Nebraska Democratic Party: Nebraska: Swing State in 2008?

Nebraska: Swing State in 2008?

Mar 06, 04:56 PM CST

Incredible news.

Survey USA conducted a poll of 623 Nebraska voters:

McCain 45%
Obama 42%
Undecided 13%

Margin of Error: +/- 4%.

Obama has a slight lead in the 1st and 2nd CD’s, though the sample sizes are much smaller so the margin of error is higher.

I’m not sure when Nebraska last had a competitive Presidential race; the last time Nebraska chose a Democrat was LBJ in 1964.

There’s a lot to be decided in the coming weeks and months –– including our nominee –– but there’s no doubt that Democrats have a chance to make major gains in 2008.

– by Eric Van Horn | Send this to a friend

This is great news! I wonder if this is Obama alone, or if it’s a result of Dean’s 50-state-strategy opening the door for name recognition and policy awareness on behalf of Obama? Either way, this is something huge, so long as we pull through and make it happen.
— Thomas Boyko Mar 06, 07:32 PM CST #
Clearly, Dean’s 50-state-strategy helped to create favorable conditions for the political transformation of the Nebraska Democratic Party. It is wonderful to think that Nebraska could prove to be a factor in the November election. I’m tired of presidential candidates that only visit bellwether states, and choose to ignore the loyal Democrats of the vast Great Plains.
— Robert Smith Mar 06, 09:44 PM CST #
How close is the Nebraska Democratic Party to achieving a complete 93 County Strategy?
— Robert Smith Mar 06, 09:50 PM CST #
Thomas, if it were simply the 50 state strategy of Dean, I think we’d be seeing stronger numbers for Clinton (who is down 57-30 in the same poll).

Now, the 50 State Strategy is key. But it’s Obama’s embrace of that strategy that has allowed him to make inroads in places that were previously written off.
— Dave Sund Mar 06, 10:07 PM CST #
It’s polls like this that make me wonder why so many Democrats are still convinced that Hillary Clinton is somehow more electable than Obama.
— Trevor Fitzgerald Mar 07, 12:47 AM CST #
Dean’s 50 State Strategy plowed the ground. Obama has planted the seed. We need to tend this crop and harvest some big wins across the board in November.

Obama is the only candidate that put Nebraska in play and gives us a real shot at winning the Senate, some CD’s and numerous down ticket elections.
— Rodney Heisterkamp Mar 07, 06:10 AM CST #
Robert,

There are 26 counties that have no county level organization. according to the information available on this website.
— Brian T. Osborn Mar 07, 12:11 PM CST #
Unfortunately, the website information is outdated. With 92 counties participating in the caucus, we are closer to completing the 93 County Strategy than we have ever been. I expect that we will have over 80 county conventions this year –– which is truly remarkable by any standard.

While we still have a lot of work to do, I want to thank everyone who stepped up and got involved for making this happen.
— Eric Van Horn Mar 07, 12:21 PM CST #
Since Nebraska will serve as a swing state during the November elections, I would encourage everyone to read Don Walton’s article, Nebraska Democrats will get second shot, from the Friday, March 7, 2008 issue of the Lincoln Journal Star.

www.journalstar.com/articles/2008/03/07/news/local/doc47d16db0bd5ec734439676.txt

In fact, this article should be posted for open comments in a separate thread of this blog.

It turns out we won’t have to wait until November to make a difference. Get out and vote again on May 13th.
— Robert Smith Mar 07, 05:44 PM CST #
surf’s up, ride the wave
— Vince Powers Mar 07, 08:05 PM CST #
It was pretty evident that the SCC didn’t like the idea of ‘winner-take-all” approach to our Super Delegates and the May Primary. Vince maybe you should have waited for the approval of the SCC before you spoke to the press regarding this silly scheme.
— Brent Hultine, LD 33, Rules Committee Mar 09, 09:08 AM CST #
I actually think it was an interesting idea that could have helped boost turnout for the primary.
— Mike Nellis Mar 09, 09:37 AM CST #
What were some of the concerns of the State Central Committee members about the plan to offer the votes of Nebraska’s five superdelegates to the winner of the May primary election?
— Robert Smith Mar 10, 07:14 AM CST #
The SCC did not want any kryptonite to affect the super powers of the automatic delegates.
— vince powers Mar 10, 12:15 PM CST #
The original idea of superdelegates was to insure that the phoobaas had a ticket to the convention. No one ever thought that their vote would have any significance. After all when would the last time have been. Dave
— DAVE LOVEWELL Mar 10, 07:49 PM CST #
Ok…I’m beginning to understand the concerns of some SCC members have to do with the rules. However, any plan that would attract both Senators Obama and Clinton back into the state to campaign and speak with fellow Nebraskans has great merit. Their presence would increase interest and turnout in the primary elections benefiting other Democratic candidates across the state. I believe West Virginia is the only other state with a Democratic primary held on May 13th?

Have any of the other Nebraska superdelegates expressed an opinion about this plan Vince?

In case anyone is wondering my position – I’m a Lancaster County delegate pledged to support Senator Obama.
— Robert Smith Mar 10, 11:40 PM CST #