Obama: One Man's Second Choice

[PatSeg]

ABC News' David Wright and Sunlen Miller Reports: The last question today at Barack Obama's rally in a Jefferson, Iowa high school gymnasium was unusually blunt.

It came from a voter who was not a supporter of Obama's.

"I'm not undecided," Iowa farmer Gene Blanshan shouted from the very back of the room, "I'm a Biden supporter."

But the voter said he is torn over his second choice. Under Iowa Democratic Party rules, in most of the almost 2,000 Iowa precincts, supporters of candidates who fail to reach 15 percent support of that caucus meeting may switch allegiance and choose another candidate to support.

And in a race this tight, second choices matter.

"Why should I choose you over John Edwards?" he asked.

Obama smiled. "John is a fine person with a beautiful family who has run a great campaign," he said. But Obama argued that he, not Edwards, is more apt to deliver change.

Obama cited his own legislative efforts in Illinois to reduce the power of lobbyists. He spoke of his early opposition to the Iraq war and to NAFTA. "If you look at our track records," he said, "I think I can deliver."

After the event, Blanshan told reporters he asked Edwards the exact same question last August on the steps of the county courthouse. But Blanshan said he liked Obama's answer better.

"What matters to me is change," Blanshan said.

"I'm still for Biden," he said. "But my second choice now is Obama."

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2007/12/obama-one-mans.html

[Franc_Lee]

1. umm... Blanshan did say he liked Obama's answer better then Edwards reply...

[gateley]

2. I'm with you, Gene - I'm still for Biden, but my second choice is Obama.

And I'm with YOU, tsegat - My dream would be a Biden/Obama ticket.

[NYCGirl]

3. I'm voting for Obama, but I wouldn't have any problem with your idea either.

:hi:

[PatSeg]

5. They could do amazing things together

and I think there is a mutual respect between them.

[NYCGirl]

6. I think that would be a great idea. NT

[PatSeg]

4. It is almost too perfect

but we can hope.

[gateley]

7. With that ticket, it would almost be a given 16 years in the WH for the Dems. nt

[PatSeg]

9. 16 years! Something to aspire to.

[maximusveritas]

8. I guess that's why the Edwards people were so upset

It's a tough argument to get around.

[jillan]

10. hmmmm - now I want to know what Edwards reply was.