Obama says he'll need more time to connect with KY

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, who won’t be back in Kentucky before Tuesday's primary election, said he hopes to have much more time to win over Kentucky voters before the November general election.

“When we’re able to campaign in a place like Iowa for several months, and I can visit and talk to people individually, I do very well. That’s harder to do at this stage in the campaign,” Obama said in a brief telephone interview with the Herald-Leader Friday. “And once we get past the primary, we’ll be able to focus more on those states where we need to make sure people know my track record.”

Obama, who trails his Democratic rival Hillary Rodham Clinton in the state, said he’s also been hampered in places like Kentucky by “systematically” dispersed e-mails of misinformation about him, as well as Fox News, which he said has played up “rumors.”

But he maintained that he can connect with voters who might still be skeptical or unsure of him with his message of change and “pushing aside the special interests that are dominating Washington.”

“Being truthful with the American people about how we’re going to solve problems, like high gas prices — that, I think, is the kind of approach that will appeal in Kentucky like it has everywhere else,” he said.

Obama, a U.S. Senator from Illinois, spoke to more than 8,000 supporters in Louisville Monday night — his first time in the state since August.

He said he had hoped to spend more time in Kentucky earlier this week but was called back to Washington, D.C. for votes on Tuesday.

Since then, he’s stumped in Oregon, which will hold its primary by mail on Tuesday, and South Dakota, where Democrats vote June 3, as well as in states that already held their primary elections, such as Michigan and Missouri.

“We’re having to campaign in a lot of different places,” Obama said. “Obviously we think Kentucky is important. People in Kentucky are concerned about the same things people are concerned about all across the country — declining wages and incomes combined with the rising costs of everything from gas to health care.”

Obama’s wife, Michelle, is slated to campaign in Kentucky on Monday.

Meanwhile, Clinton, the New York Senator, plans to barnstorm the state with five stops this weekend.

Obama conceded that, if he’s the Democratic nominee, he has a steep challenge in Kentucky — where he trails Clinton by 27 points in the Herald-Leader/WKYT Kentucky Poll  — and West Virginia, where voters chose Clinton over Obama by 40 points on Tuesday.

“What it says is that I’m not very well known in that part of the country,” Obama said. “Sen. Clinton, I think, is much better known — not only because of her time in the White House with her husband — but also coming from a nearby state of Arkansas.”

Obama has been trying to introduce himself to Kentuckians using a series of biographical TV ads, as well as fliers, including one that shows him at a pulpit in front of a church’s cross and pipe organ.

He acknowledged that he’s trying to “reverse a lot of misconceptions” about his background. He is a Christian, although some e-mail chains have said he is a Muslim.

“Part of it is because there have been these e-mails that have been sent out very systematically, presumably by various political opponents, although I don’t know who,” he said. “And there are a lot of voters who get their news from Fox News. Fox has been pumping up rumors about my religious beliefs or my patriotism or what have you since the beginning of the campaign.”

As Clinton continues to argue that she is better suited to win in key, large swing states such as Pennsylvania and Ohio, Obama countered that he has performed better among independents.

And he said he and Clinton match up similarly against Republican nominee John McCain. Both trail McCain, the U.S. Senator from Arizona, by double digits in a Herald-Leader/WKYT poll of 600 likely general election voters. McCain leads Clinton by 12 points and Obama by 25 points.

“I think whoever the Democratic is we’re going to have some work to do in a state like Kentucky,” Obama said.

Republican National Committee Spokeswoman Katie Wright dismissed Obama’s contention that he’ll be competitive in Kentucky this fall.

"The more voters in Kentucky get to know Senator Obama, the more they will realize that he doesn't understand the economy or their values,” Wright said in a statement. “Higher taxes, threatening Second Amendment rights, taxing 'dirty energy' and taking choice out of healthcare won't benefit our country much less the hard working families of Kentucky."

-- Ryan Alessi

Comments

[Carl]

I don't like him, and he has no accomplishments to speak of.

[AllKnowing]

"What it says is that I'm not very well known in that part of the country," Obama said. "Sen. Clinton, I think, is much better known coming from a nearby state of Arkansas. So it's not surprising that she would have an advantage in some of those states in the middle."

Perhaps someone on his staff should inform Mr. Obama that KY BORDERS Illinois.

[Joe LeDuc]

New York Senator Clinton is from nearby Arkansas while La'Bamba is a Senator from the far away state of Illinois. Unless he is referring to how he grew up in Indonesia and Hawaii, it sounds like somebody needs a geography lesson.

He is not campaigning in KY because he has accepted the fact that we just don’t want to buy his snake oil. He has accepted this fact and has moved on to some other place that will.

[Johnny Cage]

It never ceases to amaze me how stupid the people from Kentucky are. Obama is not a Muslim. He never was. He believes that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. His so called racist church has white members. He places his hand over his heart when he pledges allegiance to the flag, and leads the pledge in the senate. He is a real American that cares about his country and our troops. Yet best I can tell, the majority of Kentuckians have chosen to believe every single one of the lies about Senator Obama. Outwardly they say, "He has a funny sounding name," or "I heard that he was a Muslim!" But when the pot is boiled dry and you peep over the edge to see what is left, the only thing is "I'm not going to vote for black man over a white man!"

[R. Rears]

We people from Kentucky are not as stupid as you may think. Mr. Obama has only had one term in the US. senate . Are you stupid enough to think he is ready to run this country. Just becuse he is black , we are suppose to give him a pass on having enough experience and intellience.Liberals are wrong on all issues, and they been for they last 4 decades.

[Who you callin stupid, stupid?]

From Mr. Cage: "the majority of Kentuckians have chosen to believe every single one of the lies about Senator Obama."

No, Mr. Cage, us stupid Kentuckians just don't fall for his empty promises of "CHANGE", when what he is really saying is "RAISE YOUR TAXES"!

Red or yellow, black or white, don't trust a liberal, yankee lawyer!

[Johnny Cage]

Oh yeah? How does Mr. McCain plan on continuing to pay for this monster of a war that is sucking the country dry? The American dollar falls in value every day. Gas inches up by a few pennies each week. You think you won't see your taxes raised with this old warmonger in office?

I've not heard a single thing from him in the areas of health care or ending this war. He has no plan. Barack has a plan and he outlines it very clearly on his website.

And yes, Stupid, Kentuckians are more likely than others to believe that Obama is a Muslim who will not pledge allegiance to the flag.

[LeAnne]

Is this the same majority of stupid Kentuckians that believed Beshear's and the Democrat party's lies about Ernie Fletcher and elected another empty suit full of snake oil promises he can't make good? Sometimes voters get what they deserve.

[Erica]

I want anyone who doesn't know Barack Obama to read this:

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/05/16/politics/politico/thecrypt/main4103492.shtml

He is fighting for our vets and that alone is more than anything Bush or McCain has ever done. We need to fight with him on this. Whether you support him or not, this kind of action is important and knowing what soldiers go through after war such as our own kentucky "marlboro marine" (look up the rolling stone article), this type of action brings tears to my eyes. Finally someone is willing to help.

[Erica]

Did I mention that after he wrote the letter, it was approved!

They are not going to let our soldiers fall through the cracks.

[Time to educate yourselves and stop the bickering....]

He's not going to raise your taxes (unless you earn above $200k per year). He's going to cut them! He's right, not enough time between now and next week Tuesday to connect with/educate most folks in KY...

http://www.barackobama.com/issues/economy/#tax-relief

Obama will cut income taxes by $1,000 for working families to offset the payroll tax they pay.

Provide a Tax Cut for Working Families: Obama will restore fairness to the tax code and provide 150 million workers the tax relief they need. Obama will create a new "Making Work Pay" tax credit of up to $500 per person, or $1,000 per working family. The "Making Work Pay" tax credit will completely eliminate income taxes for 10 million Americans.

[Johnny Cage]

It doesn't matter what you say, Erica. Small minded people are not going to support Obama regardless of how good his ideas are. There will always be one more urban legend to believe. http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/obama.asp

[justlivin]

I dont know how much time it would take to explain this one as ricky would say lucy you got some spaining to do...
read this its his words not mine
http://www.cfiflistmanager.org/globalpovertyactiii1be.html

[Erica]

Your source is not reputable. I'm sorry.

[Taxpayer]

And your opinion is just that, an opinion. There is no way that O'Bama is going to cut taxes and get all the socialized programs he wants without raising taxes. Despite all his policies, the bottom line is he absolutely has NO experience that qualifies him to run this country. That will be his downfall, not his race, his church, or anything else.

You people also need to learn a lesson in economics and how money works. If your parents didn't tell you, you DON'T take money from a rich man. How do you think he got rich? Surely not by giving it away. Most Americans work for a "rich" man or woman. They own or run the company. You tax them, guess how their going to get it back? By lowering raises and raising health insurance rates on their employees. Those employees are middle class America. Crap rolls down hill, O'Bama may not directly tax the middle class, but it will roll that way and most Democrats just don't understand this for some reason.

[bulletbob]

Once again Obama gives me another reason, as if I need one, to not vote for him. Fox news, nor any other outlet, has put forth rumors about him regarding his religion. Fox has been tenacious about reporting the Rev. Wright antics, but that is hardly rumor fodder, it is video presentation. I have read many of the emails to which he refers which aren't fact based. His problems, even though he leads in delegate count, are of his own associations with questionable characters in a day in which everything said or done is documentable. It isn't the fault of a particular media outlet.

[Bill Adkins]

O'Bama? Another reason to be for him - he's Irish!!!

[Johnny Cage]

The ole' "experience" card. Look, there is no other job like being the President of the United States. Being a senator for 20 years cannot prepare you for that job.

Obama is a born leader. The proof is in the pudding. After he is in office, and things start to change for the better, all the doubters will be forced to say "Yes HE can!"

[McCain has it]

So let me get this straight, Johnny. You don't think experience is relevant to consider who should be President of the United States?! Your answer is "proof is in the pudding" about Obama's leadership ability?! By that you mean the fawning of the media and the Hollywood crowd, and oh yes, Ted Kennedy!

What has Obama lead, exactly?

Hmmm. No thanks. I will go for experience, and McCain has it.