Hundreds rally in Plainfield for Obama

Barack Obama got Sen.Ted Kennedy's endorsement yesterday.

Hundreds of enthusiastic Obama supporters from Plainfield and central New Jersey crowded the auditorium of Queen City Academy for a rally in support of the candidate last evening.

Local Obama coordinator Rashid Burney, Councilor-at-large for Wards 2/3, emceed the evening's event, which featured Akin Salawu, a founder of NJ for Obama, as well as remarks by Rebecca Widdick, co-chair of Union County for Obama, and local notables.

Attendees were given opportunities to volunteer in the Senator's grassroots New Jersey campaign as well as to receive email newsletters and alerts from the state campaign HQ.

Greeting scores of old friends, I was pleased to see several Republicans in attendance. News reports have consistently relayed information that Barack's appeal crosses party lines. I was surprised to learn that one longtime Republican friend, a former president of the Plainfield League of Women Voters, had changed her party registration to Democrat in anticipation of the presidential primary.

Local organizers include Union County Tax Commissioner and former Councilor Liz Urquhart, Councilor Elliott Simmons, and activists Marie Davis, Linward Cathcart and Tai Lattimore. Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs, said to be a Clinton supporter, was present to welcome the crowd. Local clergy participating included Pastor LaVerne Ball of Rose of Sharon Church; the Rev. Gary Kirkwood of King's Temple Ministries; Bishop George Benbow of Christian Fellowship Gospel Church; and the Rev. Oscar O. Turk of Metropolitan Baptist Church in Edison.

The New Jersey race, once considered 'in the bag' for Clinton, has become highly competitive and is now considered 'in play'. Though the most recent Fairleigh Dickinson poll (see here) shows a 45%-30% spread for Clinton over Obama, realities on the ground challenge taking the poll at face value.

The spread with unaffiliated voters -- registered voters without a declared party affiliation -- gives Obama the edge, with 16% to Clinton's 9%, with 44% still undecided.

As the South Carolina vote revealed, many unaffiliated voters are making their mind up in the last few days before the election, so we may see Hillary's lead evaporate -- especially now that the powerful Kennedy clan has thrown its weight behind Obama's candidacy.

New Jersey, like many other states, has an 'open' primary, in which registered voters with no party affiliation may declare an affiliation at the polling place and vote in the primary.

Observers note that the FDU poll was conducted over a 7-day period, from January 20-27, and that the results may prove less reliable because of fast-moving developments in the campaign, including rank-and-file Democrats' revulsion at Bill Clinton's bulldog tactics.

For Obama supporters to maximize his chances, though, volunteers will be needed to step up and man (person?) the phone banks and polling places as we head into next Tuesday's primary -- the first one since 1984 in which New Jersey's vote actually makes a difference.

See contact information below.

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• Website: "Obama For President"
• Local Contact: Email Plainfield coordinator Rashid Burney here.
  

-- Dan Damon

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