Obama gains early Silicon Valley support for presidential bid
Obama gains early Silicon Valley support for presidential bid
Sen. Barack Obama has not yet officially said he is running for president, but supporters in Silicon Valley are already preparing to help pay for his bid.
Tech-savvy politicos in the wealthy California region have formed a political action committee backing the Illinois Democrat and are planning a major local fundraiser for next month. The Obama for America Draft Committee PAC, created by San Jose Democratic consultant Jude Barry, raised $30,000 in December.
Organizers say the phone is ringing off the hook from potential contributors and volunteers.
Obama, 45, formed an exploratory committee earlier this week for a 2008 presidential run and plans to make an official announcement Feb. 10.
His anti-war stance and upbringing are a natural draw to the progressive leanings of the San Francisco Bay area. He's the son of a Kenyan father and a white Kansan mother, was raised in Hawaii and Indonesia, and graduated from Harvard University.
His popularity has only grown since he delivered a stirring keynote speech at the 2004 National Democratic Convention and published a 2006 best-seller, "The Audacity of Hope."
"I think his candidacy reminds Americans that we are a diverse country," said Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Oakland. "What Sen. Obama reflects is America."
But the nation is also politically diverse and Obama's success is far from guaranteed. Potential Democratic rival Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., also remains popular and has a strong California organization.
Democratic political consultant Chris Lehane put it this way: "Is he going to be the Google of the presidential campaign and redefine the model or will he be the Webvan.com, which has a lot of promise on paper and takes off quickly, but ultimately sinks?"
http://www.fresnobee.com/384/story/25155.html
Sen. Barack Obama has not yet officially said he is running for president, but supporters in Silicon Valley are already preparing to help pay for his bid.
Tech-savvy politicos in the wealthy California region have formed a political action committee backing the Illinois Democrat and are planning a major local fundraiser for next month. The Obama for America Draft Committee PAC, created by San Jose Democratic consultant Jude Barry, raised $30,000 in December.
Organizers say the phone is ringing off the hook from potential contributors and volunteers.
Obama, 45, formed an exploratory committee earlier this week for a 2008 presidential run and plans to make an official announcement Feb. 10.
His anti-war stance and upbringing are a natural draw to the progressive leanings of the San Francisco Bay area. He's the son of a Kenyan father and a white Kansan mother, was raised in Hawaii and Indonesia, and graduated from Harvard University.
His popularity has only grown since he delivered a stirring keynote speech at the 2004 National Democratic Convention and published a 2006 best-seller, "The Audacity of Hope."
"I think his candidacy reminds Americans that we are a diverse country," said Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Oakland. "What Sen. Obama reflects is America."
But the nation is also politically diverse and Obama's success is far from guaranteed. Potential Democratic rival Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., also remains popular and has a strong California organization.
Democratic political consultant Chris Lehane put it this way: "Is he going to be the Google of the presidential campaign and redefine the model or will he be the Webvan.com, which has a lot of promise on paper and takes off quickly, but ultimately sinks?"
http://www.fresnobee.com/384/story/25155.html
posted by presgore19 at 3:39 PM
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