Hawaii Anyone?

C-SPAN cablecast the speeches at the Wisconsin Democratic dinner Saturday, both Hillary and Obama and everyone in between. Before I started watching I saw a thread at Kos about it (which is how I knew it was on.) Someone had heard the announcer say that Obama would be campaigning in Hawaii. That would be a big change in his schedule, but several others confirmed they heard it, too.

Of course, it's possible that the announcer got it wrong--Obama is apparently scheduled for a conference call with supporters in Hawaii, not a visit. But then someone mentioned that big snowstorms are due tomorrow in Wisconsin, so people may not be getting out to campaign events. So maybe Obama was taking that opportunity for a surprise visit to Hawaii.

If Obama's event is snowed out, so would Hillary's likely be--and she's already cancelled her Monday event(s) in Eau Claire, where thousands lined up in 15 degree weather to hear Obama today. So while Hillary freezes in her only full day of campaigning in Wisconsin, Obama basks in the sunshine of the state where he was raised. It's quite an image, even if it doesn't actually happen.

As for the speeches, I caught some of Hillary's. She was focused and energetic, though her voice was a bit raw. She also wore a shade of blue that nearly matched her backdrop, so from the back of the room she must have looked like a head floating above the lecturn. Obama gave his stump speech--I am amazed at how he continues to put feeling into it--with a couple of expanded sections, and a direct response to the latest Clintonian mantra--Hillary's in "the solution business." He referred to his 20 years in public life creating and advocating solutions, but emphasized that great solutions are useless unless they are enacted. (A variation on a now standard line: "Washington is where good ideas go to die.") Then he riffed on the idea that speeches and words aren't important. " I have a dream--just words? The only thing we have to fear is fear itself--just words?" He said the ability to inspire and explain is key to getting public support, which is the key to getting things done.

And as usual a dark suit, a white shirt--both of which stood out against the background-- and a good looking blue tie, which picked up the color behind him just enough. Among the many things about Obama I like in personal terms (he's left-handed and a night owl--two sure signs of superior intelligence), I like his taste in ties. I always hated Kerry's damn pink ties.


The only other news I picked up this evening is another big newspaper endorsement for Obama, from the Houston Chronicle. : Obama is both the epitome of the American Dream and well-positioned to reach out to an international community alienated by recent U.S. go-it-alone policies.
The passion and excitement that Obama has brought to the race can only stimulate more citizens to participate in the electoral process. The Chronicle urges Texas Democrats to cast what could be decisive ballots for his presidential nomination. "

A San Antonio newspaper story confirms what I heard a Texas Latino pol say on TV last primary night--that the young Latino vote is going for Obama, the older to Clinton, but there are a lot of young Latino voters.

And while Clintonians jockeyed to keep their Florida and Michigan phony delegates in play, and their claim on super-delegates to settle things, the Gallup poll showed Obama with his first "statistically significant lead" in their daily tracking poll, 49% to 42%.