Election 2008

Author Archive

Obama Rally at Penn Saturday, Obama himself missing

Albert Sun

Instead of Obama, we will have Lawrence Lessig. According to a post on his blog this afternoon, and confirmed by the Penn Dems, Lessig is planning on speaking at a rally in Penn’s Huntsman Hall this Saturday.

For those of you who don’t recognize the name, Lawrence Lessig is a Wharton alum and current Stanford law professor, wrote Free Culture, the class of 2010’s reading project book, and gave a speech during the class of 2010’s NSO as well. And now, he’ll be back on campus for a rally for Obama.

Lessig has previously endorsed Obama in video form.

Edit: Contrary to what I originally posted, Obama himself will likely not be on campus. The event is happening, but according to Burdette, it will just be Lessig, not Obama himself.

Obama and Clinton Both to Visit Philadelphia Tuesday

Albert Sun

Both Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton will be holding campaign events in Philadelphia tomorrow.

Obama will be giving a speech on race and politics at the National Constitution Center tomorrow. This event begins at 10:15AM.

Clinton will be holding an event at City Hall starting at 1:30PM. The Clinton event is a “Campaign Event with Leading Voices For Bringing Our Troops Home,” in the Mayor’s Conference Room.

Exciting stuff.

Florida and Michigan to Overshadow Pennsylvania?

Albert Sun

The Clinton campaign organized a conference call this morning between Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, Philadelphia Mayor Michale Nutter, campaign consultant Mark Penn, spokesperson Howard Wolfson and a drove of reporters.

Despite the presence of Nutter and Rendell, fully half the questions were still about what would happen to delegates from Florida and Michigan. Looking at the numbers, Michigan has 128 pledged delegates, Florida has 185 and Pennsylvania has 158.

So I guess it makes sense for Florida and Michigan to outshine Pennsylvania to some extent. Combined, they have about twice as many pledged delegates as Pennsylvania and the decision of what to do with them will make a huge impact.

After the jump, Nutter sure loves sports analogies!

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Live post - Hillary Rally at Temple

Albert Sun

Before the Hillary Rally Starts

It’s getting more and more crowded here at Temple University’s McGonigle Hall in the time leading up to the start. One side of the bleachers now is almost full of people, all of course carrying Hillary signs. The media pen has been full, with more reporters from more different places than I imagined even possible.

Everyone and their mother is on this story I suppose. Earlier I had thought there would be no wireless connection here, but someone has set up a network, aptly named “SoapBox.”

The “enclosure” I guess I could call it, the cordoned off area closest to the stage is full of middle aged people in IUPAT shirts. It stands for International Union of Painters and Allied Trades. There are some other union shirts around, and the crowd is distinctly not college aged. Lots of “ordinary folk,” parents with little kids, etc. There’s pre rally music of course. I don’t recognize it, and two Temple sophomores also performed for a while.

Once again, I have to comment on the timing. The fact that they put this rally here over spring break means to me that the Hillary campaign really is not making a huge effort to attract college students. To them Temple is just a convenient location.

One interesting metric for me is to count the number of home made signs versus campaign passed out signs. Right now I’ve seen three homemade signs. The rally hasn’t started yet, so that will likely grow.

Edit: 5:55pm

Media Pen at the Hillary Rally

I know I’m just a lowly student journalist but this is the most cameras and video camera I’ve ever seen together in one place. And it’s a whole different feeling sitting on the other side of the tensa barrier. But it also makes you wonder at how much duplicated effort there is here. All of these cameras are essentially going to get the same shot because they’re all set up on the same platform.

Edit: 6:49pm

Clinton just told one of those little stories about healthcare about a woman with two diabetic daughters who couldn’t get insurance. Followed it up with this little tidbit. “We are not going to allow health insurance companies to discriminate against sick people!”

Edit: March 12th, 1:30pm

Video is now on our homepage, www.dailypennsylvanian.com

Direct link here.

Hillary to visit Temple University

Albert Sun

Just noticed that Hillary Clinton is going to be visiting Temple University tomorrow, Tuesday, for a rally at their McGonigle Arena. Here’s the link to event details on her website. Link

They’re timing could be better though, as this week Temple, along with Penn and many other area schools are on spring break. While election politics is exciting, for must students I’m guessing it just is not going to compete with the Bahamas.

Video Post: Students phone bank for Obama at Columbia

Albert Sun

Students call voters to make sure they vote at Columbia

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Students phone bank for Obama at Columbia
Albert Sun/DP


Super Tuesday Trips!

Albert Sun

The Daily Pennsylvanian is heading out on the road to cover Super Tuesday voting at some of our neighboring schools. While Pennsylvania is not voting Tuesday, and isn’t voting until April 22nd, students at Columbia and Princeton Universities will be.

In what has been called one of the most important elections of our time, Democratic primaries and caucuses have been breaking voter turnout records left and right, especially among young voters. The question on everybody’s mind then, is, on this day where both parties candidates will likely be determined will the trend continue? Are college kids going to turn out and vote, or will they stay home?

To tell the story, we’re sending out two reporting teams of a reporter, photographer and videographer to two states that are voting Tuesday, to find out, “Will the youth turn out?”