Why aren't we doing more to go after the rural vote?

[iceman66]

Don't get me wrong, I think Obama is running a GREAT campaign overall, but I think he might be doing a little better in some of the traditionally 'red' states if at least some effort was made to point out the candidates' respective voting records on agricultural issues. There has to be at least a few voters in these states who actually consider their economic interests in deciding who to vote for!

Obama actually has an EXCELLENT record in this regard, wheras McCain has been absolutely abyssmal. I believe he has voted against every single farm bill for quite some time. For some reason. I don't think this has ever been pointed out by the campaign.

Given the relatively low cost of advertising in places like the Dakotas, I don't see what they'd have to lose by running a few ads pointing this out.

[JohnnyCougar]

1. That's a great idea.

I think Obama should give a speech/hold a rally somewhere in the heartland. Kansas or South Dakota. Or even that Congressional District in Nebraska where he has an outside shot at winning. He should emphasize his rural votes in the Senate -- something he has plenty of. Even if these areas are out of play, you know that speech will play well with rural voters in Ohio, Missouri, Wisconsin, Michigan, etc.

[iceman66]

2. Exactly.

This is one of the many issues where the contrast between the two candidates could not be more clear, and yet its an issue that no one is talking about.

The Republicans seem to think that they can just take the heartland states for granted, despite the fact that their candidate has consistently voted against the interest of the people of those states.

Why should we let them get away with that? Obama has a much, much better record of supporting the American farmer than McCain, and yet I'd guess that few in rural communities are even aware of this!

[Indiana_Dem]

3. The campaign is opening up an office in my little red town surrounded by farmers!

We're canvassing out in the country, too. The office will be open by the end of the month. I think the campaign is opening up offices in rural areas all over in the red states right now. I think another poster said NC is getting 14 new offices in areas like this, too! I'm seeing and hearing of huge Obama signs out along cornfields in my area. You just aren't hearing it.

[iceman66]

4. Good!

Lets hope we here more about it in the days ahead!

[No Elephants]

5. I don't know why they don't do more, but you are right.

[Quantess]

6. I like your idea.

At least, appeal to rural voters in swing states.

Clearly, Obama isn't going to wear overalls and pretend to be a cowboy (W style), but on a issue level, there is a lot for farmers to like.

[iceman66]

7. If we can make it about the issues,

it shouldn't even be a contest.

[LWolf]

8. I've noticed a pattern.

Democrats, and the Democratic Party, value the urban and scorn the rural. They stereotype. It's not just the Obama campaign.

Democrats lose the rural vote when they should be reaching out to a group who is more poor working class than middle/upper class. They lose them because they discount, disdain, and ignore the issues that drive rural people. They don't relate, and don't allow that issues can, and should, be addressed differently according to the setting that they occur in.

Too many rural people respond by embracing the republican party. :(

Obama has reached out to centrist/right voters and republicans. Reached too far for my comfort. He hasn't reached out for those rural voters, though. I don't know why.

[iceman66]

16. But if you look at his voting record,

Obama has been a strong advocate for farmers, whereas McCain has been just the opposite.

I just don't understand why this hasn't been pointed out more.

[LWolf]

18. I think it should be.

I wonder if it has anything to do with perceptions connected to race.

The perception that rural white America won't vote non-white? The reality is that some of them won't. They just won't.

There are plenty that will, though, if they think it's in their best interest.

[doc03]

9. Obama has done a couple small

stops in eastern Ohio. The one near me was on a farm by invitation only. I would like to see him do an event in Wheeling WV, I am sure he would draw thousands from Ohio and WV. Back in 2004 John Kerry came to Wheeling the day after the convention and drew about 10000 and he made another in Steubenville Ohio and packed that one too. This being eastern Ohio and full of a bunch of ignorant bigots he may not win over everyone but it may get him enough votes to carry Ohio. If not for the voting irregularities Kerry would have won Ohio.

[beachmom]

10. Well, I'm not sure if I would call it "rural", but Obama has a presense

in Forsyth Co., Georgia, where I volunteer. It is deep red, but we're trying to get as many votes as we can out of the county, which Kerry only got 16% of the vote in 2004. So, I guess, unless you really have stats, how do you know Obama isn't doing more getting the rural vote? I think simply having a field office and getting Dem votes out to vote on election day is very helpful, plus we're working the undecideds vote as well.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

11. Um... how to you guys know that Obama has NOT been targeting rural areas?

I've seen him speak in many farming and industrial communities. Just because we don't see it on the T.V. doesn't mean that he's NOT doing anything. :shrug:

[BumRushDaShow]

12. ????

In this age of the internet, one would think that one could consider going to Obama's YouTube channel here:

http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=BarackObamadotcom

And note this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79kPbzNWGFQ

and go through those videos to see what he, Biden, and their surrogates have done across the country, both in rural and urban areas - including running ads that specifically TARGET certain areas, whether rural, small town, or big city, and their concerns (including farms, auto plants, heavy industry & outsourcing, etc). There are even more that are radio ads only (I don't have a link for those but I know that I have heard a number of radio ads here in PA).

IMHO, there is too much "why doesn't he do X" at a time when he HAS done not only X, but Y, and Z. But because the lunatic fringe RW nutjobs own all the media, it's not advertised that Obama has done this, so that the avg. Joe and Jane doesn't realize it. But it is out on the 'net and people across the country know what they have seen or heard from the campaign in their locations.

As a nation, when it comes to national advertising, Obama can't just focus on "rural". Nor can he just focus on "urban". He has to focus on those issues that ALL Americans can relate to ("economy", "healthcare", etc). And then he'll continue to narrowly focus on specific topics for specific areas and devises ads for those areas. E.g., he has run ads for nuclear waste dumping in NV and the DHL closure in OH and the issues of the loss of industry in PA.

What Obama is doing is unprecedented in terms of campaigning (traveling to multiple states each day) and targeting ads, and it frustrates me so to see posts like this. :(

[iceman66]

17. I know he is targeting rural areas.

He is doing a much, much better job in that regard than Kerry or Gore, in my opinion.

What I don't see is specific mention of the fact that McCain has consistently voted against the interests of rural voters, and I can't understand why.

[blm]

13. Why did you make an assumption? Dean's 50 state strategy has already strengthened Dem infrastructure

in states that had been left to collapse by negligent and destructive party chairs chosen by Clinton.

[RetroLounge]

14. How do you know Obama is NOT doing more?

Oh, and thanks for your concern...

:eyes:

RL

[Dawgs]

15. I think they see the female vote as being something that can guarantee a victory.

I could be wrong.