As we count down toward 2009, Plainfield Today will be posting the top ten stories, as measured by the number of views, that readers have found of interest in 2008.
Today, Number 7, from January 28, 2008: Plainfield's Obama presidential primary rally (though the rally notice got the most views, I'm also including followup stories on the rally itself and the Primary results for context).
Plainfield rallies for Obama tonight
Sen. Ted Kennedy endorsed Obama the day of Plainfield's rally.
Organizers of a Plainfield rally for Barack Obama this evening (details at end of post) are expecting a large regional turnout after the Senator's smashing victory over Hillary Rodham Clinton in South Carolina's Democratic primary this past Saturday.
Yesterday, Caroline Kennedy, daughter of the late President John F. Kennedy, who was assassinated while in office, endorsed Obama in an OpEd piece in the New York Times (see here). She wrote --
Over the years, I’ve been deeply moved by the people who’ve told me they wished they could feel inspired and hopeful about America the way people did when my father was president ...Breaking news this morning is that Massachusetts Sen. Edward Kennedy, brother of the late president, and a Democratic powerhouse for 40 years, will endorse Sen. Obama at a rally this morning at American University in Washington, DC.
I want a president who understands that his responsibility is to articulate a vision and encourage others to achieve it; who holds himself, and those around him, to the highest ethical standards; who appeals to the hopes of those who still believe in the American Dream, and those around the world who still believe in the American ideal; and who can lift our spirits, and make us believe again that our country needs every one of us to get involved.
Kennedy became increasingly frustrated over the Clinton's campaign tactics during the past several weeks, as cited by both the NY Times --
Mr. Kennedy had become increasingly disenchanted with the tone of the Clinton campaign, aides said. He and former President Bill Clinton had a heated telephone exchange earlier this month over what Mr. Kennedy considered misleading statements by Mr. Clinton about Mr. Obama, as well as his injection of race into the campaign.and the Washington Post --
Kennedy's decision came after weeks of his rising frustration with the Clintons over campaign tactics, particularly comments by the couple and their surrogates in South Carolina that seemed to carry racial overtones. Kennedy expressed his frustrations directly to the former president, but to no avail.Sen. Kennedy has pledged to campaign hard for Obama and will be heading west with him after today's rally in Washington.
Though Sen. Obama will NOT be able to make the Plainfield rally this evening, representatives of his campaign and New Jersey backers will be present. I hope to see you there.
| HOPE A 'Stand For Change' Rally Monday January 28, 2008 7:00 - 8:30 PM Join fellow Plainfielders and other central Jerseyans to rally for real change in Washington by showing your support for Sen. Barak Obama Rose of Sharon Church |
Thanks should be extended to the local organizing group under the leadership of Councilor Rashid Burney, including former Councilor Liz Urquhart, Councilor Elliott Simmons, and activists Marie Davis, Linward Cathcart and Tai Lattimore.
(Followup 1) Hundreds rally in Plainfield for Obama
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.
(Followup 2) Plainfield: The little [Obama] engine that could
Despite convention delegate totals dominating the news, Plainfielders will be pleasantly surprised to learn that their over-the-top support for Barack Obama in Tuesday's primary outshone every other town in Union County -- including Elizabeth, more than two and a half times the size of Plainfield -- pushing Obama to a 50.5% win over Clinton's 47.5% countywide.
With 77% of ballots -- 5,762 votes out of a total of 7,483 -- cast for Barack Obama, Plainfield led the county both in percentage of votes given to him and in absolute numbers.
Elizabeth, which went for Clinton -- 63% - 36% -- came in with the second largest number of Obama votes at 4,602. Linden, which went for Clinton by 52% - 45% had the third highest number of Obama votes at 3,025.
Roselle (2,975) and Hillside (2,932) came in 4th and 5th, respectively, in total numbers.
The percentage story is just as striking. After leader Plainfield (77%), the following towns gave Obama more than fifty percent of the Democratic vote: Roselle (66%), Hillside (65%), Rahway (57%), Summit (56%), Fanwood (55%), Scotch Plains (55%), and Westfield (51%).
Union County's story appears to parallel that of the state -- the exceptionally large turnout indicates that a large number, perhaps up to a third of the total, were unaffiliated voters energized to participate in the primary by declaring a party preference and voting.
In this regard, all the excitement was on the Democratic side of the contest, with Republican turnouts not reflecting anything near the same interest from unaffiliated voters. (Links to complete county-by-county and town-by-town votes are at the end of this post.)
The other parallel with what pundits have noted about Obama's constituency is the solid support in upscale communities -- in Union County including Summit, Westfield, Fanwood and Scotch Plains.
Credit for Plainfield's stunning response has to be laid at the feet of the grassroots volunteer effort coordinated by Councilor Rashid Burney. Anyone who visited Obama headquarters on South Avenue in the days running up to the primary was impressed by the buzz of activity as volunteers worked the phone banks from every nook and cranny. A big huzzah to all!
While Democratic machines throughout the state either lined up behind Clinton -- who called in her many political chits -- or made no public commitment, the Obama votes came from utterly outside the political machines, as Newark's legendary North Ward politico Steve Adubato lamented in yesterday's Ledger -- "I never saw an election where politicians like me have so little to do with the outcome."
Change is in the air.
- Turnout: "Demographic split in N.J. Democratic primary"
- "2008 NJ Primary Results By County" -- "Dem" | "GOP"
- Machines: "Unique day breaks political machines' grip"
No. 07 - Jan. 28: "Plainfield rallies for Obama tonight" (plus followups -- the rally, the Primary)
No. 08 - July 14: "Council discusses troublesome South Avenue zoning changes"
No. 09 - Oct. 08: "Mayor loses bodyguards: Right move, wrong reason?"
No. 10 - Nov. 17: "Plainfield official using vehicle without permission?"
-- Dan DamonNo. 08 - July 14: "Council discusses troublesome South Avenue zoning changes"
No. 09 - Oct. 08: "Mayor loses bodyguards: Right move, wrong reason?"
No. 10 - Nov. 17: "Plainfield official using vehicle without permission?"
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