State campaign sets up debate parties, weekend voter registration cookouts as poll says Obama leads Florida

Barack Obama leads John McCain nationally by a margin of 46 percent to 42 percent, opening his biggest edge since the campaign entered the fall stretch after the two major party conventions, according to a new Ipsos-McClatchy poll. A separate Quinnipiac poll indicates that Obama is now up by eight points in Florida.

One key reason for his gain over the past week could be last week’s debate between the two major party candidates. A separate Ipsos-McClatchy online poll of undecided voters taken Monday found that a majority thought that Obama did better in the 90-minute face-off by a margin of nearly 3-2. Despite Obama’s gains, the race remains close, and neither candidate has won over a majority of registered voters.

Meanwhile, the campaign put together rallies, concerts, parties and cookouts on the last week before voting registration ends on Monday, Oct. 6.

Michelle strikes in Tallahassee
“We have the opportunity right here, right now,” Michelle Obama said at a campaign rally at Tallahassee’s Florida A&M University estimated at 8,000-10,000. “Isn’t it time we have leaders who reflect our values? Isn’t it time we have leaders who get it? Barack gets it!”

Dr. Jill Biden, wife of Obama’s running mate Joe Biden, joined Michelle Obama. Michelle, a graduate of Harvard University, said she’d be open to the idea of her daughters Malia, 10, and Sasha, 7, attending FAMU or any other historically Black college or university (HBCU).

“I want my kids to go where they want to go; that was my parents’ philosophy,” she said. “I want 2008them to know about HBCUs just as I want them to know about Ivy League schools, or even schools where they can get a scholarship. Our kids, like all kids, should have choices... What we need to get around to is making sure that all kids are getting a decent education they need so they can apply to any school they want and after they graduate, they can get a

job with those degrees.”

Bill in Orlando, Fort Pierce
President Bill Clinton hosted rallies in Orlando and Fort Pierce on Wednesday, his first serious campaign effort for Obama. Due to unexpected demand, the event in Orlando was moved to a larger venue. At boThevents, Clinton urged Floridians to register to vote before the Oct. 6 deadline.

In Orlando, Clinton told a large crowd at the University of Central Florida that America is “a mess” because of George Bush’s policies, that Barack Obama has the right philosophy, better answers and better advisers than John McCain. He gave a 23-minute speech before a crowd estimated of more than 3,000 people on Fort Pierce’s downtown waterfront.

Jay-Z in Miami
On Sunday, the day before voter registration ends, seven-time Grammy Award-winning recording artist Jay-Z will headline a free voter registration rally and concert at Miami’s Bayfront Park Amphitheater. He will promote voter registration and encourage young people to get involved with the campaign.

Tickets can only be obtained by visiting a South Florida Campaign for Change office and are limited to two per person. You must be 18 to attend this event. Visit FL.BarackObama.com for more information.

To vote in the November election, registration applications must be postmarked or hand-delivered to Supervisors of Elections offices by Monday.

Debate parties, cookouts statewide
Also on Sunday, the campaign will host “Cookouts for Change’’ events across Florida to urge people to register to vote. After the event, campaign volunteers will go door-to-door to register their neighbors to vote and encourage them to vote early beginning on Oct. 20.

“Cookouts for Change’’ will take place at public parks or Obama campaign offices in Palatka, Jacksonville, St. Augustine, Gainesville, Orlando, Pensacola, Sarasota, Belle Glade, Miramar, Delray Beach, Hollywood, North Miami, South Miami, Central Miami and Fort Myers, and in Seminole, Brevard, Osceola, Pasco and St. Lucie counties. Call 813-857-2563 or go to www.barackobama.com to find specific locations.

Stephanie Lambert of the Capitol Outlook contributed to this report.