MyDD :: Ted Kennedy: Obama's Secret Weapon In The West

Ted Kennedy: Obama's Secret Weapon In The West

by Todd Beeton, Mon Jan 28, 2008 at 06:08:50 PM EST

Sen. Ted Kennedy made his endorsement of Barack Obama official today with a speech in which he praised Obama while getting a few jabs in at the Clintons.

I know he's ready to be president on day one," Kennedy said, taking on one of Bill Clinton's frequent talking points.

"From the beginning, he opposed the war in Iraq. And let no one deny that truth," he said, an apparent reference to the former president's statement that Obama's early anti-war stance was a "fairy tale."

"With Barack Obama, we will turn the page on the old politics of misrepresentation and distortion.

The value of an endorsement is, of course, difficult to quantify, but we all know what having Ted Kennedy on the ground campaigning for Al Gore and John Kerry did for their respective primary campaigns and it looks like Teddy will be traveling on Obama's behalf as well. Interestingly, look where the campaign is sending him, per The AP:

Kennedy is expected to campaign actively for Obama beginning later this week, beginning in Arizona, New Mexico and California. Caroline Kennedy, the daughter of John Kennedy, who was assassinated in 1963, will also make campaign appearances, officials said.

No accident that they would choose these three states for Kennedy to stump for Obama as they have more in common than that they all vote on February 5th, namely their significant hispanic populations. This voting bloc is one of Hillary Clinton strongest bases of support (her 64%-26% win over Obama among this group in Nevada is widely considered responsible for her win there) and eating into that is a must for Obama if he hopes to win any of these three states.

So, how is Ted Kennedy uniquely qualified to be able to swing this base to Obama? As Chuck Todd put it on MSNBC earlier today (I'm paraphrasing,) you go into the homes of Central Valley (CA) Latinos and you'll see two portraits on the wall: one of the Pope and the other of JFK.

I'm digging further into the specific plans the campaign has for Kennedy. I anticipate that Jonathan and I will be able to cover at least some of his western swing live from the ground, an effort you can help along with a contribution to our 2008 election fundraising drive.

Update [2008-1-28 20:14:31 by Todd Beeton]:Craig Crawford just said on Countdown that the Kennedy endorsement could "neutralize" the added advantage Clinton received among hispanics and blue collar workers with the United Farm Worker endorsement. Kennedy will also help Obama among "older voters, older women in particular," in other words, Hillary's base.

Tags: 2008 presidential election, democratic nomination, barack obama, ted kennedy, hillary clinton (all tags)

Permalink :: 99 Comments :: Post a Comment

Kennedy will do what Harkin and Gore did for Dean (2.00 / 1)

... not much

by dpANDREWS on Mon Jan 28, 2008 at 06:09:54 PM EST

Re: Ted Kennedy: Obama's Secret Weapon In The West (none / 0)

It might help Hillary, She might get some of the independent and Republican vote now... You know Ted Kinnedy is not well liked every where...

by my nickle on Mon Jan 28, 2008 at 06:14:39 PM EST

Re: Ted Kennedy: Obama's Secret Weapon In The West (2.00 / 1)

According to the new LA Times California poll just released today, the two demographic groups leads in California:

African Americans (about 80% to 20%)
Independents (41% to 28%)

I'm sure that Ted continuing to accuse the Clintons of racism will help Obama with part of his base. It is less clear how Kennedy will play among Independents.

by hwc on Mon Jan 28, 2008 at 06:41:08 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Ted Kennedy: Obama's Secret Weapon In The West (none / 0)

Where was the accusation of racism? I missed that.

by tawinmd on Mon Jan 28, 2008 at 08:18:58 PM EST
[ Parent ]

One more thing, JFK and RFK have not endorsed (none / 0)

Silly but true. JFK has endorsed no one. Nor has RFK (RFK Jr. has endorsed CLinton and that is as meaningless as Teddy's endorsement).

by dpANDREWS on Mon Jan 28, 2008 at 06:15:19 PM EST

Re: Ted Kennedy: Obama's Secret Weapon In The West (none / 0)

Agree...

by nzubechukwu on Mon Jan 28, 2008 at 06:17:18 PM EST

Re: Ted Kennedy: Obama's Secret Weapon In The West (2.00 / 0)

Why?

by AmericanWomanPatriot on Mon Jan 28, 2008 at 06:17:21 PM EST

Re: Ted Kennedy: Obama's Secret Weapon In The West (1.00 / 0)

I think some of these men would like to a black man become president before they would a woman... I think sexism tops racism... They are certainly not looking at qualifications...

by my nickle on Mon Jan 28, 2008 at 06:20:00 PM EST

Re: Ted Kennedy: Obama's Secret Weapon In The West (none / 0)

Not in my experience it doesn't

I think sexism tops racism

Maybe among the under 30's, hard for me too judge but amongst the over forties. No way. I've run into it in the most unexpected places.

by ottovbvs on Mon Jan 28, 2008 at 06:26:32 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Ted Kennedy: Obama's Secret Weapon In The West (1.50 / 2)

Ted Kennedy has a history of leaving women to fend for themselves (politically).

by hwc on Mon Jan 28, 2008 at 06:48:37 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Ted Kennedy: Obama's Secret Weapon In The West (none / 0)

Wow, nice low blow against one of the strongest liberal Senators. And your argument would make total sense, if he wasn't one of the most consistently pro-choice and pro-female rights advocates in the Senate (he is one of the five most liberal on abortion). I love how some people manage to forget all objective facts when someone disagrees with their views in the Primary.

by JewishJake on Mon Jan 28, 2008 at 07:03:19 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Ted Kennedy: Obama's Secret Weapon In The West (none / 0)

I think your reference is a little too oblique. Come on, you know you want to say it.....Starts with a C....

I was actually expecting Bill to mention 1969 today in his ongoing attempt to destroy any Democrat who gets in his way of another term.

by tawinmd on Mon Jan 28, 2008 at 08:24:37 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Ted Kennedy: Obama's Secret Weapon In The West (2.00 / 1)

Tell that to a black man trying to buy a house in an exclusive neighborhood.

by Pravin on Mon Jan 28, 2008 at 07:07:10 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Ted Kennedy: Obama's Secret Weapon In The West (2.00 / 1)

The belief in the Talismanic powers of Kennedy are to put it mildly inflated. Is he a help, sure but is it really going to create a fundamental shift. Not likely really is it.

by ottovbvs on Mon Jan 28, 2008 at 06:20:36 PM EST

Re: Ted Kennedy: Obama's Secret Weapon In The West (2.00 / 2)

As Chuck Todd put it on MSNBC earlier today (I'm paraphrasing,) you go into the homes of Central Valley (CA) Latinos and you'll see two portraits on the wall: one of the Pope and the other of JFK.

Chuck Todd needs to lay off the mushrooms.

by blueflorida on Mon Jan 28, 2008 at 06:24:23 PM EST

Re: Ted Kennedy: Obama's Secret Weapon In The West (none / 0)

Get over to California much, into the homes of Latino residents, in particular?

Click on Peace, Propaganda, & The Promised Land and learn the truth about the I/P conflict.

by shergald on Mon Jan 28, 2008 at 06:26:40 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Ted Kennedy: Obama's Secret Weapon In The West (2.00 / 1)

And how many have you been in shergald. Not many I wager. I've been in perhaps 10-20 over last ten years or so and I have yet to see a picture of JFK or RFK. Lots of JP II.

by ottovbvs on Mon Jan 28, 2008 at 06:31:33 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Ted Kennedy: Obama's Secret Weapon In The West (2.00 / 1)

You're defending Chuck Todd's hyperbole? Ok, then, make the case for why that statement should be taken seriously.

by blueflorida on Mon Jan 28, 2008 at 06:34:12 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Ted Kennedy: Obama's Secret Weapon In The West (2.00 / 2)

How many homes in the central valley has he been into. I've been into a few over the years and I've seen pics of John Paul II but never JFK.

by ottovbvs on Mon Jan 28, 2008 at 06:28:18 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Ted Kennedy: Obama's Secret Weapon In The West (none / 0)

I'm originally from the Central Valley of CA...Exeter/Farmersville area to be exact. And I know first hand that there is much love for the Kennedy's in that area.

Hard as it is to believe, people like the ones I grew up around actually base their personal finances on "hope". That's farming for you.

And remember, it's a big dang valley.

Carla

by hillsboroughrules on Tue Jan 29, 2008 at 12:42:15 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Ted Kennedy: Obama's Secret Weapon In The West (none / 0)

Oh, and by the way, although there is a large Catholic population what certainly hangs the Pope's picture, it's a combination of faith and the belief future that these wonderful people rely on. There is no single factor.

Carla

by hillsboroughrules on Tue Jan 29, 2008 at 12:44:08 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Is Ted Kennedy's Portrait On The Wall? (none / 0)

If not, then maybe Todd has not only sterotyped Latinos but also overstated what effect this endorsement may have.

by MOBlue on Mon Jan 28, 2008 at 06:56:58 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Ted Kennedy: Obama's Secret Weapon In The West (none / 0)

This endorsement really has the Hillary supporters up in arms. Does anyone know if Bill Clinton has responded, since it was his race card and lies about Obama which inspired the Kennedy avalanche.

Click on Peace, Propaganda, & The Promised Land and learn the truth about the I/P conflict.

by shergald on Mon Jan 28, 2008 at 06:25:05 PM EST

Re: Ted Kennedy: Obama's Secret Weapon In The West (none / 0)

Wait, so if you don't mention a woman issue, you are an anti-feminist now? This is ridiculous logic, and you know it.

by JewishJake on Mon Jan 28, 2008 at 07:04:53 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Ted Kennedy: Obama's Secret Weapon In The West (none / 0)

Maybe he was just not willing to mention the feminine issue because he did not think that Hillary was the person to bring it into a campaign for the presidency. She is the least Democrat among the candidates.

Would you vote for a woman candidate just because she is a woman?

Click on Peace, Propaganda, & The Promised Land and learn the truth about the I/P conflict.

by shergald on Tue Jan 29, 2008 at 01:02:25 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Ted Kennedy: Obama's Secret Weapon In The West (2.00 / 1)

Of course he called Hillary -- and then her campaign leaked it -- that he was endorsing Obama. That is how the story broke, from the Clinton Campaign!

by howardpark on Mon Jan 28, 2008 at 07:10:53 PM EST
[ Parent ]

The problem (none / 0)

with many Clinton people here is "inevitability disruptus" - they are mad that someone had the gall to challenge Hillary and now Ted has insulted them further.

The challenge for all of us maybe how to communicate without insults. The insults are camouflage for pain and to express pain openly is difficult.

Listening comes first

by Moonwood on Mon Jan 28, 2008 at 07:19:32 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: The problem (none / 0)

Your right Moonwood.

Ted endorsed Obama and I disagree with that but I still think Ted is a good guy.

Personally I think Ted will do for Obama then SC will.

by kristoph on Mon Jan 28, 2008 at 07:52:45 PM EST
[ Parent ]

I'm okay with it (none / 0)

I almost like it. Endorsements don't matter much. Let Obamamaniacs get all charged up. Feb 5 will just be all that much more crushing.

When Bill made the Jesse Jackson comment it was a taunt. He taunted Obama. He basically the same fate awaited Obama.

by dpANDREWS on Mon Jan 28, 2008 at 07:38:51 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: I'm okay with it (none / 0)

Ha. And you wonder why Bill is becoming a liability? Do really think that only Black people will notice the off-the charts tactics that Bill used in SDC?

Geez, the jokes write themselves....

A PROUD Hopium user!

by xodus1914 on Mon Jan 28, 2008 at 11:24:06 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: I'm okay with it (none / 0)

You think Latinos are turned on by Obama's racially thinged whinings?

by dpANDREWS on Mon Jan 28, 2008 at 11:30:07 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: I'm okay with it (none / 0)

You think Latinos are turned on by Obama's racially thinged whinings?

by dpANDREWS on Mon Jan 28, 2008 at 11:30:13 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: I'm okay with it (none / 0)

Why would you want another Democrat crushed? Because he had the audacity to run? Does this makes any sense? Did he do something personally to you? Vigorous debate and differences in opinion is one thing, trying to destroy opponents because you can is short sighted and stupid. The people will decide, then the party elders will tip the scales. I have no idea which way it's going to go, and honestly, neither does anyone else. It is senseless to tear down others because you support someone else. Half of the people hear sound like Republicans. It's sad-on both sides. Support your candidate with vigor, facts and truth. Leave the ugliness to the people who do it best. Otherwise, you just turn off those of us who have no dog in this race.

by AmericanWomanPatriot on Tue Jan 29, 2008 at 08:56:46 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Ted Kennedy: Obama's Secret Weapon In The West (none / 0)

And Hillary's supporters were not racist when they hinted or talked about electability of a black man?

by Pravin on Mon Jan 28, 2008 at 08:36:01 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Ted Kennedy: Obama's Secret Weapon In The West (none / 0)

The Obama camp is going to go after the Clinton's Latino spin head on in California and it is going to become a topic of conversation out here. There is a very strong piece in the L.A. Times today by Gregory Rodriguez unmasking the black/hispanic political rift for what it is - a bald-faced lie:

If a Hillary Clinton campaign official told a reporter that white voters never support black candidates, would the media have swallowed the message whole? What if a campaign pollster began whispering that Jews don't have an "affinity" for African American politicians? Would the pundits have accepted the premise unquestioningly?

A few weeks ago, Sergio Bendixen, a Clinton pollster and Latino expert, publicly articulated what campaign officials appear to have been whispering for months. In an interview with Ryan Lizza of the New Yorker, Bendixen explained that "the Hispanic voter -- and I want to say this very carefully -- has not shown a lot of willingness or affinity to support black candidates."

The spin worked. For the last several weeks, it's been on the airwaves (Tucker Carlson, "Hardball," NPR), generally tossed off as if it were conventional wisdom. And it has shown up in sources as far afield as Agence France-Presse and the London Daily Telegraph, which wrote about a "voting bloc traditionally reluctant to support black candidates."

The spin also helped shape the analysis of the Jan. 19 Nevada caucus, in which Clinton won the support of Latino voters by a margin of better than 2 to 1. Forget the possibility that Nevada's Latino voters may have actually preferred Clinton or, at the very least, had a fondness for her husband; pundits embraced the idea that Latino voters simply didn't like the fact that her opponent was black.

But was Bendixen's blanket statement true? Far from it, and the evidence is overwhelming enough to make you wonder why in the world the Clinton campaign would want to portray Latino voters as too unrelentingly racist to vote for Barack Obama...

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-o e-rodriguez28jan28,0,5950176.column

by Piuma on Mon Jan 28, 2008 at 06:28:57 PM EST

Re: Ted Kennedy: Obama's Secret Weapon In The West (none / 0)

They better be careful. Obama's Spanish language ads attacking Clinton backfired like crazy in Nevada.

by hwc on Mon Jan 28, 2008 at 06:53:23 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Ted Kennedy: Obama's Secret Weapon In The West (2.00 / 1)

For the record: Those were the union's ads, not Obamas.

by lifelongdem on Mon Jan 28, 2008 at 06:57:00 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Ted Kennedy: Obama's Secret Weapon In The West (none / 0)

And when the Obama campaign was asked, they refused to distance themselves from the message one iota. Truly disgusting.

"Another problem we have...is that in election years we behave somewhat as primitive peoples do at the time of the full moon." --Harry Truman

by Steve M on Mon Jan 28, 2008 at 06:58:41 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Ted Kennedy: Obama's Secret Weapon In The West (none / 0)

The same way that the Clinton campaign refused to distance itself from the lawsuit about the workplace caucuses.

I agree that Culinary blew it with those ads and that they were over the line -- but they were a response to the lawsuit issue, which was also over the line from the union's point of view. But to argue that because the Clinton's didn't respect the union's position on this meant that they didn't "respect us" was a really bad attempt to convince Latinos that the Clintons were attacking all Latinos.

Those ads backfired on Obama -- the message was offensive to union members, especially Latino/as, who had good feelings about Bill Clinton.

I think D. Taylor has done an incredible job with contracts on the strip etc for Culinary, and is amazing at delivering votes for Democrats in Nevada in general elections. But he is, at times, out of touch with the grassroots membership of his union, and this showed it.

Voters this year seem to be responding very negatively to attacks and perceived attacks and punishing candidates they think are going unfair.

by lifelongdem on Mon Jan 28, 2008 at 07:50:59 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Ted Kennedy: Obama's Secret Weapon In The West (none / 0)

I think D. Taylor has done an incredible job with contracts on the strip etc for Culinary, and is amazing at delivering votes for Democrats in Nevada in general elections. But he is, at times, out of touch with the grassroots membership of his union, and this showed it.

The Culinary Union took such a hit from the Nevada caucus that I can't imagine any of the union leadership can stay in power. They lost seven of the nine special rigged caucus sites they had set up and only won another by 4 votes. It doesn't get any more embarrassing than that.

by hwc on Mon Jan 28, 2008 at 09:14:30 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Ted Kennedy: Obama's Secret Weapon In The West (none / 0)

Unions exist to do a lot more than deliver votes to candidates.

It would be embarrassing and a cause for the leadership to leave if they couldn't get a good contract for the maids, cooks, hotel clerks, waitstaff and other working ; if they led workers out on a losing strike; if they can't organize and bring in new members; if they can't defend their workers in the workplace against unsafe conditions, management abuse or other excesses.

By all accounts (I work in a national union, so I hear about these things often), the leadership of Culinary has done a superb job on all of these things. That's why hotel maids, janitors, kitchen staff, hotels workers, casino works and others in Las Vegas have health insurance, decent pay, and a lot more workplace dignity than they have in virtually any other place in the US).

While politics may be the only way that people on this website view the world and judge how effective people are, I can assure you that it is far from being the way union members will judge their leaders. There is no way that Culinary Workers are going to dismiss the leadership that has been so effective .

(As for your absurd contention that the workplace caucus sites were "rigged", I find it absurd on the face of it. How could Clinton have won them if they were rigged? They were an innovative way to allow working people to vote --something that we should all be encouraging. They were set in state party rules many months before the union endorsed anyone. There were strict rules about who could participate based on work shift and location. They were open to any shift worker (union members or not) within a geographic radius who were working within a specific time frame. There was nothing rigged about them, and the results bear that out.)

by lifelongdem on Mon Jan 28, 2008 at 09:42:18 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Piuma thanks (none / 0)

that is an amazing piece of information. How one comment by a spokesperson with the power of a major presidential campaign and could influence so much.

It has been disturbing to me - listening to that being passed along truth.

The was a comment last week by a Latino who took exception of others on the board taking that idea as truth.

Its always a learning process to find out how the attitudes and prejudices of which we are often unconscious affect others. And can be used by others to manipulate.

Listening comes first

by Moonwood on Mon Jan 28, 2008 at 07:28:21 PM EST
[ Parent ]

What a horrific and untrue stereotype, you make! (2.00 / 2)

As Chuck Todd put it on MSNBC earlier today (I'm paraphrasing,) you go into the homes of Central Valley (CA) Latinos and you'll see two portraits on the wall: one of the Pope and the other of JFK.

What a complete crock!

You would be very hard pressed to find any Latino house anywhere in America that had a picture of the Pope and JFK much less many of them. Some Catholic households might have a small shrine or decoration of Mary, but many would not even have that these days. So please knock off the smug stereotypes.

Most young Latinos would not have any clue or feeling about any Kennedy much less Teddy.

Plus, for what it is worth, Hillary is sending out Bobby and Kathleen Kennedy who will resonate more with younger Latinos if any Kennedy even resonates at all these days with them.

Your diary is really grasping at the tiniest straws. Hillary will clean up in California, New Mexico, Arizona and Texas, and it will be the Latino vote that does it.

I like the silence of a church, before the service begins better than any preaching. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

by Norwegian Chef on Mon Jan 28, 2008 at 06:29:10 PM EST

Re: What a horrific and untrue stere (none / 0)

To be fair I have seen quite a lot of pics of Pope John Paul II

by ottovbvs on Mon Jan 28, 2008 at 06:33:56 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: What a horrific and untrue stere (none / 0)

All sitting right next to JFK are they ;-) And he is not the Pope any more anyway. I could count the number of Ratzinger pictures on one hand.

Sure there are some sincerely pious households especially among the older folk that might have a few photos, but to try to make this a stereotypical assertion and even worse, a basis for an argument of how Teddy Kennedy will somehow motivate Latinos is ridiculous.

I like the silence of a church, before the service begins better than any preaching. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

by Norwegian Chef on Mon Jan 28, 2008 at 06:53:14 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: What a horrific and untrue stere (none / 0)

Give 'me a break. Ted Kennedy's view of the world is grounded in the 1960s. That's four decades ago. Hardly the politics of the 21st century. Heck, even Obama says he's old and spinless.

by hwc on Mon Jan 28, 2008 at 06:55:34 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: What a horrific and untrue stere (none / 0)

Trust Todd Beeton to come up with a front page post where he is literally grasping at the straws based on his wishful thinking. Now he is quoting Craig Crawford, as if Craig is "the authority" and what he says has got to be true. I'd sure like to see the look on his face when she wins this.

by vs on Mon Jan 28, 2008 at 09:19:56 PM EST
[ Parent ]

What a horrific and untrue stereotype (2.00 / 2)

Give Chuck Todd a break. He and his buddies probably picked up that stereotype about Latinos at a Sally Quinn cocktail party.

by hwc on Mon Jan 28, 2008 at 06:51:58 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: What a horrific and untrue stereotype (1.00 / 1)

Chuck Todd is a REPUBLICAN hack job!

by Zeitgeist9000 on Mon Jan 28, 2008 at 06:55:41 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: What a horrific and untrue stereotype (none / 0)

Really? I don't think so.

by mecarr on Mon Jan 28, 2008 at 07:49:56 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: What a horrific and untrue stereotype (2.00 / 1)

My 83 year old mother in New Mexico has JFK and RFK pictures on the table in the hallway (she doesn't have the pope ... guess she's just a heretic). Not the central valley of California, but an actual Latino home. (Not sure how many Latino homes the folks posting here been spending time in). You don't see those pictures everywhere, but they are found now and then -- especially among older people.

That generation of my family (we are Latinos whose ancestors were in New Mexico for centuries) admires the Kennedy name more than any other in politics. This endorsement won't deliver their votes to Obama, but it will give him an opening to reach them. (My mother is still undecided. My uncles, aunts and cousins are split - most haven't decided for certain yet, several of them are for Clinton, a couple of Edwards, and several of the younger ones for Obama)

Ted Kennedy is a great endorsement for any Democratic candidate (I doubt all these anti-Ted postings would be here if he had endorsed Clinton). If you think that trashing Kennedy is the way to overcome the impact of his endorsement, you're missing the boat. The Kennedy name, and Ted in particular, is highly regarded among huge parts of the Democratic party - plenty of blue collar folks, unions, Latinos, gays, liberals, Catholic ethnics. This endorsements gives all of those folks a message that they can consider voting for Obama and still be true to Democratic principles. It will still be up to the Obama campaign to effectively deliver a message that convinces those voters, but Ted Kennedy and Caroline Kennedy have opened the door for that.

by lifelongdem on Mon Jan 28, 2008 at 07:35:47 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: What a horrific and untrue stereotype (none / 0)

I agree lifelongdem.

Another thing people here forget is: who is first lady of CA? Oprah's long-time buddy, Teddy's niece, and Caroline's bestest cousin. The media blitz has just begun. They want to hammer this thing home and the only thing that stands in their way are the voters. And the voters can be swayed. Look at the dirty hatchet job Arnie pulled on Gov. Davis. Heck, Arnie might even endorse Obama.

At any rate, I'm sure Maria Shriver will and she has tons of friends in the press.

The polls are moving as we speak. I wish the primaries were this Tuesday instead of next. The more positive spin for Obama and the more Clinton talks, the worse it is for Hil.

by India on Mon Jan 28, 2008 at 08:30:51 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Ted Kennedy: Obama's Secret Weapon In The West (none / 0)

I think the measureable effect on California will be how much news coverage the Kennedy appearances generate (plenty), and what perception of Obama momentum media pundits perceieve and decide to report (could be big).

And don't forget the money. Kennedy raises a lot.

With the media hungry for a new story, this may be the narrative Obama needed to build big mo.

Clinton needs to find a way to change the story, as she has done before. But pretending this endorsement didn't help Obama is denial.

by wolff109 on Mon Jan 28, 2008 at 06:45:02 PM EST

Re: Ted Kennedy: Obama's Secret Weapon In The West (none / 0)

She does need counter story. And it does help him of course but how long has the story got legs and is it a paradigm shifter. I don't think so once you get beyond Timmers msm and the blog world echo chamber. In fact I don't think the timing is that good because tomorrows going to all FL and SOS. I'm going to feel much more confident if I see a real win in FL tomorrow on record turnout. If she breaks 50% it means her coalition is holding. Her leads in all the CA polls are 12-17% is Kennedy really going to make these disappear.

by ottovbvs on Mon Jan 28, 2008 at 06:55:42 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Ted Kennedy: Obama's Secret Weapon In The West (none / 0)

Uhm, according to open secrets from 1989 - 2008 he has raised $34M.

His fundraising, while impressive, is dwarfed by this year's Presidential totals.

by rcipw on Mon Jan 28, 2008 at 06:58:05 PM EST
[ Parent ]

what will be new. (none / 0)

and what perception of Obama momentum media pundits perceieve and decide to report (could be big).

The media have been pushing him for weeks. Let's see what happens in Florida because I suspect a big balloon is going te get punctured.

by ottovbvs on Mon Jan 28, 2008 at 07:01:29 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Ted Kennedy: Obama's Secret Weapon In The West (1.50 / 2)

I am much more disappointed in Caroline. Being a women I find it an insult her endorsement of Barack. I just have to wonder why people who I have respected in the democratic party have jumped on the Obama Bandwagon. Nobody seems to report his inconsistencies or lack of substance to Baracks words. This country is in probably the worst position in my 48 yrs of life. I want a president who has Ideas that can verbalize them with concrete solutions. Some of the same democrates who somehow thought 4 years ago Bush was a better choice than John Kerry. Is that who is supporting Barack? People who want Hope? Really I hope people will take great time investigating Barack. Ask him Tough question? I have no answers that gives me any reason to vote for him.
One thing that just shows how I can't even believe Barack in the simplest way. He is running an ad here in CT speaking of being raised by a single mother. Nothing I have ever read say he was raised by a single mother. His mother had a child with a man from Kenya. When Barack was about 2 his father left. His mother then married a man from Indonesia and the family moved there. Until the time Barack was about 10 when he moved to HI to be raised by his grandparents.
Please everyone we need someone to solve the huge problems we have in this country. Check the facts. In my eyes the one who has distorted his whole life to suit his needs. It's too important to everyone. We don't need a rock star.

by orion1 on Mon Jan 28, 2008 at 06:45:52 PM EST

Re: Ted Kennedy: Obama's Secret Weapon In The West (none / 0)

Insulting? A little harsh on Caroline, arent you.

And I wonder if your heightened sense of being offended included Hillary's hilarious claims that she was always a Yankee fan.

by Pravin on Mon Jan 28, 2008 at 07:11:14 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Ted Kennedy: Obama's Secret Weapon In The West (none / 0)

Has there been some kind of study done of what baseball cards she collected as a child or something?

"Another problem we have...is that in election years we behave somewhat as primitive peoples do at the time of the full moon." --Harry Truman

by Steve M on Mon Jan 28, 2008 at 07:18:47 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Believe it or not, yes (none / 0)

There have been investigative reports into what teams Hillary rooted for as a kid. The answer - Chicago Cubs and New York Yankees. The reason makes perfect sense, as she has explained you cannot be a Cubs fan and a White Sox fan. She needed an American League team and chose the Yankess.

As Media Matters for America has repeatedly noted, Clinton's 2003 autobiography, Living History (Simon & Schuster), contains a photograph of her wearing a Yankees cap in 1992 -- eight years before she ran for the Senate. Further, The Washington Post reported on September 12, 1994, that "Mrs. Clinton ... as a kid was a 'big-time' fan of the Chicago Cubs and New York Yankees and 'understudied' Ernie Banks and Mickey Mantle."

This has been gone over a million times, but the truth is not important, the important thing is to paint Hillary a liar in all things big and small. Bill Bradley did it to Gore and I know that I for one still thank him for saving us from lying Al.

by BDB on Mon Jan 28, 2008 at 07:48:45 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Believe it or not, yes (none / 0)

I think this is a measure of the extent to which folks here and on other blogs are losing their minds. I think it's getting time to turn the computer off and go for a walk or something.

by ottovbvs on Mon Jan 28, 2008 at 08:15:06 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Ted Kennedy: Obama's Secret Weapon In The West (none / 0)

Wait...

You're offended, as a woman, that a woman did not pick a woman to endorse?

I am offended, frankly, that a Democrat would choose a candidate simply based on sex. You mention serious issues that this country is facing, but seem to take larger issue with the fact that Hillary is a woman.

I'm a guy, but I consider myself a strong feminist. But I support Edwards... and second, Obama. I guess I don't believe in feminism as much as I thought I did...

we need to choose the best candidate for the job... for me, that's Edwards, and if not him, Obama for sure.

by magnolia rising on Tue Jan 29, 2008 at 12:01:18 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Ted Kennedy: Obama's Secret Weapon In The West (2.00 / 1)

Steve Clemons:

Ted Kennedy has the largest machine in the Democratic Party. When I used to work in the Senate, I marveled at the Kennedy franchise -- at the number of people who had started with Kennedy, who then went on to different positions in government and the private sector, and then came back for his annual "friends only" Holiday Party at which he and his wife always showed up in some extremely cool but outrageous attire (I was there for Beauty and the Kennedy Beast). There were thousands upon thousands at this close friends' party.

The Clintons have a franchise of course. So does Joe Biden and Daschle and John Breaux. But the Kennedy empire is enormous -- and when Tom DeLay tried to stop the hiring of Democrats by K Street, it was Ted Kennedy's machine and his acolytes that he was really trying to hurt.

So this endorsement by Kennedy does have magnitude -- and bolsters Obama's position. The Clinton machine remains formidable and nationally deployed -- and may still have an edge. But there is no doubt that Kennedy's endorsement is not about Massachusetts nor about an aging white liberal -- it is about the thousands and thousands of followers who owe their careers to Ted Kennedy.

This is also about machine politics -- and Kennedy wants his machine to continue to thrive and to have major impact on the course of American policy and politics (and also wants his people to get jobs).

The Clinton franchise could never really be true to the Kennedy machine -- Bill and Hillary have their own many thousands of followers beholden to them.

Obama is fresh enough and new enough that he doesn't have such a machine; now Kennedy has gifted Obama an enormous vehicle which Kennedy hopes Obama will take as his own and keep intact.

"Another problem we have...is that in election years we behave somewhat as primitive peoples do at the time of the full moon." --Harry Truman

by Steve M on Mon Jan 28, 2008 at 06:51:05 PM EST

Re: Ted Kennedy: Obama's Secret Weapon In The West (2.00 / 1)

Steve, and you believe theres a huge machine in all the st primary states ready to go. This sounds like total hyperbole to me.

by ottovbvs on Mon Jan 28, 2008 at 06:58:12 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Ted Kennedy: Obama's Secret Weapon In The West (none / 0)

We're not talking about a urban machine that has operatives in every precinct, or anything like that. Anyway, I'm just sharing this comment, Steve Clemons is a very savvy guy.

"Another problem we have...is that in election years we behave somewhat as primitive peoples do at the time of the full moon." --Harry Truman

by Steve M on Mon Jan 28, 2008 at 07:00:57 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Ted Kennedy: Obama's Secret Weapon In The West (2.00 / 1)

He is indeed and in the broader sense obviously Kennedy has big influence. But can it be brought to bear in seven days in a way that erased 12 to 17 point leads in CA particualry when the internals of these polls seem to indicate people have made up their minds and 20% of votes have been mailed.

by ottovbvs on Mon Jan 28, 2008 at 07:04:05 PM EST
[ Parent ]

We do get swept up in alll this you know. (2.00 / 1)

Both the Obama fans and the Clinton ones. And of course the media which is looking for any anti Hillary line it can find. I spoke to my daughter about it today. She lives in CA and is all the usual stuff, young, well educated etc. She says here sense is that the the folks under 30 are definitely in Obamas camp but she can't see this chinging the mind of someone whose leaning towards Hillary anymore than if it was the other way around. Would it change you.

by ottovbvs on Mon Jan 28, 2008 at 07:08:06 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: We do get swept up in alll this you know. (none / 0)

Being young used to be the usual stuff, but I find it's getting less usual every day.

"Another problem we have...is that in election years we behave somewhat as primitive peoples do at the time of the full moon." --Harry Truman

by Steve M on Mon Jan 28, 2008 at 07:11:09 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Ted Kennedy: Obama's Secret Weapon In The West (none / 0)

Kennedy's endorsement of Obama does not change the fact for me that I do not like the big political machine politics. Such power in a few hands is unhealthy.

by Pravin on Mon Jan 28, 2008 at 08:43:55 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Ted Kennedy: Obama's Secret Weapon In The West (2.00 / 1)

I have always been a fan of Ted Kennedy and this endorsement does not change this fact. However, isn't he the Democrat that brought us No Child Left Behind?

by CVDem on Mon Jan 28, 2008 at 06:51:08 PM EST

Re: Ted Kennedy: Obama's Secret Weapon In The West (2.00 / 1)

And sold us down the river on the Medicare drug bill.

And, who has a long standing record of dragging his feet as slowly as he can on women's issues.

by hwc on Mon Jan 28, 2008 at 06:57:47 PM EST
[ Parent ]

wha? (2.00 / 1)

we all know what having Ted Kennedy on the ground campaigning for Al Gore"

the one thing Ted did for Gore is cost him the election by pushing Shrum on him. Besides that, he didnt offer us any practical help at all. I defy you to prove otherwise.

In 1992, I don't remember the Clinton campaign using him at all.

Ted arguably cost us the White House in 1980 (I was there and still feel guilty about it), 1988 {when he parked Paul Kirk as the DNC chair so he could run himself and then when his private life flared up again and prevented that - he pushed the Mass mob and money to a Dukakis run - which was insane}. In 2000 and 2004, he and Shrummie gave it all away....hell, ive heard tales from 72 about how his "is he or isnt he'" bit- kept the strongest Dems out also - and cost us our chance there too, but I was to young to be involved.

But you keep believen'!

Offend the Media - Vote for Hillary!

by Seymour Glass on Mon Jan 28, 2008 at 06:51:24 PM EST

Re: wha? (2.00 / 1)

Amen. I don't know if there is anyone around who has done more to undermine the Democrats chances at the White House.

by hwc on Mon Jan 28, 2008 at 06:59:21 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Kennedy: Qualified Women Need Not Apply (none / 0)

It sure is a man's world.

by BigBoyBlue on Mon Jan 28, 2008 at 06:51:59 PM EST

Re: Ted Kennedy: Obama's Secret Weapon In The West (2.00 / 1)

Isn't it weird to decry the type of politics that divides people into categories based on race and then turn around and dispatch Ted Kennedy to go and round you up some Hispanic votes?

Or am I just interpreting this wrong?

by Tove on Mon Jan 28, 2008 at 07:03:37 PM EST

Re: Ted Kennedy: Obama's Secret Weapon In The West (2.00 / 1)

The Obama campaign never, ever makes appeals based on race, you heretic.

"Another problem we have...is that in election years we behave somewhat as primitive peoples do at the time of the full moon." --Harry Truman

by Steve M on Mon Jan 28, 2008 at 07:06:39 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Ted Kennedy: Obama's Secret Weapon In The West (none / 0)

Sí se puede! Sí se puede!

Yeah.

by Tove on Mon Jan 28, 2008 at 07:10:12 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Ted Kennedy: Obama's Secret Weapon In The West (2.00 / 1)

As Craig Crawford said you have to suffering from mental illness to think that Bill Clinton was playing the race card... Why would he want to do that? Ted Kennedy started that whole thing knowing that he was going to endorse Obama...

by my nickle on Mon Jan 28, 2008 at 07:06:00 PM EST

Re: Ted Kennedy: Obama's Secret Weapon In The West (none / 0)

Craig Crawford also defended Imus

by shlenny on Mon Jan 28, 2008 at 07:43:00 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Ted Kennedy: Obama's Secret Weapon In The West (none / 0)

Tom Hayden has endorsed Obama's movement:

Is Barack the one we have been waiting for? Or is it the other way around? Are we the people we have been waiting for? Barack Obama is giving voice and space to an awakening beyond his wildest expectations, a social force that may lead him far beyond his modest policy agend. Such movements in the past led the Kennedys and Franklin Roosevelt to achievements they never contemplated. [As Gandhi once said of India's liberation movement, "There go my people. I must follow them, for I am their leader."]

We are in a precious moment where caution must yield to courage. It is better to fail at the quest for greatness than to accept our planet's future as only a reliving of the past.

So I endorse the movement that Barack Obama has inspired and will support his candidacy in the inevitable storms ahead.

The combo of Kennedy, Hayden, and Kucinich dropping out could kick the shit out of the lingering Edwards support among the most progressive left in California and move it firmly into Obama's camp.

by Piuma on Mon Jan 28, 2008 at 07:08:37 PM EST

Re: Ted Kennedy: Obama's Secret Weapon In The West (none / 0)

Good lord. What's next? An endorsement from Jane Fonda?

I'm glad Obama is turning his back on the battles of the 1960's.

by hwc on Mon Jan 28, 2008 at 07:58:35 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Ted Kennedy: Obama's Secret Weapon In The West (1.00 / 3)

Powerful men can't stand for a woman to have more power than them and it is really beginning to show... Think of the men on TV that become really radical talking about Hillary... She is much more qualified than Obama but now that is not important... When has a person with no more experience than Obama has ever been considered for a job like this, and what kind of mess could we have because of it? You know the women don't have to vote in November..

by my nickle on Mon Jan 28, 2008 at 07:13:32 PM EST

Kennedy Myth and Machine (2.00 / 2)

This is about using Obama to continue on the Kennedy myths. Ted and Caroline Kennedy care the most about burnishing JFK's image and make sure the myth carries on. It's also about giving the Kennedy machine some place to go since, as Steve Clemmons right points out, the Clintons have their own people already. Indeed a lot of the Obama support, particularly from young Wall Street and other movers and shakers, are people who want seats at the table and the Clinton table has been full for decades.

Having said that, I don't blame Obama for wanting Kennedy's endorsement. So long as it doesn't hurt him with independents, which he's going to need in the open primaries, it's clearly a good thing for him.

I doubt very much, however, Ted Kennedy can cure Obama's hispanic problem, at least in California. Dolores Huerta, Fabian Nunez, and Anthony Villaraigosa are all going to have more pull, IMO, than Ted Kennedy and more importantly have been working on Clinton's behalf for months. Ted Kennedy may be as close as you can get to a JFK endorsement, but Dolores Huerta is as close as you can get to a Cesar Chavez. I'd take her and the United Farmworkers over the Kennedy clan any day.

by BDB on Mon Jan 28, 2008 at 07:23:26 PM EST

Re: Kennedy Myth and Machine (none / 0)

I'm not so sure about the positive influence the Mayor is going to have. He's betrayed his wife, cost a popular figure her job, and is in bed with the developers in the city. He was a rising star whose rep has faded very fast.

by Piuma on Mon Jan 28, 2008 at 07:51:55 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Kennedy Myth and Machine (none / 0)

Yeah. You're probably right. Certainly compared to Ted Kennedy's saintlike history of relationships with women.

by hwc on Mon Jan 28, 2008 at 08:02:20 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Ted Kennedy: Obama's Secret Weapon In The West (none / 0)

My problems with Ted's endorsement:

1. He gave Bill the mantle in 1992, too

He called Bill not Hill to let them know
Using the deceased w/o voice is wrong
Obama started the race issue, duh!
No one has yet to answer why Rezko doesn't matter

by DebzLogic on Mon Jan 28, 2008 at 07:26:47 PM EST

Re: Ted Kennedy: Obama's Secret Weapon In The West (2.00 / 1)

Bill was the one trying to get Kennedy not to endorse Obama.

It seems that Bill is seeking a third term.

by shlenny on Mon Jan 28, 2008 at 07:44:33 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Culinary was going to be big too (2.00 / 1)

It was going to deliver the Latino dishwashers, etc.

How'd that work out?

by dpANDREWS on Mon Jan 28, 2008 at 07:31:05 PM EST

Re: Ted Kennedy: Obama's Secret Weapon In The West (2.00 / 1)

I don't know about the rest of the women out there but I am getting damn fed-up with the ganging up to make sure a woman doesn't become president... They say how wonderful Obama's message of change is and they don't even defind what the change is about... The race card issue was started by the media and Ted Kennedy all the rest of the a/h's out there that can't stand it.. I won't ever vote for him for these reasons and I hope the rest of the women feel the same.. I have seen hour long tv shows that talk about nothing but how awful Hillary is.. Who else do they treat this way and can anybody think of a better explanation for it? Women should talk now and let them know that we won't take this kind of treatment anymore... If Obama gets the nomination - by-by vote in November

by my nickle on Mon Jan 28, 2008 at 07:40:34 PM EST

Re: Ted Kennedy: Obama's Secret Weapon In The West (2.00 / 1)

Damn that Caroline Kennedy, Clair MacCaskill, Janet Napalatano, and Kathleen Sebelius!

by shlenny on Mon Jan 28, 2008 at 07:46:08 PM EST
[ Parent ]

ted made me send bush rebate to hillary (none / 0)

last time Ted endorsed somebody we got Bushed.
So I am using Ted as anti-advice device: whatever he
said means don't do that. In anticpation of Tax Rebate
Mr. Bush will send to me I am sending the amount of money
equivalent to this "Rebate" to candidate who
at least has a chance to be a good president,
Mrs. Hillary Clinton and beat Republican.

Thank you Teddy, I love you more!
(this is a repost)

by WeNeed3rdParty on Mon Jan 28, 2008 at 07:53:24 PM EST

Re: Ted Kennedy: Obama's Secret Weapon In The West (2.00 / 1)

Yea damn them too, there are a few women that think they have been accepted in the good ol boys club.....

by my nickle on Mon Jan 28, 2008 at 07:55:36 PM EST

Re: Ted Kennedy: Obama's Secret Weapon In The West (none / 0)

Umm - In every latino home i've been in, and, well quite frankly i am latino and have probably been to many more latino homes than many people on this site, i can assure that JP II holds a lot of pull. If he endorsed Obama it would make waves, but JFK? I can never remember seeing portraits of JFK in any Latino home i've been to.

vote blue in 2008

by sepulvedaj3 on Mon Jan 28, 2008 at 08:02:51 PM EST

Re: Ted Kennedy: Obama's Secret Weapon In The West (none / 0)

I've also been into Latino homes in CA. Never seen a picture of JFK but have seen JP II. Interesting how these storylines get picked up. I heard Russert say same thing tonight. How many latino homes has Russert been into. It's total bs basically and if anything the pro Clinton folks are over reactiong to all this Kennedy hype. It's going to make no more than a marginal difference. Show me the Florida result and see how many hispanics Kennedy has "delivered"

by ottovbvs on Mon Jan 28, 2008 at 08:19:05 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Ted Kennedy: (none / 0)

Sorry but I just don't get what the big deal is. I could see where it would help in MA but where else? I can't imagine it helping with hispanics because Obama's already turned them off and I don't think that Ted's endorsement will change that.

It could even cause Obama to lose in GA. I would imagine to the rest of the country that it means pretty much nothing.

No longer a Democrat, now proudly an independent voter!

by Ga6thDem on Mon Jan 28, 2008 at 08:06:32 PM EST

Re: I wonder..... (none / 0)

Absolutely nothing will ever stop them from playing that card.

Texas Economics

by IVR Polls on Mon Jan 28, 2008 at 08:09:49 PM EST

Re: Ted Kennedy: Obama's Secret Weapon In The West (none / 0)

I really don't see this having too much of an effect. The media can report about this as much as they'd like to (of course they would, it's an endorsement for the God-like Obama), but at the end of the day, who especially in the West is going to make up their mind based on Ted Kennedy. Obviously his name is recognizable, but in reality, the majority of Democrats especially those not from Mass. would not know too much about him.
Hispanics will stick by the candidate who has worked for and represented them for years. But I don't think Obama's campaign considers the Hispanic population to be too intelligent. That can be seen by the games they've tried to play to get their votes such as the ad they supported in Nevada - "Hillary Clinton does not respect our people". That didn't get Obama any more of the Hispanic vote and this won't either. Hispanics won't fall for it.

by musicpvm on Mon Jan 28, 2008 at 08:15:54 PM EST

Re: Ted Kennedy: Obama's Secret Weapon In The West (none / 0)

Yeah.. Why? What do you have against him?

John McCain defends Bush's Iraq strategy.