Obama’s Sleeping Giant Awakens — In Health Care Swing States
Here’s an interesting one to keep an eye on as Obama’s political operation, Organizing for America, gears up for its huge push on behalf of health care reform.
Micah Sifry picks up a striking development: More and more of the hundreds of OFA grassroots organizing events are concentrated in states with centrist Dem Senators who are key health care swing votes. Here’s a map of upcoming events (click to enlarge):
This is a bit murky for now. But it looks like there are heavier concentrations in states like Indiana (home to centrist Dem Senator Evan Bayh); Nebraska (home to centrist Dem Senator Ben Nelson); Lousiana (home to centrist Dem Senator Mary Landrieu); and Florida (home to centrist Dem Senator Bill Nelson).
This is one to watch, because as more and more events get planned, it’ll be interesting to see if a pattern emerges more clearly in which Obama’s political operation brings greater pressure to bear on key Senators. Either way, this is a reminder that health care is probably the biggest test of whether Obama’s political machinery can effectively be pressed into service to drive his governing agenda.
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Was with a couple OFA staffers last night at the All-Star game and they said the operation is about to kick in and health care was their no. 1 issue.
Chris — did they say anything about targeting “centrist” Dem Senators?
I;m going to an event here in Charlotte, NC this Thursday. I wonder if this is targeting Hagan? Or is she already on board?
Not about anyone in particular. I remember them saying they’ve been doing nothing else for four months other than working on health care issues. The two guys I was with were working in Evansville, IN (southern Indiana) and STL, if that means anything.
DJShay — Latest on Hagan is that she’s for a public option, if memory serves. But there was some question about how committed to it she is, so this could have something to do with that. And thx Chris
Obama is using the same principal that he learned as a community organizer and that he used to get elected. I think it will work – because I think the only way to get anything like this done is to get it out of DC, go around the national media and not rely on it to get the message out, but take it right to the people.