Morning News
From the Clarion Ledger:
A close race between Democratic presidential candidates Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama will draw more voters to the polls today than the last presidential primary, state officials predict.
… Thousands of volunteers for the candidates are making phone calls and canvassing neighborhoods to secure votes.
… Obama campaigned in Jackson and Columbus on Monday. His supporters also sponsored a gospel concert in Biloxi featuring singer Smokie Norful.
The Obama camp has opened seven offices statewide in the past several weeks, campaign spokesman Kevin Griffis said.
Over the weekend, supporters held events headlined by hip-hop entrepreneur Russell Simmons, former Gov. Ray Mabus and 2nd District U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson in the Delta. Democratic Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius stumped for Obama on the Gulf Coast.
“The idea … is a community organizing philosophy where you go and meet people where they are and get to know them,” Griffis said. “You figure out a way to engage them in the campaign in a way that incorporates their existing interests.”
From the Associated Press:
Mississippi Democrats are deciding the last in a series presidential contests between Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton before the two rivals settle in for a six-week battle to win Pennsylvania.
… Obama, the first-term senator from Illinois, spent the day in Mississippi, drawing enthusiastic crowds in Columbus and Jackson, the capital.
… Obama used his Monday morning visit to Columbus to try to squelch speculation that he might accept the vice president’s slot on a ticket headed by Clinton. He noted that he has won more delegates, states and votes than Clinton.
“I don’t know how somebody who is in second place is offering the vice presidency to the person who is first place,” Obama said, drawing cheers and a lengthy standing ovation from about 1,700 people. He added: “I am not running for vice president. “I am running for president of the United States of America.”
… “I’m here because of the electricity, the energy that seems to form around Barack Obama,” truck driver Jasper Clark, 53, said in an interview before the Jackson rally. “It inspired me, and it’s been a while since I’ve been inspired politically.”
From the New York Times:
At first, the suggestion was a quiet one, raised by their supporters. Soon, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton and her husband, former President Bill Clinton, lent credence to the idea, telling voters in Mississippi and beyond that Senator Barack Obama would make a fine partner — most likely as No. 2 — on the Democratic ticket.
But when Mr. Obama arrived in [Columbus, Mississippi] Monday, he brusquely discounted the chatter. He suggested that the Clintons were being duplicitous in their offer, implying on one hand that he was not ready to be president, but that on the other, he could solve the party’s political impasse by joining together.
“I don’t know how somebody who’s in second place can offer the vice presidency to someone who’s in first place,” Mr. Obama told a town meeting at the Mississippi University for Women here, alluding to his lead in delegates. As the crowd cheered, he said: “If I’m not ready, how is it that you think I should be such a great vice president? Do you understand that?”
… “With all due respect, I’ve won twice as many states as Senator Clinton,” Mr. Obama said on the eve of the Mississippi primary, speaking over the applause of more than 1,500 people who rose from their seats. “I’ve won more of the popular vote than Senator Clinton. I have more delegates than Senator Clinton.”
… Mr. Obama then added, “They are trying to hoodwink you.”
… “I don’t want anybody here thinking that I, somehow, well you know, maybe I can get both,” Mr. Obama implored his audience. “Don’t think that way. You have to make a choice in this election. Are you going to go along with the past or are you going to go toward the future?”
From WLBT TV:
Senator Barack Obama agreed to an interview with WLBT.
… I asked the Illinois senator about getting Mississippi off the bottom in areas like education, healthcare and Katrina recovery to which he responded, “We cannot neglect Mississippi. We’ve got to make sure that we’re actually building affordable housing. I was concerned when I learned that some of the money was diverted to some other areas by the governor here. I think it’s important that’s been allocated for housing is spent on housing. We’ve got to invest in our education system, early childhood education, increasing our teacher salaries and giving them more support. A $4,000 tuition credit for every student every year, so they can afford to go to schools like Jackson State. If you don’t have health care, you’ll be able to sign on. We’ll subsidize it if you can’t afford it. If you’ve got health insurance, we’ll lower your premium by $2,500. And we’re going to emphasize prevention.”
On the subject of his campaign theme - change - the senator had this to say: “Well, a couple of things. I don’t take PAC money. I don’t take money from federally registered lobbyist, like Senator Clinton does. Which means that I don’t have any strings attached to me. I think that it is important to open up government. Make it transparent.”
Senator Obama cited two people as his heros politically, the late civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and President Abraham Lincoln.
“One thig I learn from someone like Lincoln is how to disagree without being disagreeable. And that’s something we seem to have lost in our politics. I’d like to return to that kind of approach.”
From KDKA TV:
Behind the scenes in Pennsylvania, camps for both Sens. Barack Obama and Clinton are gearing up for a very hard-fought local battle for votes.
Volunteers for Obama moved lots of chairs into their Pittsburgh headquarters in East Liberty. Inside, tables were set up to handle the dozens of volunteers the campaign expects until the primary.
“It’s going to be a very tight race, and right now we need all the help we can get,” Gayly Crawford, Pitt student and Obama volunteer, said.
It’s clear that the campaign is attracting some devoted supporters.
Ann and Jim Petre, both graduate students from Illinois, just arrived in Pittsburgh Monday.
“We’ve been doing everything we can. We went to Iowa, we went to Missouri, we went to Ohio, and now we’re in Pennsylvania,” Jim told KDKA.
The day’s mission at Obama headquarters was calling Independent voters and encouraging them to register as Democrats so they can vote April 22.
Only registered Democrats can vote in Pennsylvania’s Democratic Primary and Obama, who has done well among Independents, wants them to switch.
More: continued here