Updated: June 6, 7:45 a.m.
The Obama campaign predicted 25,000 to kick-off the general election campaign here in Virginia; in fact, expectations reached as high as 50,000. Unfortunately, the cavernous Nissan Pavilion in Prince William drew less than 10,000 for the gentleman from Illinois; less than half the capacity and only 20% of expectations. Hardly the momentum the candidate probably wanted from the Old Dominion. Perhaps it has something to do with his policies.
Update: Virginian-Pilot is reporting 8,000
Conservative to the core; liberal with his opinion! J.R. has been involved in politics for over a decade and has worked on several campaigns in Hampton Roads. He has served on the Executive Committee of the Republican Party of Chesapeake and the Central Committee of the Republican Party of Virginia. He is also the director of “Blogs United” in Virginia. 
Loading ...
Thats the big problem with Obama’s success at raising money and drawing crowds. It really makes it difficult to play the expectations game at all. There has been so much focus on his abilities in this regard, that anything short of almost phenominal levels can easily be seen, as you say, as a “bust”.
McCain on the other hand seems to be quite good at playing this game. I’d almost suspect his speech the other night was deliberately that bad, as an example of this. Set his public speaking bar so low, that when he gets off the teleprompter and in the debates, there’s this preconcieved notion that he won’t fare well. Thats very likely innacurate though, as i think Obama will honestly have his work cut out for him in the debates. But with the expectations for McCain set so low, even a debate draw will play to his advantage in the media and public perception.
Wow, he IS the candidate of change! Those numbers got lower by the minute.
In Bristol, most of the crowd was bussed in. Might’ve been the same plan in NOVA, and if so, it’s difficult to move so many people on those roads.
Take what you can get, I guess.
(Oh, and I love the Elitist Thing, You Wouldn’t Understand. Doesn’t slide in that It’s A Black Man! Look! He’s Black! thing at all. Nope, just plain old elitism. Nice.)
Beats the 12 over 60 white guys McCain had at his last rally…
Now… why would you say something like that, rag?
Regardless of the numbers of people there, did anyone listen to what the man said?
He promised everything, to everybody, without nary a word about where the money is coming from. It was breathtaking.
The man is the king of pandering and apparently doesn’t think his supporters actually believe his promises.
I think the problem is that his supporters do believe the promises. I have talked to quite a few, and they believe government involvement is good. It really seems that in this election we have a choice between a protectionist (McCain) or a socialist (Obama). Either way, they’re both stages in the move toward communism.
I never expected such hate from Ron Paul supporters towards Obama – I guess I was fr’n wrong. You bunch of losers,just wait when until the change tsunami is engulfing each one of you:)
email me and I will respond.
Stephen,
Oh I agree completely. They DO believe him. I’m just thinking that BHO knows he can’t possibly deliver on half of what he’s promising and that noone can be that gullible as to believe him.
@ shegaw
I don’t hate Obama. I just don’t agree with socialism, and he is a socialist. Besides, most of the people here are not Ron Paul supporters. I’m one of the very few.
Well, Ted, I pray that you are right. I certainly hope he doesn’t plan to make good on his promises. If he does, I’ll have to get a second job in order to pay my bills.
Socialism is the new communism, I suppose. You know, amongst the set that really doesn’t have the first clue as to what socialism is. Anyone come up with an equivalent to “Commie pinko!” yet?
MB – I’m working on it.
Excellent. Might I suggest checking around the military for suggestions? It’s the biggest socialist institution in the country.
Ouch.
What does the military produce?
A service called the national defense and protection of American interests around the globe (and then some). I’m guessing you might normally think of it as a simple political tool, but I assure you that it’s quite substantive.
I’m confused… As a military member, I don’t remember producing that.
Q – “What does the military produce?”
A – Freedom
Perhaps you can tell me from what capital this produce comes from?
Oh, Stephen. That’s so cute. Have fun.
With Obama, we wouldn’t need a military. We’d have “strong, tough diplomacy!”
See?
Reagan believed in strong tough diplomacy with the Soviets, I thought you liked Reaganism?
Yeah, I’m glad you think it’s cute.
Ragnar, from Bud McFarlane:
“Reagan built up the leverage first, and then negotiated. Reagan was a man of considerable persuasive powers, but he didn’t defeat communism and win the Cold War because he was able to charm and cajole Gorbachev during direct negotiations. He won it because by the time he sat down to negotiate, America held all the cards. Reagan waited until his second term to deal with the Soviets. He used the first term to line up the leverage necessary to negotiate from a position of strength.”
Unfortunately much of our strength and perceived strength was squandered in Iraq, we still have enough to negotiate with however (US carrier battlegroups). The reality is if we are willing to consider an issue sufficiently important to commit Americans to fight and die for, it is sufficiently important to try diplomacy first – and maybe save a few of those lives.
Everyone tries diplomacy first. How many years of diplomacy failed with Saddam?
What you and your fellow whiteflaggers fail to realize is that diplomacy only works when the other side realizes it has little other choice.
But I’m sure you know better than a former National Security Advisor. After all, you comment on a blog.
Right back at ya blogger, of course my day job requires me to be a touch more informed than yours… Oh, and I have an M.A. in national security from the Naval War College… and I worked at the State Department on Middle East issues. But then I guess a PR guy from a B-list town really is more informed or should I say, really is more arrogant with his opinion…
Whiteflaggers? You are such a coward and a chicken-hawk. I really think you should put your money where your mouth is and walk down to your nearest recruiter and get your ass to Iraq now. Is this conflict worth your life? Is it worth your brain? Your arm? Your face? How about your child’s life? Are you willing to sacrifice your children’s lives or their life-long health for this war? If you can’t say yes then next time you author “whiteflagger” you need to walk right over to a mirror.
Unless this conflict is worth your life do not suppose to sacrifice the lives of any other Americans, and absolutely do not offer the cop-out that those in the military are volunteers. They volunteer with the understanding that our elected officials would not sacrifice their lives on an adventure for which they would not sacrifice their own.
Oh, and to your question regarding failed diplomacy with Saddam, apparently none. He wasn’t in violation of the U.N. cease-fire. Perhaps you missed this tid-bit on the news, but there weren’t any WMDs…
Yawn.
I just love tweaking your effeminate nose. It’s so easy.
Take your State Department wussdom somewhere else. I’ll take Bud McFarlane’s word over yours when it comes to Ronald Reagan.
Yea, the last thing you Republicans are interested in is thought or education, hence: McCain.
How disappointed Reagan would be.
Ragnar, your unending partisanship I find so completely distasteful.
“Oh, and I have an M.A. in national security from the Naval War College… and I worked at the State Department on Middle East issues.”
Anybody who must toot his own horn on a blog to give weight to his words is suffering from a severe inferiority complex.
And worse, he’s a damn bedwetter.
Too funny, you are both very sad.
Sad is better than pathetic.
Which is doubly sad for you.
I’m still waiting to hear if this war is worth your life or that of your children, you never seem to be able to man-up and answer that question. Or is this all just politics to you?
It’s worth yours, Ragnar. Step to it!
As predicted, you are a chicken-hawk coward without the courage of your claimed convictions. Thank you for your honesty.
The funny thing is my daughter could kick your ass. No wonder they keep you stateside.
Your daugther plays softball and loves gym, eh? We’ll have you on board with the Democratic Party after your daughter brings her first “friend” home from college… although Cheney stuck with the GOP…
PS – Too bad we don’t have the draft. But then guys like you have always managed to avoid the patriotic call to serve.
Ragnar, were your hand (s) shaking when you typed “daughther” – your spelling was a bit off.
That’s your come-back? Really? I’m guessing you weren’t one of the cool kids in school.
I’m guessing you still are.
Watching those two idiots, McCain and Obama, debate will be so funny.
Man, and won’t it be sad
This country is screwed…
?? ??? ??? ??????????? ? ??????????? ?????????