Tag: Barack Obama

President Obama drew a large crowd in Denver when he and Governor Hickenlooper stopped by the Wynkoop Brewery for some beer and pool tonight.

Obama clearly had a good time, he even whistled along with "Brown-Eyed Girl" as it played on the stereo system. Earlier he had pizza with some letterwriters from Denver. [More...]

The New Yorker has an extensive interview with President Obama, on a variety of topics.

On marijuana:

“As has been well documented, I smoked pot as a kid, and I view it as a bad habit and a vice, not very different from the cigarettes that I smoked as a young person up through a big chunk of my adult life. I don’t think it is more dangerous than alcohol.”

Is it less dangerous? I asked. Less dangerous, he said, “in terms of its impact on the individual consumer. It’s not something I encourage, and I’ve told my daughters I think it’s a bad idea, a waste of time, not very healthy.”

On Colorado and Washington's legalization laws: He said it's important "they go forward." [More...]

Update: 11:32 pm: The motorcade has pulled up. It is the largest ever for the President. Obama takes the stage to thunderous applause. Snippets below:

We know in our hearts that for the United States of America, the best is yet to come.

Thanks to every American who participated in the election. Those who waited in line to vote, we have to fix that.

Whether you held an Obama sign or a Romney sign, you made your voice heard. [More...]

Update: 12:41 am: President Obama is leading in the popular vote by more than one two million votes. The best electoral college vote forecaster in my view: Nate Silver.

The biggest sign that Romney failed to make his case, even on the economy: More than 50% of voters polled said it's not Obama's fault, he inherited it from Bush.

Update: 11:30 pm: Obama got 71% of the nation's hispanic vote and 50% of Catholic voters.

Update 10:41 pm: Obama takes Virginia. Total: 303 electoral votes for Obama, 203 or 206 for Romney.

At 9:19 pm MT, CNN called the race for President Obama.[More...]

Update 9:19 pm: CNN just called the race for Obama. He will take Ohio. Obama takes Oregon. The other networks do the same. The Denver Post calls Colorado for Obama. Amendment 64 passes.

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8:38 pm: The networks aren't quite ready to project the winner, but I am. I think Romney is out of options, regardless of Florida. It's not going to be a very late night.

Update 9:01 pm: Obama: 249, Romney 191. {More...]

Update 8:14 pm:Romney's in trouble. Obama has PA and NH, and he may get Iowa. Obama is leading in Ohio including Cleveland, Cincinnati, Toledo and Columbus. He's also leading in MN. Florida and VA may not be enough to save him in the end.

Colorado: Obama has 74% in Denver, and 70% in Boulder. Adams County: 59k for Obama and 44k for Romney. Romney thought he could make a big dent in Adams and Arapahoe and he didn't. Obama is winning in Jefferson County.

Update: 7:47 pm: Elizabeth Warren wins MA senate seat. There is almost no chance Republicans regain the Senate.

Update 7:39 pm: Obama takes Wisconsin! Obama 158, Romney 153. CBS projects NH for Obama! [More...]

The campaigning is over. It's now time to vote. President Obama will be in his home town of Chicago.
Mitt is out campaigning. His event in New Hampshire last night drew 12,000. In Des Moines, 20,000 came out for Obama's last rally (slideshow of pictures here.)

The final result could come down to Ohio, Florida, Virginia, or Colorado, or some other battleground state. Which means, it really comes down to each of us. Please don't forget to vote.
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President Obama's final campaign rally is in Des Moines, IA tonight, with Michelle Obama and Bruce Springsteen. It begins at 9:30 pm CT (10:30 ET, 8:30 MT). You can watch live here. Or on C-Span.

If you know any undecided voters, or any who are wobbling, send them the link. Instead of listening to pundits and pollsters, tell them to listen to the President. He makes his own best case. [More...]

Via the Washington Post: 9 Mormon women explain why they support President Barack Obama over Mitt Romney. Some Snippets:

• "Mitt Romney and his plans for America are foreign to my faith values. He has shown behind closed doors how he truly feels about our nation’s poor and vulnerable, while Obama has sought to protect social programs, foreign aid, and real healthcare protections for those who desperately need it."

[More...]

President Obama makes the case for his re-election. Shorter version: We can move forward or fall back. [All quotes from @BarackObama]

• "I said we'd repeal 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell', we ended it."
• "I said we’d crack down on reckless practices on Wall Street, and we did."
• "I said that I'd end the war in Iraq, and I ended it."
• "I said I'd pass health care reform, and I passed it.

I'm still creating various scenarios with CNN's electoral vote map. It seems to me Mitt Romney has the more limited paths to victory.

Even if Romney wins Ohio, Virginia, and Florida, given the leanings of the other battleground states, he will need Colorado or New Hampshire to reach 270. He can't lose both. (Added: Changed from saying he needs both.)See map below: [More...]

Update: Final national poll before election day: WSJ/NBC poll has Obama 48, Romney 47. Here is the actual poll. Voters with a "very positive" view of Obama: 40%. For Romney, only 25%. Who is better prepared to lead the country? Obama 46%, Mitt 42%. I'm not sure how representative the sample is. 37% identified themselves as conservative, to 25% who identified as liberal. 23% are retired, only 4% are unemployed because they can't find a job, 48% have college/post-college/law degrees and 26% earn more than $100k per year.

A new Des Moines Register poll shows President Obama up 5 points. [More...]