Presidential Campaign Coverage
I'm receiving some emails, comments and phone calls about the lack of balance of coverage on the presidential race. Readers are asking why it's all Hillary. Here's why: the Obama campaign isn't contacting me or many other bloggers. I can only give you the information about events that's available to me. I'm running around eastern PA covering events and I have no time to go dig up the info. The Obama people have yet to contact me in any way, shape or form. I'd love to tell you where and when their events are, my site traffic says you want this information. I simply don't have it.
I'd love to cover their events too but that takes press credentials. I'd love to be on their media conference calls too but I'm neither invited nor informed. I can only do what they allow me to do and they don't seem to be aware there are blogs in Pennsylvania. This, in spite of the fact I went to Philadelphia on March 1st, to Obama HQ and introduced myself to the staff. I also signed up at the press section of their website a couple months ago when it became apparent we might be a factor in this contest.
I'm not sure what more I can do. I can live blog their events, and I'd love to, the bottom line is I cannot. If you'd like me to contact them and request they contact me.
Everyone can find Pennsylvania voting information and scheduled events at http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/pahome
Please join us and "be the change" at www.barackobama.com
Posted by: Katy7540 | March 12, 2008 at 06:17 PM
I spent two day son the road covering events. I barely even had time to eat and catch the news. I certainly haven't had the time to go searching for all this information. That's why campaigns have press and media people to provide all this. I also must have other information which I'm not receiving. Nada, zilch. What this is telling me is that I don't matter to them. Fine, I'll go where I'm welcome as a blogger.
Posted by: John Morgan | March 12, 2008 at 06:27 PM
John, I don't know where you fall in the great blogger vs journalist divide. If it's blogger, then yes, you are entitled to sit back and wait for "news" to fall into your lap. If you consider yourself a journalist, then it's time to get up and get out.
Contact your local (or nearest) Obama field office. ASK for help, ask for tickets and do the brave thing: sign up at www.barackobama.com (click your state, Pennsylvania, join a group in your area. "Rabid" Obama supporters will help you if you're looking for information.) Go to this link: http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/pahome to find out more.
There are large groups in Philadelphia, Doylestown, Allentown and Pittsburgh, not to mention field offices. You might be surprised at how much volunteers in Obama for America know about what is happening on the ground. We are after all a grassroots organization. (For the record, I am in New Mexico (The Rational Inquirer at New Mexico for Obama), but saw Ben Smith's cross-post about your, um, complaint at Politico.com.)
Of course you can just blog on Hillary. And your readers, hungry for information on Obama can go to BarackObama.com among other locations.
Posted by: Jade7243 | March 12, 2008 at 07:39 PM
If you knew how busy I am right now and how little time I have to even read my email you'd understand.
I have driven to Philadelphia, to the Obama headquarters and introduced myself. I have signed up as a press contact on the media section of their website.
I have contacted local Obama supporters about the campaign, in fact, they're my only source for information.
What I need are media credentials, not tickets. I asked for them when I registered at their website.
This isn't just me, I know of no other PA bloggers who have any contact.
I love New Mexico. I was in Santa Fe for Christmas, 2006. I have a wonderful picture from Sky City as my computer wallpaper. It is, indeed, the Land of Enchantment.
Posted by: John Morgan | March 12, 2008 at 07:50 PM
Color me "rabid".
The Obama Minute: easy, quick online actions to support Obama
http://www.obamastraws.blogspot.com
Barack Facts: Fast Obama Facts vs. Falsehoods
http://www.barackfacts.blogspot.com
Hillary Facts: She stoops to conquer
http://www.kitchensink08.blogspot.com
Posted by: Elise in NH | March 12, 2008 at 10:22 PM
Greetings, John.
I’m from Texas & am in touch with folks in NE PA that have events happening this weekend.
Look for "O'Bama" supporters at the Scranton St. Pat’s Day parade, and lots feet on the street on Sunday in Scranton & Milford.
As reported in this month's cover story in ROLLING STONE, this is a bottom-up campaign powered by motivated citizens connecting directly with each other. We're united by one thing: our support for Barack Obama and his message of change.
Everybody's got their individual reasons for support.
I want to know that if I have a catastrophic accident or illness, we won't go bankrupt and that we can afford to get preventive checkups.
I want to know that my country isn't run by lobbyists for multi-national, profit-above-principles corporations.
I want to know that I can retire with dignity, not pay taxes on up to $50K of retirement income.
I want to know that within my lifetime the US will cease to depend on fossil fuels and will lead the world in sustainable energy -- creating new jobs as we heal the planet and enhance our nat'l security.
I want to know that everyone in the US can get a good education, and that those who merit going to college can afford to go, making our country & economy stronger.
I want to know that if my son is ever called to war, it's because it's a war that absolutely have to wage to protect our country.
I have family in PA and many fond memories of gorgeous summer days there, picking wild blueberries and eating fresh corn. Wish I could be there now.
Regards from Texas
Posted by: SursumTX | March 13, 2008 at 02:02 PM
I love blueberries and corn. I was in Scranton Monday covering the Hillary rally. There were a handful of Obama supporters outside but not many (I'd have fingers left). That doesn't seem to be fiercely avid Obama country. The area tends to be more of the conservative, Catholic Democratic demographic. Hillary voters.
Gov. Rendell and Hillary will be there for the St. Patrick's Day parade also, stop and say hello.
Your issues are all of our issues. The economy is affecting everyone. Your concerns about health care are why I've been working, and writing about establishing the first single payer, universal health care coverage in America, here in Pennsylvania. Look for an article Monday morning about that.
We're blessed with two very good candidates for president. Most of the field, in fact, were good people. I endorsed Sen. Edwards but I also have tremendous respect for Joe Biden, Chris Dodd and Bill Richardson. Clinton and Obama are those remaining in the field and I have to decide, myself, for whom I'll vote April 22nd. Part of my blog writing has been giving my readers a peek inside my thinking and my process going about choosing one.
Posted by: John Morgan | March 13, 2008 at 02:12 PM
Yes, Mr. Morgan. We have two very bright, capable candidates with strong convictions. Which one?
One way to compare the two senators is to look at how they have run their own respective campaigns and their personal affairs. Then consider, which one would I want to manage my company; which one would best manage my affairs?
Now, Hillary would be aggressive and she'd have the power-base. If she called Hollywood, they’d jump. She'd have a real flair for the movers and the shakers. But the problem is she'd tick off my investors, polarize my team, mismanage my money, get me into a mass of legal difficulties, insist I run my company her way, and complain about how my partners treat her. Funny thing, after all this drama and the enormous legal bills, I'd come to find out she padded her resume: it was her HUSBAND who'd been the big CEO.
On the other hand, Obama wouldn’t claim to have run an international mega-corporation single-handedly. Hollywood wouldn’t jump when he called. But he’d show an incredible gift for relating to real people from all walks of life. Quietly effective, he’d unify and inspire my team, ask me for my input and respect it, make my company millions with innovative financial ideas, tackle my oppostion with diplomacy, grow my business by leaps and bounds, almost never complain, and always put loyalty to the company ahead of his personal ambitions. And after all that, I'd find out he had even more to offer than what I could tell from his resume!
Which one?
Posted by: Emmavoberry | March 13, 2008 at 05:04 PM
What am I missing here. There is abundant info available at the official Obama blog including an explicit PA blog. This would have ample material to get started with. I blog all of the time and I am a journalist and my jaw dropped a bit as I read your note. If I lived in PA I would get the locations of the Obama HQs that are being set up and info on the events Obama intends to be at and so forth. Elementary, right? Cheers, S
Posted by: Stephen Rose | March 13, 2008 at 05:14 PM
On the other hand Hillary has been thoroughly vetted and tested. They've come after her for 15 years with everything they have. She has been tested and tested, more than anyone I can think of, and she's still standing, tall and proud. She knows the policy issues thoroughly, much more so than Obama.
Sen. Obama has a magnetism and charisma unmatched by any candidate I've ever seen. He obviously can motivate and inspire people like no one I've seen since John F. Kennedy (yes, I'm that old).
They are both great candidates and bring different things to the table, which is why so many would like to see them as a team, one way or the other.
Posted by: John Morgan | March 13, 2008 at 05:17 PM
Here's what you missed: I did that and WENT to Obama headquarters. I am covering much more than just this campaign (we actually have other races going on) and regular consulting work to do. I can spend several more hours hunting down this info or they can simply send it to my inbox. I've asked twice to be put on their press list and they have opted not to do so. I'm not going to go again and beg.
The message I've received by their silence is this: they don't want or need my blog coverage. Fine, I'll give it to those who do.
Posted by: John Morgan | March 13, 2008 at 05:21 PM
I found it extremely easy to get media credentials from the Obama camp as a blogger. They've gone out of their way to be helpful to me about that.
Posted by: Matthew Carter | March 29, 2008 at 04:43 PM
Everyone I know had much difficulty.
Posted by: John Morgan | March 29, 2008 at 07:21 PM