Has Obama Changed The Political Landscape?
There have been many moments in this campaign that have stood out as pivotal moments – especially for the Obama camp. From the beginning of his presidential candidacy, Obama has made his run symbolic. He announced his bid for president on a freezing day in February 2007 standing on the ground of the Old State Capitol, where Lincoln delivered his famous "House Divided" speech (http://showcase.netins.net/web/creative/lincoln/speeches/house.htm) against slavery in 1858.
"I recognize there is a certain presumptuousness -- a certain audacity -- to this announcement,"Obamae said. "I know I haven't spent a lot of time learning the ways of Washington. But I've been there long enough to know that the ways of Washington must change."
Hence, his message was simple -- Change!
Obama was obviously the underdog as a freshman senator from IL. In the Democratic Primary, he was running against a formidable opponent, Senator Hillary Clinton – formally known as the Clinton Machine. She started her campaign as the frontrunner with the biggest purse in the first quarter. Obama made it clear that he would not be taking money from lobbyist or corporate entities. Although the opposition was laughing, it wasn’t long before his online fundraising efforts began to pay off with big dividends. Obama use the model of Howard Dean who ran in 2004 and enhanced it greatly.
While Obama was running as the candidate who happens to the Black, the Senator from NY attempted to help America define him as the Black Candidate, though. It wasn’t long before clips began to run of his former pastor, Rev. Jeremiah Wright in loop on the 24 hour news channels. Because Rev. Wright describes his message as Black Liberation Theology mainstream equated it and Obama as being a Black Radical. At that point in time, Obama decided to change the trajectory of the race. In March 2008, he delivered a speech, ‘A More Perfect Union,’ at Constitution Center in Philadelphia, PA which was across the street from Independence Hall where the Declaration of Independence was adopted and the Constitution of the United States was signed.
“But I have asserted a firm conviction — a conviction rooted in my faith in God and my faith in the American people — that, working together, we can move beyond some of our old racial wounds, and that in fact we have no choice if we are to continue on the path of a more perfect union.”
Into the General Election, Senator John McCain, taunted Obama on his foreign experience. He noted that Obama had not been to Iraq and suggested that they go together. Obama declined. He later made the trip on his own terms which meant that he not only went to Iraq, it became a European tour, with a stop in Germany. He drew a crowd of 200,000 people in Berlin at the Victory Column at Tiergarten Park where he delivered “A World That Stands As One.”
“People of Berlin - people of the world - this is our moment. This is our time.”
Then, there was the Democratic Convention. Obama’s acceptance speech was scheduled to be 20,000 seat venue of the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. Just weeks prior, the Obama camp requested a change of venue to Invesco Field which has a seating capacity of 76,000. This was unprecedented, but it was more inclusive than the Pepsi Center.
"We cannot turn back. Not with so much work to be done... At this moment, in this election, we must pledge once more to march into the future."
Obama's fundraising efforts, speeches and web savvy has earned him clout in the Democratic party -- regardless of Presidential win. His stance on not accepting money from special interests or lobbyist has changed how campaigns will be run in the future. Based on his campaign endeavors, it will be interesting to see what will happen in 2012.
"I recognize there is a certain presumptuousness -- a certain audacity -- to this announcement,"Obamae said. "I know I haven't spent a lot of time learning the ways of Washington. But I've been there long enough to know that the ways of Washington must change."
Hence, his message was simple -- Change!
Obama was obviously the underdog as a freshman senator from IL. In the Democratic Primary, he was running against a formidable opponent, Senator Hillary Clinton – formally known as the Clinton Machine. She started her campaign as the frontrunner with the biggest purse in the first quarter. Obama made it clear that he would not be taking money from lobbyist or corporate entities. Although the opposition was laughing, it wasn’t long before his online fundraising efforts began to pay off with big dividends. Obama use the model of Howard Dean who ran in 2004 and enhanced it greatly.
While Obama was running as the candidate who happens to the Black, the Senator from NY attempted to help America define him as the Black Candidate, though. It wasn’t long before clips began to run of his former pastor, Rev. Jeremiah Wright in loop on the 24 hour news channels. Because Rev. Wright describes his message as Black Liberation Theology mainstream equated it and Obama as being a Black Radical. At that point in time, Obama decided to change the trajectory of the race. In March 2008, he delivered a speech, ‘A More Perfect Union,’ at Constitution Center in Philadelphia, PA which was across the street from Independence Hall where the Declaration of Independence was adopted and the Constitution of the United States was signed.
“But I have asserted a firm conviction — a conviction rooted in my faith in God and my faith in the American people — that, working together, we can move beyond some of our old racial wounds, and that in fact we have no choice if we are to continue on the path of a more perfect union.”
Into the General Election, Senator John McCain, taunted Obama on his foreign experience. He noted that Obama had not been to Iraq and suggested that they go together. Obama declined. He later made the trip on his own terms which meant that he not only went to Iraq, it became a European tour, with a stop in Germany. He drew a crowd of 200,000 people in Berlin at the Victory Column at Tiergarten Park where he delivered “A World That Stands As One.”
“People of Berlin - people of the world - this is our moment. This is our time.”
Then, there was the Democratic Convention. Obama’s acceptance speech was scheduled to be 20,000 seat venue of the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. Just weeks prior, the Obama camp requested a change of venue to Invesco Field which has a seating capacity of 76,000. This was unprecedented, but it was more inclusive than the Pepsi Center.
"We cannot turn back. Not with so much work to be done... At this moment, in this election, we must pledge once more to march into the future."
Obama's fundraising efforts, speeches and web savvy has earned him clout in the Democratic party -- regardless of Presidential win. His stance on not accepting money from special interests or lobbyist has changed how campaigns will be run in the future. Based on his campaign endeavors, it will be interesting to see what will happen in 2012.
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