Obama stirs up South Florida crowds

[Adelante]

Barack Obama whipped up some Cuban-American leaders in Miami and an arena-sized crowd in Broward County on the last leg of a three-day tour kick-starting his presidential campaign in Florida.

It was a splashy debut for a candidate who came in a distant second behind rival Hillary Clinton in the state's Jan. 29 primary. Obama sought to smooth over his nine-month absence not with apologies, not with Florida-friendly assurances about Everglades funding and hurricane insurance, but with enthusiastic crowds and a groundbreaking speech.

Though national politicians have paid homage to the prominent Cuban American National Foundation for decades, Obama was the first to demand change in U.S. policy, including face-to-face talks with the repressive regime. And the 16,000-strong crowd at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise proved he can draw the kind of throngs in Florida that have swarmed to see him across the country.

The Florida trip also doused him with more than $1 million in campaign donations. Obama promised frequent visits, saying in Miami, ``This is just hello, this is not goodbye.''

-snip

`NO HARD FEELINGS'

If anything, the Florida trip helped dispel concerns that Obama's boycott of the state's renegade early primary would come back to haunt him.

''There are no hard feelings against Obama,'' said 45-year-old Barbara Muir of Boca Raton. ``We can't wait to vote for him in November when our votes will count.''

http://www.miamiherald.com/457/story/545275.html

[populistdriven]

1. he is doing a great job, word is getting around, it is making a huge difference, keep it up Obama!

[Hope And Change]

2. K & R!

[bear425]

3. Did you read the comments to this article?

Some of them are inspiring - others are ridiculous. Interesting to see.

[Adelante]

7. I've stopped reading comments sections a while ago

They're so stuffed with astroturf everywhere you go, it's not really interesting anymore. I used to enjoy it, too.

[LiberalAndProud]

4. Nice.

Except the article says the Republicans are trying to undermine his credentials, then immediately quotes a Clinton activitist. Leaving one to wonder, what are the Republicans doing.

Good article. Good on Obama.

[SoFlaJet]

5. If anyone wonders WHY Hillary won Florida...this is from 1/28

Dear Florida Democrat,

I'm writing to you with incredible news.

A month ago, pundits, politicos and the media thought Florida Democrats wouldn't vote in the January 29th primary because of all the fuss about delegates.

Boy, were they wrong!

Nearly HALF A MILLION Florida Democrats have already voted in tomorrow's election!

Early and absentee turnout has been simply phenomenal. We have QUADRUPLED early turnout in 2004's Presidential Primary. And, even better, we're right on the Republicans' heels. If Democratic turnout approaches anywhere close to Republican turnout tomorrow, there's no way anybody will be able to underestimate Florida Democrats anymore.

If Florida Democrats vote tomorrow, it'll be clear that Democrats have the momentum to elect a President in November.

So go vote!

For any last-minute voter registration questions, or to find your polling location on Election Day, please contact your county Supervisor of Elections office.

If you requested an absentee ballot but haven't turned it in yet, make sure to bring it to your polling place tomorrow. You have to get it in the hands of elections officials before the polls close at 7PM.

Please forward this email to all of your Democratic friends and neighbors to remind them to vote also. This election is enormously important. Don't let any Florida Democrat stay home!

There's something happening among Florida Democrats, and the national media is waking up and starting to pay real attention. If you're still a skeptic, read this article from Sunday's New York Times.


Do you believe me now?

Then get out and vote tomorrow!

Sincerely,

Congresswoman Karen L. Thurman
Chair, Florida Democratic Party

[floridablue]

6. Are any other Floridians concerned

That the DNC will simply write us off in November and not campaign here? I understand the trips by candidates now. There are a lot of donations to be captured.

[mia]

8. "...at the CANF luncheon ...Obama got seven standing ovations..."

Found in the Comments section

"I was at the CANF luncheon and noted three events not mentioned by the media. First, the only boos from the crowd were directed at Marco Rubio for clinging to a hardline policy older than he is. Second, Obama got seven standing ovations from the Cuban-American crowd. Third, before introducing Obama, Jorge Mas Santos gave a passionate speech in which he soundly repudiated the Bush policy towards Cuba and called for a new approach. He gave Obama "un abrazo" after the Senator's speech. All around me people were saying "Good for you, Jorge!"

Posted by: tashby"
http://pod01.prospero.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?tsn=11&nav=messages&webtag=kr-miamitm&tid=45394

[Adelante]

9. Thanks for adding that

I'm happy to know he was so well received :)