I’m fast becoming campaign-obsessed, vacuuming up info about the presidential candidates as “mega-Tuesday” (that’s what Donna Brazile calls it) gets ever closer. The Washington Post (campaign junkie’s news outlet of choice) does a good job today dissecting what will happen on Feb. 5, but there’s nary a mention of what the campaigns, particularly the Democratic campaigns, are doing in Tennessee, much less Memphis. Are we even on the radar? And what are local politicos doing to advance their candidates? Can anyone tell?
Today I got an e-mail from Hillary (oh, yeah, we’re on a first name basis … not; I get e-mail from all kinds of politicos, dating back to my time on the CA editorial board and as a senior editor at the paper). Anyway, Hillary has launched a Tennessee Women’s Council (you mean she didn’t have one already?), and lists exactly ONE woman from West Tennessee — Paula Barnes of Cordova. (Uh, wouldn’t that be Memphis? Why not say so? And Paula, who are you?) And on Hilary’s Web site, Tennessee isn’t even listed in the list of “states.” Hmmm.
Barack Obama at least shows 140 members in his Memphis for Obama group, and there are events to attend listed and folks to contact. (Now it would be fun to see who wants to “Barack the Vote” at the Hi-Tone on Feb. 1.) John Edwards’ site (will he last through Super Tuesday) contains no easily located Tennessee message, though I know quite a few women — some breast cancer survivors who love his health care proposals — who are supporting him.
What do you see the campaigns doing in Memphis? Where’s the heat and light and organization here? Are we really that marginal, or have I just missed it?
Responses to “Hey, presidential candidates … remember Memphis?”
January 24th, 2008 at 12:42 am
Maybe the other candidates supporters have a lackluster attitude here in Memphis but there is one candidate whose local supporters are super charged up, excited, active and typically ignored by guess who: Yep the good old Commercial Appeal. And if you haven’t already guessed as well who that candidate is - here’s the real shocker (not): Ron Paul. Granted he is not a Democrat, nor is he a liberal but he does share many of the concerns important to democratic voters.
Obama may have one meetup group in Memphis with 140 members but Ron Paul has 92,000 members nationwide in 1540 meetup groups with 400 of those members coming from Memphis area local meetup groups. In fact, Ron Paul’s supporters are so active at Meetup that Ron Paul 2008 is actually listed on the topic page of Meetup.com as one of the most popular topics and btw he is the ONLY presidential candidate listed.
Normally, I would just have let this slide, but in Sunday’s edition review of the candidates it appears that your editor thinks Ron Paul is not worthy of mention because he wasn’t mentioned along with each one of the other candidates despite his most recent 2nd place showing in Nevada and despite that he has placed above each one of the candidates at sometime in the recent primaries/caucauses.
Consider this an open invitation from a former die hard Democrat who made the switch to support Ron Paul. He is a 10 term congressman with a stellar voting record, sound economic principals, and reputation for protecting our constitutional rights and liberties at every turn. You may read more about him at www.ronpaul2008.com
January 16th, 2008 at 10:53 am
I think they are focusing attention on places where people actually turn out for elections….Memphis doesn’t seem to be one of those places.