Obama on Fire

Both Senator's Obama and Clinton spoke at a candidates' forum held by the International Association of Firfighters. Chris Cillizza over at the Washington Post says Hillary won the speech-off.
Judge Senator O's remarks for yourself.

Slate Pokes Around in Obama's Books

From slate.com

"Let's start with the big picture: net worth. According to Obama's most recent public financial statements, he and his wife, Michelle, were worth between $500,000 and $2 million at the end of 2005 (excluding whatever equity they have in their $1.65 million Chicago house).

The bulk of this wealth came from $1.2 million in royalties Obama received that year for The Audacity of Hope and a previously published book (part of a $1.9 million, three-book deal). The $1.2 million figure is presumably pretax, which means that, after paying the IRS, Obama probably kept about $600,000." (more)

Sharpton v. Obama...Where's The Love?

Can't we all just get along?
It started out smooth enough back in late January when Rev. Al Sharpton headed to D.C. for a chat. The two even posed together in front of a portrait of Thurgood Marshall.

Here's AP's report from that day:
"The civil rights activist spent the day on Capitol Hill, meeting with the four Democratic senators who are pursuing the presidency - Chris Dodd of Connecticut, Joe Biden of Delaware, Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York and Barack Obama of Illinois. Each met privately with Sharpton in their office. "I'm not making any endorsements today," Sharpton, who ran in 2004, told reporters at the end of his meeting with Obama. Obama said the two talked about their shared agenda of fighting for the dispossessed. "I assured him that I not only want to hear his views and thoughts and policy recommendations, but publicly any of us who step into this fight for the nomination have to be held accountable and speak to these issues," he said.

Fast forward to March 4...both are again in the same place - Selma, Alabama. But this time Barack is not just the junior senator from Illinois - he is a full-fledged presidential candidate with a s!@#load of cash rolling in. While everyone focused on the much-hyped sermon showdown between senators Obama and Clinton, it was easy to miss the distinct chill between Obama and Sharpton. There would be no photo ops together on this day - and Sharpton saved his most laudatory remarks for Hillary.

Then, a week later, the lid blew off.
The New York Post put it on blast:
















The article severely complicated a relationship that was already touchy at best and opened a floodgate of accusations, counter-accusations and name-calling.
A panelist on NPR called Sharpton a Black "buffoon". (seriously Michael Meyers of the NY Civil Rights Coalition actually said it)
Another roundtable guest pointed the finger at Camp Hillary for planting the story - while Sharpton himself says it was Team Obama that blindsided him with the 'jealousy' charge.

The game is always divide and conquer guys.
Figure it out. Move forward.

Sweet on Michelle

Chicago Sun-Times/Lynn Sweet

Sweet column: Michelle Obama steps up campaign role. Rudy in Chicago.

(screenshot from Huffington Post) WASHINGTON -- Michelle Obama, an extraordinary stump speaker and potentially one of Sen. Barack Obama's most effective surrogates, is poised to step up her role in her husband's presidential campaign.

"I hate following my wife," Obama joked, speaking at a New York fund-raiser Friday night after being introduced by Michelle. When someone in the crowd yelled that Michelle should run, Obama said, "Yeah, she's too smart to run. It is true my wife is smarter, better looking. She's a little meaner than I am."

Hardly that. She is, according to spokesman Bill Burton, the "most important adviser" to the Illinois Democrat.

But with the demands of the campaign growing, Barack Obama simply can't be everywhere. John Edwards -- who hits Chicago this week for a fund-raiser -- has wife Elizabeth circulating on his behalf, and everyone knows that Hillary Rodham Clinton has a powerful helper in former President Bill Clinton.

Michelle Obama switched her University of Chicago job to part time, and the Obama campaign has tapped Melissa Winter, a veteran of two presidential campaigns, to serve as her chief of staff in the campaign's Chicago headquarters."

Obama Gets Oragnized

From BarackObama.com

"On March 31st, I'd like you to host a Community Kickoff event. Whether your local group has already been meeting or this will be the first time supporters will meet in person, this kickoff event is the next step in expanding your reach.

I'll be in a town in Iowa the same day working to build our support there. We'll have a live video stream and a conference call from this Iowa event starting at 3 PM Central time so that you can see first hand how we're building our community of support in this crucial first contest.

We've put together the materials and online tools you'll need to make it happen. Will you start planning a Community Kickoff event right now?"

What The Hell?

As if the Obamas didn't have enough to worry about...