The 2008 Barack Obama Campaign

The best run Campaign in American history.

He's run an epic campaign.  His ground game is bigger and better than anything we've seen in the history of US politics.  Likewise his money raising machine.  He's stayed (mostly) positive, even in the face of some pretty vile campaigning from Palin and McCain.  He responded far better to his opponent to the defining crisis of the election season (the wall street meltdown), and skillfully managed the Reverend Wright controversy. It's no accident that he defeated one of the most fearsome political machines in modern politics (the Clintons), and is on the verge of defeating the other (the GOP) - he's simply run a better campaign than everyone else. Finally, given his youth and relative inexperience, running a tight campaign over the course of two years is more than just an operational achievement - it gives confidence to independent voters that he is ready for the big stage. And then there's the public speaking. I don't know how his presidency will turn out - I am cautiously optimist... Read more

there's obviously a bunch of bitter republicans on this page.  but for my money, he's run a great campaign.  the only criticism i have is that he went back on his word regarding campaign finance reform.  sans that, he's been flawless.  let's hope he's as good a president as he is a candidate.

Whatever happens tonight, it is an historic day, and I think everyone should take note of that, whatever your political affiliation. This was a nation where blacks were considered property, chattel. This was a nation where blacks were hosed down and attacked by dogs for attempting to sit down at the same lunch counter with whites. Just a few short decades later, a black American has made a very serious, even probable, effort to become President of the United States. I'm not very patriotic, or hopeful, or jingoistic, but a female friend of mine originally from Jamaica, who also is not particularly patriotic, or hopeful, or jingoistic, said, "Whatever happens today, it is an historic day for America. History has been made, and even if it doesn't go the way we want it, the political landscape will never be the same again." And I couldn't agree more. Who in 1776, or 1865, or 1963, in America could have ever foreseen this day? Whatever happens.

I guess for all the gloss of it all, the thing I find myself still uneasy about is that he agreed to public financing and then went back on it so he wouldn't have his spending capped. McCain has had a hand tied behind his back this whole time, so I can't give the campaign credit when he has so much more cash to throw around.

If there was a valid court system, a valid media, and a Candidate with enough guts to call him what he is, Obama would have NO chance.

I am not particularly fond of the man, and won't be best pleased when he is announced the winner tomorrow (England is five hours ahead...), but there is no denying the sheer magnitude of his campaign. Read between the lines, and you'll see that he talks a lot of hackneyed claptrap, but that isn't important for him. The most important thing is that he has rattled cages, and caught the eye of the public, and presented himself, as the new, fresh alternative, with the constant mantra of 'Change'. To his opponents, he may have sounded like a broken record, but it is the public's opinion that matters. His victory tomorrow will be largely down to this monster of a campaign which has been run, and a well-oiled beast it is!

Obama's campaign has received tons of money.  That's generally what wins elections...who knows where the money is from though? But I don't mind the fact that Obama defeated Clinton so I don't have to look at her.  I read today that when it's all said and done that these campaigns have spent $8 per vote.  God, imagine what this money can do, and I'm not talking about electing one of these morons.

We need a clean and fresh White House. Don't let in any B.O.!

I give the 5 not to the man, but to the campaign. Without a doubt, the best run since Ronald Reagan in 1980.

Like Hillary Clinton, Obama is a corporate capitalist establishment candidate.Unlike John McCain, he doesn't promise to continue the failed policies of the Bush administration.UPDATE:BIGOTRY MAY DECIDE ELECTION

UPDATED ON SEPTEMBER 15, 2008:  I am amazed at the utter incompetence of the Obama campaign so far.  The issue of change has been snatched from it by the Palin nomination and wailing, thrashing, and indeed flailing seems to be the result.  The lefto blogs and Obama flacks are now pounding on the unfairness aspect of it all.  That really makes them seem weak and wimpy.  Outrage by the leftos about media bias towards McCain and Palin is really laughable.  Hello Dukakis campaign!  Hello Gore campaign!  Hello Kerry campaign!  (My original comment looks a little shaky, does it not!)  (chortle)ORIGINAL COMMENT:Perhaps with the exception of Romney, I would vote for Obama over any of the others in the race.  The reason?  The war in Iraq.  He is the only serious candidate pledged to put a stop to this senseless cultural imperialism. The problem is that Obama is not going to get the nomination.  He is going to drown in the sea of spin and obfuscation pouring out from the Clinton machine.

worst for prez

The man sucks, I don't like him, forget the race and color, he is a jerk, nonsense, smooth talking moron with the sincerity of Charles Manson. I wouldn't vote for him for dog catcher, not fair to the dogs. He is too skinny to scrawny and reminds me of a dark Barney Fife, except that I liked Barney Fife. He shouldn't be running for office he should be running to the Airport and go back whereever he came from, whereever that is Hawaii, Kenya, the Klingon Home world.  I have lived too long and seen too many candidates for President. This guy being President would undermine every fiber of my morality, ethics, and I would conclude this man is a professional ripoff artist. How did he get 58 million dollars for his campaign?  I guess there are morons out there with more money than sense. Who's backing this guy? The Mafia, the Urban League, or the Association of Mentally Unstable Political Pundants of Reforming the United States into a Union of paupers and Homeless People.  This guy is so obvi... Read more

It takes more then having GREAT speech writters, and being a good speaker to be prez. I'm not impressed at all.  While his campaign did seem to sweep the media and most of Americans (especially younger adults) off their feet, he didn't do nothing for me.  Says he can bring people together,  but has staunchly voted against everything repulicans tried to pass.  Now all of a sudden hes trying to get the moderate/conservative wing of the democratic party.  Supporting Bushes faith based programs etc.  So obvious what hes doing.  All about politics,  thats all hes about.  He doesnt care about you.  He just cares about Obama.I'm not really a McCain supporter either.  I am just going to vote for which ever one of these guys takes LESS of my money. Obama says hes for change,  but wraps himself around older, "has been" democrats (Clinton, Allbright etc).  That doesnt seem like much of a change?  I don't like his arrogance or his ego either.  You can't say ANYTHING about him or else its an "attac... Read more

I rate the Obama campaign; beyond lousy. In all the presidential campaigns I've lived through,I've never seen anyone less presidential.He most certainly does talk down to people; with his change and hopedoublespeak.Anything is a change and change can be for the worse.His experience is zero and if anyone criticizes him, his wife and his associates;he calls them a racist.A black presidential candidate that wants to be taken seriously needs to talkas little about race as possible, not as much as possible!!!When Clarence Thomas was maligned by the democrats in Congress, he answeredabout his ability not his race. And C. Rice has been maligned ruthlessly by the democrats,even though she is way more qualified then Obama.There are many people of color more qualified than obama, so obama has no right to pullout the race card every time he opens his mouth.

He ran an effective and highly organized campaign;he showed his executive ability. He actually talked to people like they had sense instead of talking down to them. He withstood Hillary Clinton's attacks and even triumphed over them.

He has done well giving his magniloquent speeches to his mindnumb claques, but upon further review, he is all style and no substance or as Bill Cunningham said, "All hat and no cowboy!" LOL. The guy can speak I will give him that, but if you went on just that, Zig Zigler would be president right now!

It's gotta be Obama or Clinton. McCain is insane.

Obama has run a surprisingly strong campaign. He's kept up with Hillary's campaign throughout the entire process. She still has the party insiders behind her, but Obama is stronger that some imagine. Genghis is correct that Hillary has a majority of "superdelegates" behind her, but Obama isn't that far behind on that count either. The party establishment is fairly divided. There is a chance that Obama can take the nomination, but it won't be without a fight. I don't think he's ready for the top job though; if he's elected, he'll struggle early on, for he doesn't have enough political experience for that high office. He's still too idealistic. He speaks with very high rhetoric, but where's the substance to his arguments? Obama in some of his speeches sounds almost messianic in his message. A little creepy if you ask me! Ultimately these will be Hillary's argument against Obama, and it is a very effective one. Also identity politics plays a large role in the primaries--a... Read more

Speaking as a retired political apparatchik, this has been an extraordinarily well run campaign, with attention to a lot of details, and exceptional damage control.  There haven't been a lot of primary campaigns that match this one for operational skill.

His organization is strong; he has brought out an extraordinary number of voters, including young voters who have typically stayed on the sidelines; and he has transcended the race issue.

Nothing but fluffy feel good talk, no substance.

Obama's is nothing but a hot air balloon, with nothing inside. I finally realized that yesterday after listening to the debates. He evades most divisive issues for feel-good talk. It's scary to have a big question mark become president. And if I want to listen to oratory, I go to my preacher.

I never thought he'd get this far. America never votes for the smartest person in the room. . .I wonder if this guy will prove me wrong. Still, four stars for terrific PR, decent timing, and some real good fundraising results to combat the Hillanator.

got to give him credit he is running a great campaign , but i do not believe he is ready to be president yet. he needs to put in a couple more terms in as a senator

The obvious has been stated over and over again: He's a fantastic speaker. He can make you stop what you are doing and make you listen to what he is saying. In the sense that he is drawing crowds and stirring people up, which is what campaigning is all about, he does a great job. None of it will make a difference with my vote, but he has certainly drawn a lot of attention to his candidacy. He will also gain momentum from the new trend among the mainstream media to eat their own for the benefit of the candidate they want. All the big money was behind John Kerry early on in 2004, and the media followed. It took a bit longer this time, but it's clear that Obama is the mainstream media's choice. Earlier beliefs that Obama would be "Deaned" will not happen, that's happening to Clinton. Not that I'm not getting a chuckle out of it.

Just another example of people trying to bring a successful black man down. Hillary is so much of a pander'r that makes me want to slap her in the bitch ass face. If she talking to the NRA she would have a semi-automatice rifle in her had, if she was talking to black folk she all a sudden has a ghetto accent... i dont think so you vote Hillary over Obama you must be retarded or easily fooled.   ~PEACE

Caroline Kennedy said it eloquently: Barack is our country's hope for the future. In the tradition of John F. Kennedy

He has used all means to get in touch with all America...TV, Internet, Text Messaging, everything.

It's difficult to convey a lot of "meat" in a 30-second, expensive TV ad, so Obama's campaign may have had to choose, because of limited finances, between image advertising and "meaty" policy advertising. I doubt that Obama can convince the general public to vote for him based just on policy positions; he has to first convince voters that he offers a more attractive alternative to Hillary, and that will be difficult enough. After all, Hillary has been in the public eye for quite a while, and whoever even heard of Obama before his election to the Senate in 2004. Voters who are undecided about Obama may have to seek out his positions via the internet rather than wait for ads that spell them out. His website (here) contains a great many detailed expositions of his policy positions. I think his campaign has done a great job in a short time, considering his status as a relative newcomer to presidential politics. Hillary has been gearing up for this for quite a while.

Getting a lot of the black vote which is to be expected. He seems to be a pretty good candidate.

You don't inspire people with policy detail you do it with themes and images.  In that sense his campaign is firing on all cylinders.  He is having a hard time overcoming the party establishment that is backing Clinton, but recent endorsements from warhorses Kennedy and Kerry will help.

Try it hard boy.

At some point, "soon hopefully" Obama will have to tell us what "change" means, and "Yes We Can". I find it amazing that he can inspire so many with so little.

Obama's campaign reminds me of John Edwards' in 2004. He is the fresh, young looking candidate who gets all of the Democrats excited with his positive, "time for a change" rhetoric. While there is a ton of exuberance with his campaign, there is little substance in terms of plans or solutions. As time goes on people will realize that a young smiling face and a likable personality are not enough to make a man President. However, his popularity with voters may very well earn him a Vice Presidential nomination like it did for Edwards.