Mo. legislators rally for Obama

By Michael Sewall

Published Feb. 5, 2008

With an influx of presidential stump speeches in Missouri throughout the past week, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., had many of his Missouri supporters speak Saturday morning at the Gaines/Oldham Black Culture Center.

“All eyes are on Missouri,” U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill said at the rally.

Former U.S. Sen. Jean Carnahan, U.S. Rep. Russ Carnahan, State Auditor Susan Montee, U.S. Rep. Lacy Clay and state Sen. Chuck Graham, D-Columbia, all from Missouri, joined McCaskill.

McCaskill started the rally by trying to wake the crowd with Obama’s campaign slogan.

“Fired up, ready to go,” she said, garnering lots of applause.

McCaskill stressed the importance of the youth vote in Obama’s success in today’s elections.

“We are not going to fix our country if we can’t get young people engaged,” she said. “It’s up to the kids on this campus.”

Jean Carnahan discussed Obama’s ability to inspire not only the youth vote, but to inspire Republicans and Democrats to work together.

“He is the one that can heal our divisions and lift us up,” she said.

Multiple speakers said they were excited to see the latest Gallup polls, which showed Obama moving closer to U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., and also rejected claims that Obama did not have enough experience, referencing the endorsement he received this past week from senior Sen. Ted Kennedy, D-Mass., who said Obama would be ready on day one.

Russ Carnahan encouraged a crowd of Obama supporters to get out the vote. He said the country needs to move in a direction based on hope.

“This is a history-making election,” he said, “We can do it with your help.”

Clay analyzed the Missouri primary and said a heavy turnout from MU students would benefit Obama.

“That would tip the scale,” Clay said.

He said he believes Obama will be helped in Missouri because former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards dropped out of the Democratic primary.

“I think Barack’s platform is more in line with John Edwards,” he said. “They have some common constituencies that should naturally gravitate more toward him.”

Graham agreed that the youth vote is extremely important in this election, especially in Missouri, and said the close poll numbers could tip in favor of Obama.

“One thing polling doesn’t track well enough is the student vote,” he said. “Many don’t have landlines and can’t be reached.”

Graham added that the large number of out-of-state students at MU could affect the overall youth vote in Missouri.

“The great unknown is how many students move their registration over to Missouri,” he said.

After the rally ended, Mizzou for Obama led a phone bank to reach registered voters in Columbia and show support for Obama.

Mizzou for Obama adviser Farouk Aregbe said the grassroots effort students can provide could greatly influence the elections. He referenced Obama’s victory in the Iowa caucuses, the first contest of primary season.

“One of the keys to winning Iowa was you all,” he said, referencing the students that put in their time to phone bank and canvass for Obama.