England for Obama

Today in Florida:

Here was Chucky on Meet The Press this morning:

Those interested in this election, and perhaps confused by what seems like a gulf between the polls and the rhetoric from Obama’s team not to be complacent, should settle down in front of the TV tonight at 9.05pm. Channel Four is showing ‘Recount’, the Emmy award winning film about the Gore/Bush election and the Florida vote fiasco.

Once you’ve watched it, I guarantee you’ll not believe a single poll except the one which counts. You’ll also understand why Barack Obama plans to end his campaign in Florida.

Here’s the trailer:

Here’s a Keith Olbermann interview of Kevin Spacey (who knew that Spacey lives in England?):

Watch last night’s interview here, folks (yes, it’s in two parts. That’s not a copy and paste error below):

Fortunately, he meant Barack Obama. Phew!

Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Mr William Jefferson Clinton:

Here’s what aired on prime time American TV last night. It’s very moving. In fact, it’s almost too much (I confess I’m sitting here with dried-up tears on my cheeks - goodness knows how I’m going to be on November 4th. In a puddle somewhere, probably):

After that video aired, they went live to Florida for the final two minutes of Obama’s speech at the rally in Fort Lauderdale. His words there were ones that Obama-followers like you and I have heard many times before, but it was stirring nonetheless (I’ll add the vid when it’s available to embed. In the meantime you can watch it here).

The review by ABC’s George Stephanopoulos:

“This was a very highly produced, technically incredibly competent half hour of television.

It was all designed to get voters comfortable with the idea of Barack Obama in the Oval Office, that he is embedded in the lives of average Americans, and knows exactly what they’re going through.

Obama even appeared in a facsimile of the White House Oval Office during the infomercial. Every single line during that 30 minutes was something that the campaign knows works and appeals to those undecided voters.

What you saw here was a highly competent, professional, virtuoso performance. The fact that they could go 28 minutes in and hit live to a campaign rally in Florida and right down to the final Obama Biden logo even showed a rising sun. One of the things the campaign knows is that the most optimistic presidential candidate always wins.”

I have to say, apart from the overwhelming sense of what a good man Obama is - and how desperately he is needed - it’s the medical stories in that video which get me the most. It’s always the medical stories. Being a Brit, growing up in a country where free healthcare is a right, I can’t even begin to think how it must feel to be so much in need of medical care, yet worrying about how you’re going to pay for it (or even making career and life decisions based on how to pay for it). I have seen this issue affect Americans I love, and it breaks my heart. If you were choosing one reason, and one reason alone, to vote for Barack Obama, I have to say this should be pretty high on the list.

A move which has:

a) delighted the Obama campaign; and

b) shocked everyone, as the Governor of Florida, Charlie Crist, is a McCain ally.

Florida Obama-Biden State Director Steven Schale. “It is critical that everyone who is eligible and eager to vote be able to participate and have their voice heard. And now with the extended hours, thousands more will have that opportunity.”

Governor Crist: “Many have fought and died for this right.”

A Republican strategist: “He just blew Florida for John McCain.”
Ladies and gentlemen - it’s payback time.

See what I did there? The whole American-style comma thing in the headline?

A new LA Times/Bloomberg poll gives Barack a decent lead in both Florida and Ohio:

“Barack Obama is leading Republican presidential rival John McCain in two battleground states…

In Ohio, a state that has been battered for years by unemployment and plant closings, the Democrat is leading McCain, 49% to 40%, among people likely to vote.

In Florida, a state that was considered a likely win for Republicans not long ago, McCain is trailing, 50% to 43%.

In both states, Obama has opened commanding leads over McCain among women, young people, first-time voters, and blacks and other minorities.”

On the back of this:

Comes this:

Very cute. Joe is my homeboy too!

The pundits on Meet The Press talk about the battleground states, and the current electoral map. The money shot, as they say, is 4:12-4:37.

(Note the new drinking game phrase of this election: that John McCain’s story is like a Shakespearean tragedy).