by John McCormick
COLUMBIA, S.C. – As voters across the state head to the polls, the Democratic candidates are making the retail campaign rounds here today, seeking to keep their faces on television as much as possible.
Sen. Hillary Clinton just left the Liberty Tap Room & Grill, literally just around the corner from the hotel where staff members for Sen. Barack Obama are hanging out waiting for exit poll information and results.
Obama, meanwhile, stopped by a Baptist church, a college and restaurant, in between local television interviews. This afternoon, he is doing interviews with local TV stations in Feb. 5 states via satellite.
The pool report on Obama's morning activities, courtesy of Scott Helman of the Boston Globe, is below the jump.
Senator Barack Obama spent about a half-hour greeting the lunch and brunch crowd Saturday at Harper's Restaurant just outside downtown Columbia. He greeted nearly every table in the restaurant, as well as the wait-staff and some of the cooks, posing for photographs and exchanging pleasantries with customers.
"I might get to shake hands with the future president!" one woman said, excitedly, into her cell phone as Obama arrived.
As Obama began to work his way around the room, a man told him, "Enjoy your lunch if you can." Obama then approached a family gathered around a big table and said, "How's it going, everybody?" Then he grabbed a white napkin off their table and wiped his hands, saying, "Let me borrow a napkin. I got a little juice on me."
Beverly Wilburn, a cook at the restaurant, came out of the kitchen to greet him. "You got my vote," she told him. "All right." Asked if she had voted yet, Wilburn said, "As soon as I get off of work."
"How are you, sir?" Obama asked David Condon, a 47-year-old from Columbia who works for the South Carolina Technical College System. Condon snapped a photo of Obama with his arm around Condon's 8-year-old daughter, Grace, and told Obama he liked his policies on creating jobs.
Greeting an older couple at another table, Obama said, "So nice to see you. That's a fine lookin' brunch." They were eating salads; Obama said he liked salads, too. He then asked two women at the next table, "What kind of work do you guys do?" Childs Cantey, a 30-year-old Obama supporter from Columbia wearing an "I voted" sticker, told him she was an environmental attorney. "That's important work," Obama said. He also complained to them about the weather. "You guys didn't tell me it gets this cold in South Carolina," he said. "I should have brought my long-johns."
At that point, Ellis and Alex Caulkins, 12-year-old twins from Florence, S.C., approached Obama with a pointed question. "Hey, Obama, what are you going to do about foreign policy?" Ellis asked, telling Obama that he didn't seem to be making many campaign promises.
Obama reiterated his promise to get American troops out of Iraq, then asked the twin boys what their day held. Ellis explained that they were headed to Riverbanks Zoo and Garden in Columbia. "That sounds fun," Obama said, before the boys' grandfather pulled them away. "Let's go eat, boys, time to eat," he said. Back at their table, Ellis said he wasn't satisfied with Obama's answer, but admitted he had something of an agenda. "I don't want another Democrat," he said, professing admiration for Rudy Giuliani and John McCain. "We have enough of them."
Obama also greeted Scott Boyd, a 42-year-old neurosurgeon from Columbia, who said he's a lifelong Republican but voted for Obama in Saturday's primary. They talked briefly about the cost of malpractice insurance, and Boyd said afterward he was impressed with Obama's grasp of the issue. Boyd said he has never been this excited about an election. "He's an aggregator," he said. "I think he can bring people together. For me to be brought out of my Republican shell – I'm a convert now."
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Comments
Wow the Swamp is really pro-Obama. This is all about him and how good he is.... blah blah blah.
Why dont you post newsworthy stuff? This is like a segment at Oprah's show.
Posted by: FJ Stratford | January 26, 2008 3:38 PM
The BBC marks the 10th anniversery of something the Clintons don't want you to remember:
"(Jan. 26, 1998) President Clinton has strongly denied allegations that he had an affair with a 24-year-old former White House aide.
He also rejected accusations that he asked her to lie about the relationship on oath.
Mr Clinton has come under intense media pressure as rumours circulate that he conducted an 18-month affair with Monica Lewinsky in 1995.
"I did not have sexual relations with that woman"
Bill Clinton
Miss Lewinsky, who is currently in hiding, has made no public admission, although it is understood that she has admitted to the relationship on tape.
The president made his categoric denial at a White House news conference today.
With his fist clenched and his voice shaking, he said: "I did not have sexual relations with that woman, Miss Lewinsky.
"I never told anybody to lie, not a single time, never.
"These allegations are false and I need to get back to work for the American people."
Mr Clinton left the room without answering any questions.
First lady Hillary Clinton is said to be in "fighting mood" and has vowed to stand by her husband to save his political career."
Note Bill's phony emotion. Note also how Hillary joined in on the lies.
Some things never change.
Posted by: Cronkite | January 26, 2008 3:48 PM
I certainly hope Clinton attempts at race division strategy fall flat. I think Americans are tired of being manipulated. Obama can restore the Democratic party.
Posted by: Lauren | January 26, 2008 4:55 PM
You have to be stupid to think a white person could win in a black state. White vote is split between Edwards and Clinton.
Rezko and the Repulican rectal reaming of the Democrats is going to be funny. Easiest win ever for a Republican. Becuase of the Democrat poster child.
Rezko will be all over the news all summer during his trial
Posted by: Bungler OOPS | January 26, 2008 5:17 PM
You have to be stupid to think a white person could win in a black state. White vote is split between Edwards and Clinton.
Posted by: Bungler OOPS | January 26, 2008 5:17 PM
Right on...just like white people won't vote for a black candidate (Iowa). Your keen insight is caveman quality. The republican rectal reaming of the American people will weigh a little more.
Posted by: bill r. | January 26, 2008 6:24 PM
Obama offers not only the Democratic Party, but America the best chance of some form of unity. Hillary's machine will do its best to tear apart and divide us (typical of the Bush-Clinton political tactics), but hopefully bright Americans can see through this. Perhaps this is why the uneducated voters are Hillary's largest voting block.
I fear for this nation if we cannot move away from the failed politics of the past.
Posted by: Janet | January 26, 2008 6:26 PM
Edwards is still a candidate, you know. If you are only going to cover the personalities you want, then put it on the gossip pages, and not the political.
Posted by: HIldy | January 26, 2008 6:28 PM
So Oprabama and Clinton each spent the day visiting local restaurants and hotels. I guess they both wanted to get a look at the working People they plan to raise taxes on if elected.
Posted by: Ben R. | January 26, 2008 6:32 PM
"Obama also greeted Scott Boyd, a 42-year-old neurosurgeon from Columbia, who said he's a lifelong Republican but voted for Obama in Saturday's primary. They talked briefly about the cost of malpractice insurance, and Boyd said afterward he was impressed with Obama's grasp of the issue. Boyd said he has never been this excited about an election. "He's an aggregator," he said. "I think he can bring people together. For me to be brought out of my Republican shell – I'm a convert now."
It doesn't take much to bring Doc Boyd out of his shell. While he gave $1000 bucks to Republican Jim DeMint in 2003, he also gave Democrat Alex Sanders $500 in 2002.
Posted by: jimboster | January 26, 2008 6:35 PM
Wow the Swamp is really pro-Obama. This is all about him and how good he is.... blah blah blah.
Why dont you post newsworthy stuff? This is like a segment at Oprah's show.
Posted by: FJ Stratford | January 26, 2008 3:38 PM
You have to be stupid to think a white person could win in a black state. White vote is split between Edwards and Clinton.
Rezko and the Repulican rectal reaming of the Democrats is going to be funny. Easiest win ever for a Republican. Becuase of the Democrat poster child.
Rezko will be all over the news all summer during his trial
Posted by: Bungler OOPS | January 26, 2008 5:17 PM
------------------------
"MJ",
How many more fake post names are you going to come up with in pursuit of your racist haterd of Barack Obama?
Obama gave back Rezko's money and he has been charged with NOTHING and until he is you and all of your postnames (F J Stratford, Bungler OOPS etc) can cry about it all you want...it won't work....NEXT!
Posted by: "MJ" is Leo T Juanito | January 26, 2008 6:36 PM
Mitt Romney publicly professes that he is concerned about Bill Clinton being back in the White House with a lot of free time on his hands.
He shouldn't worry, and it just goes to show you Mitt Romney's lack of imagination.
There are lots of public/private initiatives that come to mind, just off the top of one's head, some of which the ex-president could conduct from the comfort of the Lincoln bedroom.
Consider these:
1) Special envoy to Fidel's Gulag to end U.S. embargo on Cuban cigars.
2) Commissioner of National Women's Softball League.
3) National spokesperson for adolescent campaign for sexual abstinence.
4) Head of the Motion Picture Association (with lots of unpublicized trips to Hollywood, and foreign film colonies--nothing like private diplomacy, I always say).
5) Head of the U.S. Office of Public Integrity.
6) Chief, White House intern program.
7) Special advisor, Congressional intern program.
8) Co-Chair, with Clarence Thomas and Larry Craig, of blue-ribbon National Commission for the Rights of High-Minded but Misunderstood Public Servants.
9) Washington-based Rove-ing correspondent, Hustler magazine.
10) "Green" Czar, with special portfolio to promote sowing of wild oats ...
If the Republicans choose Romney, claiming that his vast experience in the private sector makes him tailor made to right the economy, we Democrats have a better argument with a Clinton co-presidency. ...
Bill Clinton has been getting down to business for years!
Posted by: Martin Edwin Andersen | January 26, 2008 6:54 PM
It's funny to listen to the right chirping in on the race issue. These people have voted along racial lines all their lives. What they have overlooked is the fact that in every caucus and primary, the turn out for the democrats has been overwhelming. That's a problem for the party who are more interested in, not race, but themselves.
Posted by: bill r. | January 26, 2008 7:04 PM
So Oprabama and Clinton each spent the day visiting local restaurants and hotels. I guess they both wanted to get a look at the working People they plan to raise taxes on if elected.
Posted by: Ben R. | January 26, 2008 6:32 PM
Benny,
Do you have a better idea for how we are going to fix the budget deficit that the Republic Party has run up the last seven years, smartguy?
http://photobucket.com/mediadetail/?media=http%3A%2F%2Fi65.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fh224%2Fleavinit%2Fbudget_deficit_or_surplus.gif&searchTerm=deficit&pageOffset=18
I can't wait for you Wingnuts to try and spin that into a victory in 08.
Posted by: John E | January 26, 2008 7:08 PM
AND THE ENVELOPE, PLEASE ...
RESULTS...
'Very Large' Turnout Among African Americans...
EXITS: Bill Clinton's campaigning 'hurt'...
68% of white voters say Clinton unfairly attacked Obama...
'Fewer than 20' supporters show up to Clinton victoy event...
OBAMA 53%
CLINTON 27%
EDWARDS 19%
Posted by: Martin Edwin Andersen | January 26, 2008 8:09 PM
KENNEDYS TREND ... OBAMA !!!
ACCORDING TO MSNBC, CAROLINE KENNEDY SCHLOSSBERG, THE LAST SURVIVOR OF THE CAMELOT WHITE HOUSE, IS PASSING THE TORCH TO A NEW MESSAGER OF HOPE ... SEN. BARACK OBAMA !!!
Posted by: Martin Edwin Andersen | January 26, 2008 8:23 PM
Let's stick to the issues: Obama's economic stimulus proposal was rated the HIGHEST of any other candidate from both parties (see the Washington Post article from last week). He respects us enough to address issues in detail while Clinton has said, "I'm not saying anything!" regarding the social security crisis and whether the money to fix it would come out of the pockets of wage earners. If you listen to the the NPR interview, you'll hear Clinton say this when she's backed into a corner. She says there is no social security crisis, which is false (just read your annual statement from the social security administration). Then she says something about the way to address this issue is to "join hands and jump in together". She doesn't respect us enough to give any specifics. But voters respect themselves enough not to vote for Clinton. She keeps saying she is going to get up every morning. Big whoop!
Posted by: Karen | January 26, 2008 8:31 PM
Are you allowed to lie and keep you medical license?
Life long Republican, good grief, if you are going to claim that at least stop contributing to democrat campaigns, it is public information after all.
Posted by: Cindy | January 26, 2008 10:12 PM
So-called "lifelong Republican" Scott Boyd turns out to be yet another Democrat plant. And the clueless, or complicit, media pass along the scam.
This “Lifelong Republican” gag is getting pretty shopworn. When I see or hear the phrase now, I think “Democrat troll ahead.”
Posted by: Rather | January 26, 2008 10:27 PM
Benny,
Do you have a better idea for how we are going to fix the budget deficit that the Republic Party has run up the last seven years, smartguy?
Posted by: John E | January 26, 2008 7:08 PM
As a matter of fact I do, cut spending. Make the tax cuts permanent and cut spending. No need to raise taxes if spending is decreased. Get it?
Posted by: Ben R. | January 27, 2008 9:15 AM
We hope Dr. Boyd enjoys practicing medicine for the govt once Obama appoints John "king of malpractice suits" Edwards as Attorney General.
Posted by: Manners | January 27, 2008 1:07 PM