A very committed Vermont-based volunteer has written an interesting overview of the effort to elect Barack Obama in Vermont.

But, make no mistake. Despite the outpouring of support for Obama here in the Green Mountain State, we should never think — even for a moment — that a win here is guaranteed.

Probably the most significant indicator of Obama support in Vermont has been his grass roots support. The state that brought you Howard Dean could be expected to recognize in Obama an upgraded version of its own favorite son. As soon as Obama announced his candidacy and launched his website, VefrmontersforObama was created. And the citizens responded. By Labor Day, a self-initiated petition-drive organized entirely by volunteers delivered 500 more than the 1000 signatures of registered voters required to place Obama’s name on the Democratic primary ballot. VermontersforObama also organized a Club Obama Party that served to recruit more volunteers, raise funds and publicize endorsements from the Vermont Attorney General and Treasurer, and the former Mayor of Burlington.

Read the whole thing at One Million Strong, a group blog supporting Barack Obama.

And keep on working!

We wrote a long post a week or two ago, dropping down into the mindset of Bill Clinton: an ex-President famed for speech-making, yet confronting a brash young competitor who seems to be out-speechifying him. We ended that post with the following longish paragraph of speculation:

“And when Clinton touches down in Boston or LA or Minneapolis or Kansas City this election cycle, and his own motorcade is snarled by traffic headed to an Obama rally that will more often than not double or triple the size of his own, he must think about that night, and it must make this election very personal to him, less about Hillary than about Bill, less about the President she or Obama or anyone else on earth might be, and more about the man Clinton himself never quite was.”

And the ex-President’s approach to campaigning this cycle continues to bear us out.

Attacking Obama’s speeches has become the Clinton campaign’s coordinated attack du jour. But just two days ago, in Nacogdoches, Texas, Clinton suddenly veered into the argument he really wanted to make: that he, not Obama, was the master orator.

“Clinton went on to tout — at length — his own speech-making abilities, as if to one-up the crowds of tens of thousands appearing at Obama’s rallies in recent weeks. ‘I’ve been told I give a pretty good speech,’ he said, grinning. He mentioned attendance of over a million at a speech in Africa, and over 100,000 when he spoke at the Brandenburg Gate after the fall of the Berlin Wall.”

Not just undisciplined, although the segue is that. Not just illogical, given that the message of the day was that speeches don’t count, and clearly to the ex-President they very much do — they can be historic events in the history not just of a country but of a continent.

Not just undisciplined and illogical, but childish, finally.

That’s the word we’re looking for: the behavior of a man so used to getting his way, and so used to being lionized while he does so, that losing at his own game, played almost precisely his own way, is utterly unthinkable.

Which should make the Convention in Denver something like that last half-hour of a three-hour birthday party at Pizza Putt, when one of the six-year-olds, having lost at miniature golf, suddenly confronts the fact that someone not only ate the last slice of pepperoni but finished off the dregs of the root beer as well.

A brilliant night. And it ain’t over yet. But with 65% or so of the Wisconsin tally in, one thing is certain: Obama not only survived a week of Clinton attacks and sniping pundits, he fattened his margin, by a good bit. And the attacks and the results are not unconnected. Exits show that Wisconsin voters heard Hillary’s negative ads — and held them against her. Which, as Cyrus said just before he was gunned down in The Warriors, is the way things ought to be.

Some 53% told exit pollsters Obama had been “unfairly” attacked; only 33% said the same of Clinton. Which may complicate the plans to defend the Texas and Ohio firewalls, respectively.

Or not. Wolfson and Ickes and Penn haven’t got a single feeling human heart between them, and no doubt they’re already emailing out whatever oppo research they have left in the satchel.

They haven’t shown much inclination to change the three rhetorical cylinders Hillary has been firing on for the last year (35 years experience, ready on Day One, will out-Republican the Republicans) and they probably won’t see any percentage in backing off their attacks.

Not that we’re complaining, you understand.

You may have heard that somehow Barack Obama wound up with zero votes in some 78 districts during primary voting in New York City (including parts of Harlem). Election officials described the undercounting, which affected Hillary not at all, as a purely mechanical issue, involving ballot placement and human error.

Mayor Bloomberg begs to differ: “If you want to call it significant undercounting, I guess that’s a euphemism for fraud.”

Which more or less gets to the meat of it.

Great information to help with your voter contacts…

For everyone who thinks Obama doesn’t provide enough specifics, please take a look at this…

Click here to view Obama’s comprehensive policy positions and download the Blueprint for Change policy book here:

And on a related note, TechPresident highlights an analysis done on the level of policy specifics offered by the Democratic candidates…

As she moves into Ohio and Texas in advance of their March 4 primaries, it looks like Clinton will continue her attacks on Obama for being too focused on the power of words and light on the power of action. As she told auto workers in Ohio a few days ago, “Speeches don’t fill up your tank, or fill your prescription, or do anything about that stack of bills that keeps you up at night.” But government tech consultant Matthew Burton — who isn’t an Obama supporter — calls this line of argument “hogwash.” To prove it, he analyzes the policy content of Obama and Clinton’s websites and finds that — surprise! — Obama offers more details on his plans. So, asks Burton, why is the “myth” that Obama is all style and no substance finding an audience? Ironically, “Probably because he is a great orator.”

Well said.

And now, over the next two weeks, we Vermonters will join with supporters in Texas, Ohio, Rhode Island and all across the country to March 4th Together.

Here’s a portion of Barack’s victory speech in Houston…

From the fired up streets of Burlington…

Burlington, VT – Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield, co-founders of Ben and Jerry’s, publically announced their endorsement of Barack Obama for President today. Joined by U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy, the former John Edwards supporters said they believe Barack Obama is the best candidate to unite America and finally tackle the challenges facing our nation.

“Barack Obama believes that the special interests in Washington shouldn’t drown out the voices and basic needs of Americans,” Greenfield said. “When Barack Obama is President, we will finally have a president who is committed to ensuring all Americans have access to affordable health care and our children get the education they deserve.”

Senator Leahy unveiled a 60-second radio ad, entitled “Important” which he and his wife Marcelle recorded in support of Senator Obama. The ad, which will begin airing on Wednesday, February 18, stresses Obama’s judgment to lead and ability to bring real change we can believe in.

Ben and Jerry, along with Senator Leahy, drove to American Flatbread in Burlington in “ObamaMobiles” which they designed to help get out the vote for Vermont’s March 4th primary. Said Cohen, “The ObamaMobiles are true vehicles for change. There’s a lot at stake in this election. All Vermonters need to make their voices heard and vote.”

And yes, you see that right — the ObamaMobiles have our web address right on the side!

A message from Rob Hill, Obama State Director for Vermont…

Dear Supporter,

My name is Rob Hill, and I’m the State Director for the Obama campaign in Vermont.

What we do in Vermont over the next few weeks can change America.

Barack won the most states and the most delegates on Super Tuesday and has gone on to win the next eight contests decisively. But the race for the Democratic nomination still could not be closer.

Here in Vermont, we are getting ready for the March 4th primary, and what we do — or don’t do — in the next few weeks will have a major impact on the outcome of this race.

Make a commitment right now to reach out to your friends and neighbors and help Get Out The Vote for Tuesday, March 4th:

http://my.barackobama.com/VTvolunteer

In just a few weeks, you can send a message that the time has come to get beyond the tactics that have prevented change in Washington for far too long.

Let’s do this together.

Rob

Rob Hill
Vermont State Director
Obama for America

Fired up!

Southern Vermont for Obama Meeting: with guest speaker Anthony Lake

Front Porch Café @ The Putney Tavern
133 Main Street, Putney, VT

Wednesday, February 20th, 5:30 - 7:30pm

RSVP to: southernvt4obama@gmail.com