Rock Star Barack
Risks of Invesco event worry top Dem
By Charles Mahtesian
Politico
Thu Aug 28, 2008
Senior Democratic officials are expressing serious concerns about the political risks posed by Barack Obama's acceptance speech at Invesco Field at Mile High tonight.
From the elaborate stagecraft to the teeming crowd of 80,000 cheering partisans, from the vagaries of the weather to the unpredictable audience reaction, the optics surrounding the stadium event have heightened worries that the Obama campaign is engaging in a high-risk endeavor in an uncontrollable environment.
A common concern: that the stadium appearance plays against Obama's convention goal of lowering his star wattage and connecting with average Americans and gives Republicans a chance to drive home their message that the Democratic nominee is a narcissistic celebrity candidate.
"We already know he is a rock star; we already know he can bring 85,000 people together in a stadium. He has done it multiple times. He needs to talk to people who haven't made up their minds yet," said Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen.
"It's likely that the campaign would do it differently if it had to do it again because the decision was made before the European trip," said a senior Democratic elected officeholder who has worked closely with the Obama campaign.
The GOP narrative of Obama as celebrity took root during that trip, where the Illinois senator played to large crowds of adoring Europeans.
Obama campaign officials acknowledged the apprehension Wednesday.
"I have heard some of the concerns and criticism that it's such a big venue," said a senior Obama campaign aide. "It's no surprise that people could be a little nervous. We're trying to do something new."
Another senior Obama aide noted Tuesday there were only two options for what the campaign wanted to accomplish — do it either in the convention hall, in front of the delegates, or somewhere else.
"A diner's not an option," the aide said.
The campaign noted that, aside from the speech itself, it's designed to be "a working event" that enables attendees to phone-bank and reach out to potential voters through a variety of online tools. Holding the speech in a venue that holds 80,000 people also allows tens of thousands of Colorado residents to attend and participate — no small consideration since Colorado is a battleground state where Obama and McCain are neck and neck in the polls.
"Winning Colorado is a very important component," said the aide.
But the Invesco Field speech, with its massive expected crowd and the celebrity-style imagery it could evoke, is already being teed up by Republicans eager to hammer home the celebrity theme.
The McCain campaign Wednesday released a memo mockingly titled, "Proper Attire for the Temple of Obama (The Barackopolis)," a reference to the classical stage design in place for his speech. The campaign is already prepared to pull the trigger on ads spun out of the Invesco Field event.
"We'll put it in play against him," said McCain spokesman Brian Rogers.
Some Democrats insist the GOP approach will backfire. Rep. Ed Markey of Massachusetts said the visuals of tens of thousands of people cheering for Obama can only help his campaign by evoking comparisons to former President Kennedy.
"I think he's in that league," Markey said.
Rep. Dennis Kucinich of Ohio also sounded a confident note about the political impact of the forum, asserting that it will prove Obama's message has wide resonance.
Bredesen also said that while he has concerns, Obama is a virtuoso performer who cannot be underestimated.
"They have got a great track record so far," he said. "I would love to see him out showing a certain kind of humility, being in touch with people who go to breakfast at the Waffle House, sending a message."
Martin Kady II, Daniel W. Reilly and Kenneth P. Vogel contributed to this report.
Copyright © 2008 Denver Post.
By Charles Mahtesian
Politico
Thu Aug 28, 2008
Senior Democratic officials are expressing serious concerns about the political risks posed by Barack Obama's acceptance speech at Invesco Field at Mile High tonight.
From the elaborate stagecraft to the teeming crowd of 80,000 cheering partisans, from the vagaries of the weather to the unpredictable audience reaction, the optics surrounding the stadium event have heightened worries that the Obama campaign is engaging in a high-risk endeavor in an uncontrollable environment.
A common concern: that the stadium appearance plays against Obama's convention goal of lowering his star wattage and connecting with average Americans and gives Republicans a chance to drive home their message that the Democratic nominee is a narcissistic celebrity candidate.
"We already know he is a rock star; we already know he can bring 85,000 people together in a stadium. He has done it multiple times. He needs to talk to people who haven't made up their minds yet," said Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen.
"It's likely that the campaign would do it differently if it had to do it again because the decision was made before the European trip," said a senior Democratic elected officeholder who has worked closely with the Obama campaign.
The GOP narrative of Obama as celebrity took root during that trip, where the Illinois senator played to large crowds of adoring Europeans.
Obama campaign officials acknowledged the apprehension Wednesday.
"I have heard some of the concerns and criticism that it's such a big venue," said a senior Obama campaign aide. "It's no surprise that people could be a little nervous. We're trying to do something new."
Another senior Obama aide noted Tuesday there were only two options for what the campaign wanted to accomplish — do it either in the convention hall, in front of the delegates, or somewhere else.
"A diner's not an option," the aide said.
The campaign noted that, aside from the speech itself, it's designed to be "a working event" that enables attendees to phone-bank and reach out to potential voters through a variety of online tools. Holding the speech in a venue that holds 80,000 people also allows tens of thousands of Colorado residents to attend and participate — no small consideration since Colorado is a battleground state where Obama and McCain are neck and neck in the polls.
"Winning Colorado is a very important component," said the aide.
But the Invesco Field speech, with its massive expected crowd and the celebrity-style imagery it could evoke, is already being teed up by Republicans eager to hammer home the celebrity theme.
The McCain campaign Wednesday released a memo mockingly titled, "Proper Attire for the Temple of Obama (The Barackopolis)," a reference to the classical stage design in place for his speech. The campaign is already prepared to pull the trigger on ads spun out of the Invesco Field event.
"We'll put it in play against him," said McCain spokesman Brian Rogers.
Some Democrats insist the GOP approach will backfire. Rep. Ed Markey of Massachusetts said the visuals of tens of thousands of people cheering for Obama can only help his campaign by evoking comparisons to former President Kennedy.
"I think he's in that league," Markey said.
Rep. Dennis Kucinich of Ohio also sounded a confident note about the political impact of the forum, asserting that it will prove Obama's message has wide resonance.
Bredesen also said that while he has concerns, Obama is a virtuoso performer who cannot be underestimated.
"They have got a great track record so far," he said. "I would love to see him out showing a certain kind of humility, being in touch with people who go to breakfast at the Waffle House, sending a message."
Martin Kady II, Daniel W. Reilly and Kenneth P. Vogel contributed to this report.
Copyright © 2008 Denver Post.
posted by Norman Larson @ 9:41 AM
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