Obama avoids rallies, holds smaller, low-key events

[DeepModem Mom]

USA Today/AP: Obama avoids rallies, begins more relaxed general campaign


(Alex Brandon/AP)
Sen. Barack Obama talks with Shelby Davis, 17, at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis. The Democratic presidential candidate has shied away from large rallies since winning his party's nomination.

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Barack Obama has shown he can pack 20,000 people into an arena and draw 75,000 to an Oregon river bank. Now he's trying to win voters' hearts a few at a time. Having vanquished Hillary Rodham Clinton in the Democratic presidential primary, Obama has entered the general election phase holding smaller, low-key events rather than the large rallies that have electrified fans but turned off some voters.

The change in pace and tone was obvious Tuesday when Obama visited Missouri, a classic toss-up state, and left by lunchtime without doing any events open to the public. He will campaign every day this week, but for the first time will hold none of the rallies that often draw 10,000 or 20,000 or more.

The shift is partly a response to critics who say rallies highlight Obama's oratorical skills but demonstrate little about his command of policy or empathy for regular people. And to a surprising degree, aides say, many people know little of Obama's background and don't necessarily feel he understands them....

***

His newest tactic borrows from politicians, such as former Florida Gov. Bob Graham, who won voters' affections by occasionally working alongside ordinary people on the job. For Obama on Tuesday, it was Kate Marzluf, 26, a nurse in the cardiac wing of Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis. Wearing rolled up shirt sleeves and a wireless microphone, and followed by reporters and TV cameras, Obama tagged along as Marzluf visited her five patients....

http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2008-06-10-obama-style_N.htm

[Cant trust em]

1. This is a smart move. He needs to answer more policy questions

that are better suited to smaller venues. It's tough to have a discussion on health care with 20,000 at a basketball arena.

[patrice]

2. OH!!! I wish he'd come to our nursing home!!

I wonder if this approach isn't a harbinger of new things to come; More regular "Vermont-style" town-halls at all levels of representation, to better allow the People to express their will directly, and cut out Lobbyist influence on decision-makers.

[LiberalFighter]

3. McCain is going to regret his challenge to Obama to have town hall style debate