than top-down. True grass roots indeed.

NGU.

[rurallib]

4. No kidding - I live in Iowa

as such we were very privileged to get very up close and personal with all the candidates. When Obama made an appearance we (the county party) was asked to help pick the venue, design the appearance, push tickets and so on. We were all involved. When Edwards (my guy) came to town we were told when and where it would be etc. Same with Hillary. With Obama we were involved, with the others we were nothing more than audience.
I still backed Edwards, but I had some investment in Obama.

[LSparkle]

2. His campaign has TRULY changed politics forever ...

What Joe Trippi and Howard Dean began in '04 has culminated in
Obama's campaign truly operating as close to "public financing"
as we have ever come, thanks to small internet donations. No
future campaign will be able to totally disregard the "netroots"
ever again.

[Avalux]

3. When I talk to people about Obama's message of change, I tell them this -

look as his campaign; the number of donors and the amounts. It is inclusive of the American people and represents change from typical political campaigns. It gives me reason to believe he actually CAN make a difference in Washington. Well, not just him - all of us. YES WE CAN.

[rurallib]

5. And I believe he will actually LISTEN. What a thought.

[TragedyandHope]

6. This is like putting a man on the moon.

We're fighting against forces of nature, history, conventional wisdom, entrenched political, corporate and media interests and the kitchen sink. We need a lot of forward momentum to reach escape velocity. And winning the nomination is just the first step.

Then it's on to the General Election where things are going to get serious. We'll look back fondly at these days like the innocence of childhood.

When Obama finally moves into the White House, it's undoubtedly going to be a bumpy ride after 8 years of Bush. The MSM, the Washington establishment and the bigots will be coming out of the woodwork to derail and condemn his Presidency.

It's going to be a tough uphill battle, but Obama has our backs and we must look out for him every step of the way.

[monmouth]

7. I contacted his campaign today about making an appearance to say

hello to the AARP convention Sept. 4-6 in Washington, D.C. I hope it works that he can do this, this is a demographic that needs to get to know him better...

[Cha]

8. That's the only way we've done this..

from the bottom up

Thank you, rurallib and thank you IOWA! Look how smart you are..we'll always remember you. Even with that endorsement from vilsack Iowa chose Obama

[nebulovsky]

9. I hope he keeps it up

We will need lots of cash to beat the Republican noise machine.