In Texas, Obama Says We Must Drive (To New Mexico) For Change

Most people who have been around or followed Texas Democratic politics for a few presidential election cycles knew the day would come when the Obama campaign told Texas Democrats our best chance to change America would be to hop our ass in a car and drive nine hours across the state to New Mexico.

But, I think most people who believed (or were snowed) by the Obama campaign’s promise of a 50 state strategy hoped that day wouldn’t actually come. Or that, if it did come, it would be clear that traveling across state lines was an equal priority to the campaign as, say, blockwalking in Harris County.

Sadly, it isn’t so. Today, the Obama campaign sent a message to supporters in Texas noting the following:

Traveling to New Mexico to spread Barack and Joe’s message is one of the most important contributions Texans can make this election — by doing so, we will be directly helping Barack Obama become the next President of the United States.

Really? Traveling to New Mexico is the best way I can help? Yeah, I know it’s not likely that the votes of people in my neighborhood or county (or any county in Texas) will count to help elect Barack Obama because of the Electoral College, but it damned sure might help elect filibuster-proof majority in the U.S. Senate that would sure help him govern when he’s president. No. No. For Obama’s campaign, our place is in New Mexico.

I wonder why the Obama campaign doesn’t just ask Texas Democrats to donate the amount of money they would spend on gas to get to New Mexico from wherever they are and use that money to hire paid field staff in New Mexico.

I have to say that I like what Ed Martin (aka Phil’s dad) had to say on this subject best:

“We recognize that the Obama campaign is going to do what they think is necessary to win the Electoral College vote,” said Ed Martin, a strategist who’s helping the Texas Democratic Party.

“But those of us who live here in Texas would expect folks to recognize that our priorities are here in this state, where we can work for Barack Obama, but at the same time turn out folks in critical races we have here up and down the ballot in Texas.”

And…he hits one right out of the park. What I was going to say wasn’t nearly as dignified and had a lot more four-letter words in it.

Oh, but wait. Let’s also hear from Ron Kirk:

But former Dallas Mayor Ron Kirk, a key Obama adviser in Texas, said the Illinois senator was doing what should be expected.

“His primary focus is not to carry the Texas House,” Mr. Kirk said. “His primary focus is to go get elected president.”

Why do the words “sold a bad bill of goods” and “broken promises” keep flashing through my mind over images of thousands of people sitting in the Austin Convention Center?

And, of course, Team Obama is continued to committing to bla bla bla:

Obama spokeswoman Shannon Gilson said: “We remain committed to waging a campaign in Texas and making sure Democrats up and down the ballot win their races. We’re doing a Texas two-step, if you will.”

If they were really committed to waging a campaign in Texas, don’t you think they would have, you know….started by now?

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