Obama launches campaign initiative aimed at women
Chicago Tribune - Chicago,IL,USA
Noting that he is surrounded by tough women — from his national finance chair to his wife Michelle — Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama Monday …

Michelle Obama, who introduced her husband, said he knows what women like her are going through as they juggle careers, family and their own well-being.

"The reality is that my husband is a man who understands my struggle and the challenges facing women and families," she said. "He actually listens to me and has the utmost respect for my perspective and my life experience."

In asking for the crowd’s support, she said Barack "recognizes that our society, our community is only as strong as our women and our families."

Barack Obama’s speech touched upon some of the themes he has emphasized throughout his campaign — health care, education, energy policy, the economy and the war in Iraq. He said that Americans are hungry for political change and that women will play a part in bringing it about.

"I am absolutely convinced that part of that change is going to have to do with a spirit that is embodied in this room, a wisdom that is not unique to women but — in my life — I have found oftentimes it is stronger in women," he said.

Barack Wins the First Primary
FrontPage magazine.com - Los Angeles,CA,USA
Barack Obama is the victor by a wide margin. The breadth and scope of Obama’s win weren’t apparent until when we got to see the fine print of the detailed …

Bill Clinton defined the March 31 financial filings as the "first primary" as he exhorted donors to do their utmost to lift his wife to the winners’ circle. Now the results are in - and Sen. Barack Obama is the victor by a wide margin.

The breadth and scope of Obama’s win weren’t apparent until when we got to see the fine print of the detailed first-quarter financial reports filed with the Federal Elections Commission.

On the surface, his fund-raising success seemed roughly similar to Sen. Hillary Clinton’s - by itself a big victory for the rookie from Illinois. She reports $22.5 million on hand (minus debt) that she can spend during the primary, while he has $19 million.

But $10 million of Clinton’s total comes from funds transferred to her presidential campaign from her Senate campaign committee (i.e., funds raised last year). So when it comes to net primary cash-on-hand raised this quarter, Obama has a substantial edge - $19 million vs. $12.5 million.

Relative Newcomer Obama Giving Clinton a Run in the Campaign Money …
New York Times - New York,NY,USA
Barack Obama — Clinton’s chief rival for the Democratic nomination, according to the early preference polls — has kept pace with her fundraising juggernaut. …

But Illinois Sen. Barack Obama — Clinton’s chief rival for the Democratic nomination, according to the early preference polls — has kept pace with her fundraising juggernaut. And in some ways, Obama’s first-quarter take was more impressive than that of the former first lady.

While Clinton has been a major political figure since her husband, Bill Clinton, won his first term as president in 1992, Obama is a relative newcomer to the national scene: He has been a senator for all of 27 months.

But his filing to the Federal Election Commission on Sunday indicated just how effectively he has parlayed his popularity since his keynote speech at the 2004 Democratic National Convention, which he followed up with a landslide win in Illinois’ open-seat Senate race three months later.

Obama’s campaign reported first-quarter receipts of $25.8 million from 104,000 donors — by far the largest number of donors of any 2008 White House hopeful.

Clouds part for Obama’s appearance
Boston Globe - Boston,MA,USA
–Presidential hopeful Barack Obama strode on stage Sunday for a fundraising event hours after a series of powerful thunderstorms raked the city. …

Clinton old guard lines up with main rival Obama
Guardian Unlimited - UK
Senior Democratic figures are defecting from Hillary Clinton’s camp to her main rival, Barack Obama, in the 2008 race for the White House, according to …

Obama’s Up, Clinton’s Down and Edwards Is In Trouble
Yahoo! News - USA
A new Insider Advantage survey, which was not conducted on behalf of any of the campaigns, gives Illinois Senator Barack Obama (news, bio, voting record) a …

Obama gains ground in new poll
MSNBC - USA
A new national Gallup poll finds that Barack Obama is gaining ground on Hillary Clinton. In the Democratic horserace, Clinton leads Obama, …

Obama is Best-Rated Democrat in 2008 Race
Angus Reid Global Monitor - Vancouver,BC,Canada
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Democrat Barack Obama holds the upper hand against three prospective Republican presidential nominees in the United States, …