“We are sending George W. Bush back to TEXAS!” Applause by Democratic Texans is deafening when Presidential Candidate Barack Obama proclaims the end of an era for the nation. Although Texans feel slightly more attached to the current Texan President George W. Bush because of his native roots, but Democrats in the state do not seem to upset to see his term come to a close. Obama thoroughly enjoyed proclaiming this during his tour of Texas on the 22nd of February.
Although the campaigning day in Texas started with a tragedy (a Dallas police officer was killed when he fell off his motorcycle while riding in Senator Hilary Clinton’s motorcade), the trail still continued for both Presidential candidates.
Senator Clinton spent her time in Texas comparing Obama’s campaign promises to his alternative voting record in order to try and disarm his campaign. Without appealing to a direct demographic, she tried a general overall appeal by discussing her ideas for insurance policy reform and quoting, “"It's against the law to discriminate on the basis of age, religion, race or creed, but not against the sick. Well, I am going to change that." Clinton has used this line repeatedly to gain overall appeal, because insurance policies do not only affect one specific demographic, but rather everyone in the nation. Everyone in the nation gets sick and could be rejected by their insurance providers, and Clinton tried to use this in order to gain massive support. Her speech gained much support, but was it enough to win the state of Texas on March 4th?
Unlike Clinton, Barack Obama used campaign tactics that were more specific to the area in which he was appealing to. With Texas being so close to Mexico and having a very high Hispanic population, Obama laid out his immigration and economic plans for the future. Obama appealed to the people by stating he wants the government to facilitate illegal immigrants into becoming citizens and for the lower class immigrants to gain economic holds in society. If you work in this country, you should not be poor." Obama appeals to the lower class immigrants for support, who have hope that he can help change their lives. Although Texas does have issues with immigration due to its geographic location and Obama did lay out his immigration plans to the state, it seems that it might have fallen on deaf ears; any illegal immigrant listening to that speech cannot vote and cannot therefore throw their support behind Obama.
On March 4th, the vote of around 450 delegates is on the line when the states of Texas, Ohio, Rhode Island and Vermont head to the polls. Will the eyes of Texas be upon Obama, or will Clinton conquer the Lone State State?
ARTICLES REFERENCED:
Christina Bellatoni and Brian DeBose.Eyes of Texas upon Obama. The Washington Post. February 23rd, 2008.
Nancy Cook. Ohio, Texas Voters Differ on Top Issues. NPR Weekend Edition. Sunday, February 24, 2008.
1 comment:
The Texas primary definitely has some real importance this year, as it can be the last stand at the Alamo for Clinton, or it could prove the final blow needed for Obama to win the nomination. The Texas Democrats, along with a lot of other red state Democrats, are getting their say in now for whom they want to be president, as I think Texas will be safe GOP territory in this election. Although with an increasing Hispanic population, this may change in the years to come if this election proves to be a realigning election. We shall just wait and see I guess....
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