Obama jumps into Florida with both feet (PIC heavy)

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Sun May-25-08 04:10 PM
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Obama jumps into Florida with both feet (PIC heavy)

For those who were not in South Florida this week, we want to share the excitement that we witnessed here over the past four days.

Barack Obama came to see us.

Obama jumps into Florida with both feet

Approaching the entry doorway to the arena in Sunrise, Florida, May 23, 2008

Presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama greet supporters in a crowded BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise for an Obama campaign stop and rally. (Sun-Sentinel/Carey Wagner / May 23, 2008)

By Adam C. Smith, Times Political Editor
May 25, 2008

.....

So when you finally get around to asking Floridians for their votes, one might expect you to move in gently, almost gingerly.

Forget it.

Barack Obama opted for the rip-the-bandage-off approach.

The presumed Democratic nominee didn't just bop in and out for a quick I-4 corridor rally; he devoted three days to Florida last week. The candidate who has been pounded for his willingness to engage with America's enemies didn't just sip cafe Cubano in Little Havana; he spoke to the fervently anti-Castro Cuban American National Foundation.

Sen. Barack Obama, left, waves as he comes onstage as Cuban American National Foundation Chairman Jorge Mas Santos, center and Francisco "Pepe" Hernandez, President of the CANF is seen at the podium during this midday campaign appearance that was part of the Cuban American National Foundation's Cuban Independence Day Luncheon at the Intercontinental hotel in Miami. (Sun-Sentinel/Andrew Innerarity / May 23, 2008)

Sen. Barack Obama, left listens to CANF Chairman Jorge Mas Santos before both men spoke at the Intercontinental hotel in Miami. (Sun-Sentinel/Andrew Innerarity / May 23, 2008)

Sen. Barack Obama smiles just after greeting members of the audience near the podium after a midday campaign appearance that was part of the Cuban American National Foundation's Cuban Independence Day Luncheon at the Intercontinental hotel in Miami. (Staff photo /Andrew Innerarity / May 23, 2008)

Depicted as anti-Israel in countless anonymous e-mails ricocheting about America, he could have just pressed the flesh in one of many Jewish Democratic strongholds in South Florida; instead he held a town hall meeting at a conservative temple in Boca Raton.
"Let's be honest, part of what raises concerns is you've got a black guy named Barack Obama. So people say he's got a Muslim-sounding name, and people don't know what's going on," he told a silver-haired voter who suggested he would win more Florida votes if he went by Barry, instead of Barack.
"Judge me by what I say and what I've done," Obama urged. "Don't judge me because I've got a funny name. Don't judge me because I'm African-American and people are concerned about memories of the past."

Conventional wisdom says Republican-leaning Florida will be a tough state for Obama, tougher still because he took so long to reach out to Floridians. Republicans think he's vulnerable on foreign policy and are working to cast him as dangerously misguided when it comes to dealing with America's enemies.

.....

Obama's three days in Florida, though, left little doubt that he's aiming to fight hard for Florida's 27 electoral votes or that he's a potentially tough rival for McCain. Obama drew the kind of big, enthusiastic crowds that typically require ground organizations he has yet to put in place.

His campaign hoped the trip would jolt his poll numbers in Florida, but even before the week's political reverberations could be measured, a Quinnipiac University poll released last week showed Obama close to catching McCain, 45 percent to 41 percent. The survey of 1,419 Florida voters on May 13-20 had a margin of error of plus or minus 2.6 percentage points.
"He barely even had a volunteer structure in place here, and the fact that he could pull this trip off so well speaks to his popularity and potential here,'' said Broward County Democratic consultant Robin Rorapaugh. "He's showing Florida some love now, and Florida's showing it back."

J. ALBERT DIAZ / MIAMI HERALD STAFF
Sen. Barack Obama waves to the cheering crowd as he arrives for a rally at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise.

Presidential hopeful Sen. Barak Obama greets supporters in a crowded BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise for an Obama campaign stop and rally. (Sun-Sentinel/Carey Wagner / May 23, 2008)

Presidential hopeful Sen. Barak Obama greets supporters holding a Florida sign in a crowded BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise for an Obama campaign stop and rally. (Sun-Sentinel/Carey Wagner / May 23, 2008)

Obama supporter: Omar Brown, 18, a junior at Pinecrest High School. “I’m here to hear today from the man himself. I think he’s not only a black leader, not only an American leader, but an international leader and an inspiration. He’s sure an inspiration to me." (Sun-Sentinel/Omar Vega / May 23, 2008)

Obama supporter, Atsuko Christe, 49, of Plantation and a resident alien. “I just wanted to see Obama. I’ve been interested in him for a while. I’m pretty excited about him as a candidate, the fact that he could be our next president. I think he has a message for the world. He really shows the best of America. I like his attitudes toward international diplomacy, which I’m really interested. I want to see change. I’d really like to see him end the war in Iraq. It should never have been fought." (Sun-Sentinel/Omar Vega / May 23, 2008)

Obama supporter, Myss Jean-Louis, 33, of Coral Springs. "I’m here because I’m a citizen of the U.S. and I wanted to show that I was voting for Barack Obama. This is a critical part of history and I wanted to be a part of it. It’s CNN Central at our household. So I really know what his positions are, but I want him to explain them clearly to other people. I want to see that, and I want to see him explain how we’re going to win this election, how we’re going to beat John McCain. I want to see him bring people together." (Sun-Sentinel/Omar Vega / May 23, 2008)

Obama supporter, Karen Zuri, 55, of Ft. Lauderdale. "I’ve supported Obama since the very beginning, and I just wanted to see him in person. I know change is a very trite word these days, but I really want to hear him talk about it. It’s just inspiring to hear him talk. But I really would like him to relate to Florida, to talk about policies that can help improve life here." (Sun-Sentinel/Omar Vega / May 23, 2008)

Obama supporter, Dwayne Russell, 42, of Ft. Lauderdale, holding sons T.J., 4, and Jaheim, 6. "I wanted to hear what he had to say. I wanted my two young sons to see him. He talks about changing things. I wanted to see him in person talk about that change. I grew up in Florida. I’ve seen some change, but I’ve seen a lot of racism. People have grown more tolerant, that’s true, but we still have a long way to go. I really want to hear about that. I want to hear about health insurance. Man, I don’t have any. I work two jobs and every time either of these boys get sick it comes out of my pocket." (Sun-Sentinel/Omar Vega / May 23, 2008)

Supporters reach out to shake Barack Obama's hand after a rally at the Bank Atlantic Center in Sunrise. The arena was packed to capacity. (Sun-Sentinel/Mike Stocker / May 23, 2008)

Sen. Barack Obama makes a campaign stop in South Florida with a rally at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise. J. ALBERT DIAZ / MIAMI HERALD STAFF

Presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama supporter Willetta Bain of Miami Gardens brought her granddaughter, Melody Baldwin, 16 months, to help fill in a crowded BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise for an Obama campaign stop and rally. "I had to come," said Bain. "This is history in the making." (Sun-Sentinel/Carey Wagner / May 23, 2008)

Presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama greet supporters in a crowded BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise for an Obama campaign stop and rally. (Sun-Sentinel/Carey Wagner / May 23, 2008)

Sen. Barack Obama greets crowd as he arrives for a rally at the BankAtlantic Center in Surise. J. ALBERT DIAZ / MIAMI HERALD STAFF

Obama supporter, D.C. DaCosta, 59, of North Lauderdale. “I’m here because Obama is bringing change. I’m a brand new Christian, and I spent many years in the military. Back in the 1970s, they treated us like garbage when we returned. But this man, he cares about what’s happening to the soldiers, what’s happening in Iraq. He supports education for soldiers, programs, that sort of thing. I just want him to be himself. I just want him to bring justice to this country. Because we need justice in this country. A sense of fair play for everyone. I’ve spread the word, to anybody who would listen. I want to join the campaign, but I haven’t yet." (Sun-Sentinel/Omar Vega / May 23, 2008)

Obama supporter, Jean Thervens,19, of Lake Worth, has never voted, but plans to vote in November. “I’m here to support a black man. When I was young, you’d hear all the time they’d never elect a black man as president. It would never happen. I’m just so inspired by him, the fact that he’s accomplished so much. I just want him to tell us we’re going to make it, and that he’s going to work hard. That’s just what I want to hear: we’re going to make it in this country. This country is going to make it. I wrote a song that I recorded about him, Obama. I’ve been doing a lot as a musician. I really want to use my talent to help get him elected.” (Sun-Sentinel/Omar Vega / May 23, 2008)

Obama supporter Derwin Jones of Hollywood gets his groove on during a rally for Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama at the Bank Atlantic Center in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo/Michael Francis McElroy / May 23, 2008)

Presidential hopeful Sen. Barak Obama gives a speech to his supporters in a crowded BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise, FL for an Obama campaign stop and rally on Friday. (Sun-Sentinel/Carey Wagner / May 23, 2008)

Supporters of Presidential hopeful Sen. Barak Obama fill a crowded BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise, FL for an Obama campaign stop and rally on Friday. (Sun-Sentinel/Carey Wagner / May 23, 2008)

Presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama greets supporters in a crowded BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise, FL for an Obama campaign stop and rally on Friday May 23, 2008. (Sun-Sentinel/Carey Wagner / May 23, 2008)

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama speaks to a packed house at the Bank Atlantic Center in Sunrise, Florida. (Sun-Sentinel/Michael Francis McElroy / May 23, 2008)

The crowd cheers for Sen. Barack Obama at a rally at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise. J. ALBERT DIAZ / MIAMI HERALD STAFF

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama speaks to a packed house at the Bank Atlantic Center in Sunrise, Florida. (Sun-Sentinel/Michael Francis McElroy / May 23, 2008)

Tamika, center, awaits the arrival of Democratic Presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., at a campaign rally in Sunrise. (AP/J. Pat Carter / May 23, 2008)

Presidential hopeful Sen. Barak Obama greets supporters in a crowded BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise, for an Obama campaign stop and rally on Friday. (Sun-Sentinel/Carey Wagner / May 23, 2008)

For a campaign that's supposed to be about transcending the traditional political approach of slicing and dicing the electorate into ideological and demographic subsets, Obama did precisely that in Florida.
Swing voters? Check them off with a big rally in Tampa. Non-Cuban Hispanics? Check them off with a town hall meeting of mostly Puerto Ricans in Kissimmee. Jews? That temple in Boca. South Florida liberals? A Broward County rally Friday night as big as any the region has ever seen.

And even Republican-leaning Cuban voters.

"After eight years of the disastrous policies of George Bush, it is time to pursue direct diplomacy, with friend and foe alike, without preconditions,'' he told the Cuban American National Foundation on Friday. "There will be careful preparation. We will set a clear agenda. And as president, I would be willing to lead that diplomacy at a time and place of my choosing. But only when we have an opportunity to advance the interests of the United States, and to advance the cause of freedom for the Cuban people."

Upbeat and eager to look past the primary and to the general election, Obama approached his potential vulnerabilities head on.

.....

"It's hard because a lot of women my age around here are so passionate about Hillary Clinton and they're only thinking about having the first woman president, but that will change as people see him," said 69-year-old Madeleine Siegel at B'Nai Torah temple in Boca Raton. "People are saying Jews should go Republican this year because Obama's not good for Israel. But I'm Jewish, I'm Zionist, but I know it's a bunch of malarkey."

At the temple, Obama skipped his standard stump speech and showed his familiarity with Jewish culture. He spoke of the camp counselor who taught him about Zionism, about Jewish scholars and authors who helped shape his thinking, about the social justice tradition among Jews, and said he had been pained by the divisions he has seen between African-Americans and Jews.
"That sense of a common kinship of a people who have been uprooted, a people who have been on the outside, that strikes me as the very essence of what we should be fighting for," said Obama, drawing cheers.

Just as at the temple, he appeared to be winning over doubters Friday in Miami.
"I must say I was really impressed. I'm a Republican, but he has me really thinking about how to vote," 62-year-old mortgage broker Eloy Cepero said after hearing Obama talk about Latin America policy. "If we just continue the way we have been, the hard line, we may never achieve a free Cuba."
Manuel Gonzalez, a 63-year-old Democrat and art curator, sounded a little guilty as he left Obama's Miami speech.

"I'll never give up on Hillary. I love Hillary and I always will,'' he said. "But I feel like I'm starting a new relationship now with Obama. I just hope it works out."

Sen. Barack Obama addresses the Cuban American National Foundation at a celebration of Cuban Independence Day. The event was at the InterContinental Miami. AL DIAZ / MIAMI HERALD STAFF

An Obama supporter holds up a "Obama for President" sign during a rally at Bank Atlantic Center in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo/Michael Francis McElroy / May 23, 2008)

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