LiveLabs media spin

http://bigpicture.vertigo.com/obama/
the latest version of Obamania from LiveLabs...

Hey guys,

Just to say Mr Obama personally called me this morning to say thanks for all our hard work. He couldn't have done it without us. Well done everyone!

Being on telly is truly nerve-wracking

But the studio at SKY was out of this world, really an amazing place to just visit, let alone go on. But I did...



I am, it has to be said, quite bald now!

Putting my money where my mouth is...

$5 to the person that gets closer to the result than this prediction....

Please put your best guess into this calculator and then send me yours.

Almost there

Here's the latest "uplifting" video from Obama...

Scott's campaign ads

He's putting the whole ball game on this last ad, it will be fascinating to see if he can make it through to the finishing line and win...


And just for good measure - here's the last time he and Judy met. Makes you wonder who's the better candidate?



...and there's more

The United Center, home of the Chicago Blackhawks

A fight breaking out at the ice hockey match

GDF's group on the campaign trail with Scott

Scott addresses the troops in his campaign office

Everyone outside the IBEW HQs

Finn and George ready for 'party time' with Kazoos

Ambassador Carol Moseley-Braun with the group after the rally

Campaigning

We've been out on the road in the leafy suburbs meeting a lot of the citizenry of Naperville. It's 17 days to go and there is a smell of change in the air. One of ythe things that has been really noticeable has been the open explicit support for Barack Obama, even in some households with Lawn signs for republican state candidates the support for him is strong.
We've seen a lot of little plastic bags advertising Judy Biggert - they have the whole slate in a single mailer neatly packaged which is good. We've found a very positive feeling for Scott's campaign.
We were at the main train stations today talking to commuters, a very different approach to the UK where we'd probably get a gruff mumble, here people were taking our flyers with pleasure and walking off reading them. I didn't see too many binned and we found about 3 or four people (out of 1,000 we met) who were openly PRO republican.
We've just seen the new ad, it's really distinctive and a neat twist at the end - it makes Scott look modern, sophisticated and different - a CHANGE. The more I think about it the better it looked.... we will try and get it up here soon.
We had lunch with Scott in Schmaltz's diner - an excellent New York deli transported to Naperville... Brooklyn Beef was excellent. Amazing for Scott to take so much time with the students, and there is a general feeling of optimism around the whole camp.
It's now teeming with rain so we're working the phones - well we almost all are. No-one has seen Peter's group for a bit - they are due back in 20 mins.
Peter has just arrived back. Apparently they drive on the right here.......
Off to central Chicago in a minute or two.....

Our Introduction to American Culture

Tonight we attended an NHL game and it served as an excellent introduction into American sporting culture. I personally found it far more engaging then any sporting event I have ever attended in the UK. There was far more audience participation, with calls of 'Let's go Hawks' resounding throughout the match in time with the music. Particularly amusing episodes included two fights which were accompanied by the Village People's classic hit 'Kung Fu Fighting'. Indeed, big checks and fights seemed to be the most exciting parts of the match. A constant use of music clips proved an effective way of rousing the crowd while the big screen while Rob, Alex and Joe made their TV debut on the big screen.

The action proved fast paced and intense, with the puck moving from end to end. Punctuated by constant commercials (adverts seem a completely pervasive part of American culture), they provided a source of light entertainment for most of us. Indeed, the incredibly hyperbolic videos shown included some rather bizarre usage of english. Never quite seeming to differentiate between nouns and adjectives, this endless stream of words was somewhat odd, if not confusing.

All in all, it was a highly charged experience for all involved. The violence of the sport lends itself extraordinarily well to viewing and I certainly hope to watch another NHL game live soon.

Made it

We've made it to the suburbs of Chicago and trod the sidewalks of Naperville...... knocked on 100 doors per group and learned how the database system works.
We had a rally this morning for all the candidates, met the two Lindas and a wide range of dem activists - very very different to the English version!
Going well so far.... amazing jet lag thanks to BAs inability to leave on time.
L

batman the dark knight

A good mashup here of the scenes shot in Chicago

Comments on the VP debate

Letterman shows Palin's true colours....


And SNL show what really happened?

Good Op-Eds on Sarah Palin

Frank Rich: "Pitbull Palin Mauls McCain"

On how the race has turned from McCain v. Obama to Palin v. Obama.

and Maureen Dowd: "Sarah's Pompom Palaver"

On the folksly language of Sarah Palin and questioning when and why America decided that being elite was a bad thing for politicians.

VP debate

You can see the highlights, as judged by the BBC, here....

Sarah Palin's CBS interview

Well, perhaps not. But her Coouric interview is quite remarkable...

The First Debate

Apparently a close run thing, early reports in the UK suggested McCain edged it...
You can see the whole thing here:


On the left hand side of the viewer you can see the responses to the particular topics...

Jon Stewart on McCain...

Letterman on the debates

McCain may not make it to the debate tonight because he is fixing the economy. Easy way to lose friends in Oxford, Mississipi.
David Letterman took this badly:

What the polls really mean

This excellent map links the polls in each state to give you a better view of who will win where - and what that will mean.
Check it out and then have a go predicting the outcome... then please send me your score and I will publish it on the blog.

Barack Meets Jed Bartlet

Any of you who are fans of the West Wing will know that there are startling links between the storyline in series 6 and 7 and the reality being enacted in this Election Race. The new hopeful democrat with a crusty solid democratic machine politician as his running mate - against the craggy, atheist but maverick republican Arnold Vinnick (the wonderful Alan Alda) and his Christian Right creationist attack dog VP pick....

It is so close to reality that Aaron Sorkin (the creator of the West Wing) has, according to this piece in the New York Times, now written about the meeting of Jed Bartlett and Barack Obama. Oh if only!

All we need now is a game to play "Who's the Toby?"

Not what you bargained for...

The BBC report a fascinating outcome of the election .... and the route to the first female president....

McCain secures debate advantage

The Telegraph reports that John McCain has put foreign affairs as the topic of the crucial first debate.He is stronger on this topic, why did Obama agree to this?

NFL? NHL? NBA?

Amidst the race for the next US president, there is another ongoing fierce debate. Which sport do we go to see while in Chicago???
Hopefully this video will shed some light on the decision:



Enjoy,

Joe

How the Electoral College works

Use this excellent interactive tool from the Washington Post to see how the Electoral College works and which states are needed to win..

<p><strong>><a href="http://projects.washingtonpost.com/2008/pick-your-president/">2008 Election Contest: Pick Your President</a></strong> - Predict the winner of the 2008 presidential election and enter to win a $500 prize.</p>

The Economist on John McCain and Richard Nixon

Ina revealing opinion piece the Economist links McCain and Palin to Nixon - the outsider come to Washington. How amazing to think that Palin and Nixon could be so similar!

LATEST POLLS

Look interesting
Florida: Obama 48, McCain 48
Indiana: McCain 51, Obama 45
North Carolina: McCain 48, Obama 47
Ohio: Obama 49, McCain 47
Wisconsin: Obama 50, McCain 47
Dates conducted: Sept. 14-16. Error margin: Ranges from 3-3.5 points

Meeting Scott

We'll be introduced to Scott Harper tonight via video link, he's going to speak a little about his campaign, what the major issues are and how he is addressing them. We should also get a good insight into the way the campaign is being run.
We will also be meeting up together for the first time with all the trip members, with the four boys from London Oratory and Father George coming up from London for the conference...

Perhaps the greatest store of Election Adverts

Well, presidential elections anyway... there are so many here including the famous Daisy Girl of 1964 (which I think we can safely say you'd never be allowed these days - it is just breathtakingly "neg")
Other classics include "It's morning in America..." when Reagan crushed Mondale and there are all the latest ads from McCain/Palin and Obama/Biden...

Have a good look this is a complete treasure trove!

:-) L

Slate's Top Political Ads...

A digest from Slate - sorry about the ads!

An interview

If you ever thought Jim Naughtie asked long questions, try this - the insomnia version.

Sticking up for Sarah Palin....

The Economy is in Crisis

McCain tries out the Change angle...

Latest Obama ad - a little bitter?

First up

Welcome to the blog for our adventure in American politics. We're all set to meet with Scott online on Thursday at 6pm UK time, noon in Naperville. Come to Queens 19 for the conference which we hope to have video in at least one direction....
Our friends from the London Oratory will be here too, as well as Peter Bellini from (British) Conservative Campaign HQ