Obama's 'Big Tent' Message in NH Borrows from Edwards and McCain Alike

[bigtree]

Obama Evokes McCain to Win New Hampshire

2 hours ago

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — Barack Obama wants to be the Big Tent Democrat. Fresh from his victory in Iowa, Obama courted New Hampshire's famously unaligned voters, embracing all political persuasions and borrowing language from Republican John McCain, a favorite of New Hampshire's independent voters eight years ago.

"If you know who you are, if you know what you believe in, if you know your principles, if you know what you are fighting for, then you can reach out to those you don't agree with," he told a crowd of more than 1,500, including students, assembled in a Concord, N.H., high school. "If they are Republicans and independents who are working with me, that makes us stronger."

The first-term senator from Illinois said he would demand sacrifice from Americans when necessary, be frank about his goals and open in his governance.

Then, lifting McCain's catch phrase, he added: "We need someone who exercises straight talk instead of spin."

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McCain's wasn't the only echo heard in Obama's Concord speech. He also channeled Edwards' populist, anti-trade message. "We're going to have trade agreements that have labor standards, environmental standards and safety standards so our children aren't chewing on toys that have lead in them," he said.

And like Edwards, he portrayed himself as a candidate free of special interests, declaring that his political campaigns have not taken money from lobbyists or political action committees. While Obama has refused contributions from federal lobbyists and PACs for his presidential campaign, lobbyists and PACs have contributed to his Senate campaign and to a leadership committee he set up to assist other federal and state candidates.

article: http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5ij1vj16RuUjL_NKmzbme_0XJFMfgD8TVNEPG1

[SammyWinstonJack]

1. Can't he deliver his own message?