by John McCormick, updated
Sen. Barack Obama managed to campaign Thursday in Indiana without ever setting foot in the state.
On a day he was supposed to taking off, his campaign alerted news organizations late in the morning that he would be making an unexpected speech at Chicago's McCormick Place convention center this afternoon.
That speech was to the annual convention of the United Food and Commercial Workers, a union organization with more than 1 million members in the United States that endorsed him earlier this year.
It was the latest example of Obama's home field advantage in Indiana, where the May 6 primary is viewed as a critical test for him and Sen. Hillary Clinton in their marathon for the Democratic nomination.
A fifth of that state's Democratic voters live in the Chicago media market, meaning they will likely see extensive coverage of Obama's appearance on their evening news.
The Illinois Democrat sought to rally the union vote, a critical part of the Indiana electorate.
"You were fighting with me in Wisconsin, you're fighting with me in Indiana, and I understand some of you just came back from Pennsylvania," Obama said.
Obama never mentioned his Democratic opponent, Sen. Hillary Clinton. Instead, as he is increasingly doing, he kept his focus on Sen. John McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee. He specifically mentioned tax cuts McCain once opposed.
"They may have stopped offending John McCain's conscience somewhere along the road to the Republican nomination, but George Bush's economic policies still offend my conscience," Obama said.
McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds responded with the following statement: "Meaningful change would be Sen. Obama displaying some understanding of the American economy, and his plan to raise taxes during an economic downturn is absolutely the wrong way to do it."
Obama heads back to Indiana on Friday. Clinton will be there as well, campaigning in Bloomington, Gary and East Chicago.







Comments
Senator Obama got my vote at "Hi, I'm Barack Obama". Fear has no place here. A new day is coming.
Posted by: Joshua Tree | April 24, 2008 6:02 PM
Why be surprised that Hillary would enter the fall campaign with the highest unfavorable ratings of any nominee in half a century?
Bill Clinton's "Zippergate" showed a great deficit of loyalty and responsibility--really the foundations of civil society.
Hillary's campaign has shown the same yawing deficit of loyalty and responsibility to the Democratic Party.
It's time the Party greybeards stepped up to the plate and put an end to the farce the Clintons are trying to foist upon us.
Posted by: Martin Edwin Andersen | April 24, 2008 6:20 PM
Hillary Clinton is a fundamentally flawed candidate. Sixty % of democrats seem to think that she is untrustworthy.
That means that about 70% of the electorate find her untrustworthy.
Good luck with that.
Posted by: yiannis | April 24, 2008 6:28 PM
I already voted for him. I've knocked on doors for him in five states so far.
Obama 08 !
Posted by: Sally | April 24, 2008 6:28 PM
Indiana,
We are pulling for you to stay above the nonsense and distortions and support the only candidate in whom we can trust. With all of the lies the Clintons toss out on a daily basis (the new one: she is winning the "popular vote" ...Earth to Hillary: there's no such thing... some states haven't kept those records; this is a delegate race. Oh, you're an intelligent woman; you knew that, didn't you. Isn't that the definition of a lie ...again?) we cannot afford another President who leads us with lies/deceit/and cover-ups.
Posted by: Liz | April 24, 2008 6:28 PM
As our state's most prominent African-American, it would have been nice if he had done some of the job he was hired for and visited the South Side near his own neighborhood where so many young people have been killed of late.
A man who cannot be trusted in small things will not be trusted in greater.
Posted by: Catherine | April 24, 2008 6:31 PM
Yes, Obama needs the votes of the working class electorate. How about considering John Edwards as his running mate? Edwards is a man of the people, a supporter and protector of the working class and an admirable human being. Let's get him on "our" side in the fight for working class votes.
Posted by: Chris | April 24, 2008 6:32 PM
Has Hillary claimed Indiana as one of her many "home states" yet?
Posted by: Lois | April 24, 2008 6:34 PM
I understand Rev. Wright is going to now give an interview..Again he opend his mouth and Obama may as well quit the race..It just gets deeper and deeper for him. He should have known to start with..All of his skeletons will soon come out of the closet. He will never get the union, blue collar vote....
Posted by: kaye m. | April 24, 2008 6:36 PM
I agree with Governor Strickland of the great State of Ohio:
"This is for me a no-brainer," Gov. Strickland said. "If we're going to plan to win in November, we need to choose the candidate that has the greatest strength in the states that are necessary to get us the electoral votes we need." He added: "I hope the superdelegates are paying attention."
Indeed sir,
Indeed.
Posted by: getalife | April 24, 2008 6:42 PM
It's time to rally the troops and get this thing over with on May 6th. There is no way Hillary can get the nomination. It's over for her, she just won't admit it. Fight back Senator Obama stress your work on the Veterans Committee that this war in Iraq that she voted for is hurting the economy. She supported NAFTA and trade with China. Take it to her now.
Posted by: Carolyn Grace | April 24, 2008 7:12 PM
Rock on, Barack!!
I worked my butt off for you here in PA, and at least you won my county 60/40. I am disappointed, but proud.
As an original "region rat", born in Gary, IN, I want to come to Lake County to close the deal. I hope I can pull it off.
The Clintons are insane. It's time to end this crap now.
Posted by: Susan in PA | April 24, 2008 7:22 PM
You're finished now that Pa is over, Billary!!!!
Posted by: Toothless feminazi's for the Clinton dynasty | April 24, 2008 7:28 PM
I am more than amused. So Obama speaks at a convention of a union that endorses him and say things to thank the union and we get commentary about how he didn't attack Clinton? Get real. For one thing, he doesn't have to, since she cannot win the nomination. For another thing, he is not into gratuitous attacks on others.
Posted by: teacherken | April 24, 2008 7:33 PM
The McCain camp saying that Obama doesn't understand the American economy, now that's rich!
George W. Bush sought to get us out of a recession through a heavy dose of trickle down economics. We're living the results. The Republicans have repeated this mantra of "cut tax, stimulate the economy" so much that they no longer know where their rhetoric leaves off and the real world begins.
Posted by: David | April 24, 2008 7:56 PM
Obama has done NOTHING but run for U.S. President in the very short 2 years he's been our state senator. He's a legend in HIS OWN MIND and his sheeple's minds. WAKE UP AMERICA!! Hey, hey, ho, ho Barack Obama has got to go.
Posted by: kevin | April 24, 2008 8:16 PM
Susan in PA: Thanks for all your help and I'm sure he appreciates every bit of it. I regret that these "God-fearing, hard-working, Catholic" (self-proclaimed) voters weren't so afraid of God that they wouldn't vote a pathological liar into the White House, as long as she says what they want to hear. I live in a similar community, but I'm doing my part: I put a bumper sticker on my car that says: "Hillary: Liar Liar Pantsuit on Fire!"
Posted by: tony | April 24, 2008 8:24 PM
The number one thing that candidates are judged on is honesty and Clinton, especially compared to Obama and McCain, fails that test MISERABLY!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=It6JN7ALF7Y
Clinton is lucky that she has those trailertrash feminist nazi's supporting her because everyone else in America knows that she's nothing more than a self-obsessed blowhard.
http://www.zazzle.com/hillarysucks_shirt-235236084307925150
I hope Billary enjoyed that victory in her "home state" of Pa because she's finished now.
Posted by: John E | April 24, 2008 8:46 PM
Wait a sec, Strickland endorsed Obama? Crazy.
Posted by: Camp Wellstone Alum | April 24, 2008 8:51 PM
History is repeating itself. Hillary Claims to be a democratic "New York" Senator. Just Seeing what she is doing too the democratic party should turn all Democrats, Especially New york democrats and latinos against her. All you have to do is remember what Mark Green did in 2001 to Fernando Ferrer. He devided the party then, And Blomberg won that year. She is doing the same thing now. As a New Yorker, and a Democrat, I can say that she is no New yorker , And no true democrat. McCaine is starting to look more and more like Bloomberg. He will slip right in.
Posted by: Frank T | April 24, 2008 10:40 PM
I am curious to know why Mr. McCormack didn't mention the backing Senator Clinton was getting from Senator Bayh!!!? Just as, no one bothered to mention that most of the Democratic apparatus in Pennsylvania, was contributing in any way they could, to defeat Senator Obama. I think the voters of Indiana are more independent than the voters of Pennsylvania, with all due respect to the voters of Pennsylvania. On top of that, I don't think he has to worry about sniper fire, unless Senator Clinton is in the sector!!!
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE. NOW.
Posted by: Don Fitzgerald, Chicago | April 24, 2008 10:57 PM
As Senator, Obama couldn't even help save Fermi Lab. If a Senator who couldn't even deliver for his own State of Illinois, how can he deliver for America?
I like Obama as a person, but get real. He will not accomplish anything. And, that's not what we want in the next President. We've already got a lame duck President.
What major accomplishments have Obama done?
Posted by: Lou | April 24, 2008 10:57 PM
IT'S TIME AMERICA:
It’s time for everyone to face the truth. Barack Obama has no real chance of winning the national election in November at this time. His crushing defeat in Pennsylvania makes that fact crystal clear. His best, and only real chance of winning in November is on a ticket with Hillary Clinton as her VP.
Hillary Clinton seemed almost somber at her victory speech. As if part of her was hoping Obama could have defeated her. And proved he had some chance of winning against the republican attack machine, and their unlimited money, and resources. In all honesty. I felt some of that too.
But it is absolutely essential that the democrats take back the Whitehouse in November. America, and the American people are in a very desperate condition now. And the whole World has been doing all that they can to help keep us propped up.
Hillary Clinton say’s that the heat, and decisions in the Whitehouse are much tougher than the ones on the campaign trail. But I think Mr. Obama faces a test of whether he has what it takes to be a commander and chief by facing the difficult facts, and the truth before him. And by doing what is best for the American people by dropping out of the race, and offering his whole hearted assistance to Hillary Clinton to help her take back the Whitehouse for the American people, and the World.
Mr. Obama is a great speaker. And I am confident he can explain to the American people the need, and wisdom of such a personal sacrifice for them. It should be clear to everyone by now that Hillary Clinton is fighting her heart out for the American people. She has known for a long time that Mr. Obama can not win this November. You have to remember that the Clinton’s have won the Whitehouse twice before. They know what it takes.
If Mr. Obama fails his test of commander and chief we can only hope that Hillary Clinton can continue her heroic fight for the American people. And that she prevails. She will need all the continual support and help we can give her. She may fight like a superhuman. But she is only human.
Sen. Hillary Clinton: “You know, more people have now voted for me than have voted for my opponent. In fact, I now have more votes than anybody has ever had in a primary contest for a nomination. And it’s also clear that we’ve got nine more important contests to go.”
Sincerely
Jacksmith... Working Class :-)
Posted by: jacksmith | April 24, 2008 11:53 PM
How can Hillary Clinton be trusted to manage the biggest economy in the world when her campaign is such a shambles and she is owing $9 million dollars?
Posted by: Anisa Hamood | April 25, 2008 6:34 AM
If you're relying on Bobblehead Ted Strickland to make your point, you indeed have no brains.
Posted by: Um, yeah | April 25, 2008 7:49 AM