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Uploaded: Thursday, September 6, 2012, 10:24 PM
Election season in full swing
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by Daniel DeBolt
Mountain View Voice Staff
Photos
 
| The presidential election was brought to Mountain View in a big way on Thursday with the opening of a key Barack Obama election campaign office, one of three in California.
In the office at 1411 West El Camino Real a crowd of volunteers listened to speeches from campaign organizers on Sept. 6.
"We are going to be in the fight of our lives for the the next 61 days, doing everything we can to get President Obama re-elected," said Bobak Esfandiari, the Democratic party employee who is heading up the regional campaign office.
Lisa Altieri, the owner of a Redwood City recycling company, said her business was saved by Obama's presidency after the recession caused a huge drop in the value of the recyclables she sells. She is now a regional field organizer with the Obama campaign.
"The big thing for me was his working with the Fed and the banking sector to stabilize the economy," Altieri said.
"Who's ready to re-elect President Obama!" said state Assemblyman Paul Fong, also running for re-election. He echoed a common message in the campaign about making the middle class a priority, saying Obama would "continue building the economy from the middle out."
Volunteers using phone banks will "make calls that will make a difference," said organizer Julie Lythcott-Haims. "We will not rest until we've done all we can."
Haims echoed the remarks made at the Democratic National Convention the night before. Vote for Romney if "you want a 'You're on your own, winner take all society,'" she said. "As Democrats, we do feel we are all in this together."
The campaign opened its other California offices in Marin County and Santa Monica.
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| Comments
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Posted by USA, a resident of the Old Mountain View neighborhood, on Sep 7, 2012 at 4:58 pm Nice little puff piece.
How about some journalism? How about asking why Obama would set up an office in an area that is overwhelmingly liberal in a state that will almost assuredly vote for him? Why would the Obama campaign which has been running a deficit (irony) be spending money to open such an office?
Well, if you're not asking, and they are no answering, let me take a shot at it. California is the DNC's ATM. Obama shows up, vacuums up some cash donations, and heads back to DC to spend it.
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Posted by Andrew, a resident of the Old Mountain View neighborhood, on Sep 8, 2012 at 2:29 am And why is this office so "key" that it requires a story like this?
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Posted by steve, a resident of the Old Mountain View neighborhood, on Sep 8, 2012 at 4:57 pm Mr. DeBolt, congratulations on your new position with the Barack Obama election campaign.
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Posted by Uuuhhhhh, a resident of the Old Mountain View neighborhood, on Sep 10, 2012 at 1:57 pm "California is the DNC's ATM. Obama shows up, vacuums up some cash donations, and heads back to DC to spend it."
USA--Duh. Of course he's going to get more campaign donations in areas where he has more support. And yes, that money will be spent in swing states. Don't forget, the DNC wants to win the electoral college vote and to do that, he needs to win other states besides California.
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Posted by Smitty, a resident of the Old Mountain View neighborhood, on Sep 10, 2012 at 3:25 pm Why not have an office here? As a resident of Mountain View and member of the high-tech workforce, I'm happy for the attention. I appreciate politicians who embrace our community and recognize its importance. The Obama campaign is very smart to put his offices just a couple miles away from Google, Microsoft, Yahoo, etc. and tap into vlunteers who may work there (educated, savvy in social media)
As for the ATM, remark the same could be said about Romney. He comes to California for private events and $$$$ knowing full well he won't win this state. He collects here, spends elsewhere.
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Posted by USA, a resident of the Old Mountain View neighborhood, on Sep 10, 2012 at 4:03 pm I don't disagree with Obama's strategy for getting money, but I would like him to stop and actually address issues important to California which has more than its share of problems.
I would also like some objectivity from MV Voice.
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Posted by curious, a resident of the Cuesta Park neighborhood, on Sep 10, 2012 at 4:59 pm It is disappointing that Mr. Debolt could not write a more balanced report. Actually, it reads like a press release from the Democrats. He did not even make a pretense to objectivity by at least trying to get other points of view.
"Haims echoed the remarks made at the Democratic National Convention the night before. Vote for Romney if "you want a 'You're on your own, winner take all society,'" she said. "As Democrats, we do feel we are all in this together."
LOL. Nice piece of propaganda--err reporting Daniel.
I am really disappointed in Mr. Debolt. He is usually at least makes a pretense of objectivity.
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Posted by SN, a resident of the Cuesta Park neighborhood, on Sep 12, 2012 at 7:16 am Daniel does a lot of good dirty digging around local issues. He deserves a little fluff now and then.
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Posted by steve, a resident of the Old Mountain View neighborhood, on Sep 12, 2012 at 2:34 pm @SN: No he doesn't
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