Does anyone know where in Springfield, IL Obama will be announcing his candidacy for prez?

[in_cog_ni_to]

I'm thinking about going to see him and was hoping I could get some details on when and where he will announce. Thanks in advance.

[wndycty]

1. I'm hearing Prairie Convention Center but its not clear yet. . .

. . .its probably the largest indoor facility in Springfield, carpool or catch a bus (I hear there are multiple being organized) because parking is going to be tough.

[in_cog_ni_to]

2. Thank you! So, are you working for the Obama campaign this time around?

I just made a reservation at the Hilton in Springfield. It's located near EVERYTHING. I think I'll be safe wherever he announces.

[wndycty]

3. So if its at the Prarie Convention Center you will be right across the street. . .

. . .I'm firmly behind Barack and definately volunteering. As far as doing more that is up in the air, I have had some informal discussions with a number of his insiders but we will see how things shake out. I'm also praying to God he wins and names. . .drum roll please. . . General Wesley K. Clark as his running mate! A lot of my Clark buddies are of the belief that Wes is going to run and if he does it will be tough for me because i still believe in him but I'm firmly in the Obama camp.

[in_cog_ni_to]

4. Yes, I'll be right across the street from the Convention Center. I heard Wes is going to announce

very soon, that he will run. I'm so torn. I love Wes Clark. I like Obama, but I'm still not sure about him. He's more moderate than me.:) I want someone who will make this regime pay for what they have done. I don't want to move forward and ignore what they have done....just to make peace in politics. They must be held accountable. Will Obama hold them accountable? Obama's HUGE plus with me is his stance on the war. Then there's Hillary. The first female to run for prez. I wish I could support her, but I just can't. Then Wes.*sigh* At least I have time to decide.;)

It would be awesome if Wes would be Obama's VP....should Obama win and Wes loses.

[wndycty]

5. If Wes runs I want him to do well, but I'm afraid he is jumping in too late. . .

. . .many of us who love Wes and were involved in 2003/2004 know how much he was hurt by jumping in too late. He cannot delay any further.

As you know when I ran things in Illinois in 2004 I worked very closely with his big donors in the state (and Illinois gave big for Wes), when he dropped out we all had a meeting with one of Kerry's top finance people and they all told him they and all of their friends gave the maximum to Wes and they would give and were confident their friends would give the maximum to Kerry. Well those people same people are all spoken for in 2008.

One of them gave Obama the max in 2004 (with the millionaires exemption that was $12,000 plus) and she personally raided $500,000 for him. I ran into her at a fundraiser with the candidate I'm working for in the aldermanic races and she informed me that she was spending all of her time raising funds for Barack. (This is a big connected Dem who will influence a ton of people to work/give for Barack).

The gentleman who was the Illinois finance chair for Wes and who was some sort of financial big wig for the DSCC in 2006 is throwing in big behind Biden and was encouraging me to work for him (I passed) and if Biden either does not run or drops out I expect him to put his money behind Obama (he may have already done so because the last time we spoke Obama was not even mentioned as a candidate).

One of Wes's top finance directors, who is Chicago based, in 2004 is closely tied to Hillary and will most likely work for her or Barack.


Don't forget Rahm, who we reported to in 2004, is leaning towards Barack while still considering Hillary.

And on a national level, Rangel, who was a big big Wes backer in 2004, is in Hillary's camp and I assume a ton of Wes's Little Rock folks are now Hillary folks.

If Wes runs I want him to run strong, he needs to move sooner than later so that he can raise money and have the right man/woman power.

[mopinko]

6. rahm is not backing hillary?

boy, i thought that was a no brainer.

who ya working for in the council, wndy?

[wndycty]

7. Rahm is up in the air. . .

. . .but I just googled and he may be going to Hillary's camp, but this was recently in the Tribune:

As for City Council you can say the 50th ward is getting lots of DU love, I'm working for Naisy Dolar.

Rahm Emanuel's great loyalty test

By Mike Dorning, Washington Bureau; Christi Parsons of the Washington Bureau contributed to this report

January 19, 2007

WASHINGTON -- Of all the positions he has assumed in political wars, one rarely associated with the combative Rahm Emanuel is this: fetal.

Yet that is where he finds himself when it comes to his preferred candidate in the 2008 presidential race.

Last April, the former Clinton White House aide publicly committed to his political patron's wife, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.), a view he also echoed privately and more than once. Now, with the ascendant candidacy of home-state political phenomenon Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.), Emanuel has gone to a strange place for him, a neutral corner.

"I'm hiding under the desk," said the Chicago Democratic congressman. "I'm very far under the desk, and I'm bringing my paper and my phone."

Emanuel's dilemma is but one example of how Obama's rapid rise is interfering with the former first lady's carefully laid political plans and of the conflicting emotions of many Democratic activists now torn between loyalty to the Clintons and excitement over the party's rising star.

On Clinton's home turf, Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.), chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee and dean of the New York congressional delegation, encouraged Obama to enter the race and so far has declined to make an endorsement, antagonizing Clinton supporters who want the state's Democratic establishment united behind her candidacy.
-snip-

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0701190131jan19,1,639406,print.story

[mopinko]

13. hiding under the desk

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:
i will carry that happy picture around with me for a while.

[wndycty]

14. I know that Rahm is not popular and I won't attempt to defend him. . .

. . .but he gave me an excellent opportunity in 2003/2004 to head up Clark's efforts here so I do have a soft spot for him, not to mention that thanks to him, Dean, Schumer and Democratic activists throughout the country we now control both houses.

[Radical Activist]

8. The Old State Capitol Building

Prairie Capital Convention Center is the backup if the weather doesn't cooperate. They're within a few blocks of eachother.

[wndycty]

9. Great, was this just announced?

:kick:

[Radical Activist]

10. It was in the Springfield paper

a few days ago.

[wndycty]

11. Just read it, Bernie wrote the story...

. . .said it was not confirmed, but it makes sense.

[Radical Activist]

12. Ironically, I saw Hillary speak there a few years ago.

[in_cog_ni_to]

15. Thank you.

I hope it's warmer next weekend than it is this weekend if it is at the Old Capitol Building. Brrrr..

OK, now I'm off to get the address for the Old State Capitol Building. Thanks again.:hi: