For Obama Campaign, a Hobson's Choice

Democratic presidential candidates go out of their way to avoid offending organized labor. All campaign materials are printed under union aegis. They endeavor to stay in unionized hotels whenever possible. And they never, ever cross a picket line.

Barack Obama's New Hampshire campaign finds itself in a Democratic dilly of a pickle. Overwhelming demand by Democrats wanting to see Oprah Winfrey campaign for Obama on Sunday convinced them to seek a larger venue in Manchester. The Verizon Arena on Elm Street was available. 1,000 can fit in the floor alone. Unfortunately, the arena is in the middle of a labor dispute with the nation stagehands' union, IATSE.

The state Democratic Party recently decided not to host its 100 Club dinner there in 2008 in part because of the labor troubles.

IATSE won't be picketing Sunday, but you can be sure that rivals of Obama will claim he crossed a virtual picket line of sorts.

Comments

The rivals can go to hell; who cares about what they have to say? Please give me a break.

Posted by Bee | December 7, 2007 1:37 PM

Maybe hover Oprah over the NH countryside in a low-flying blimp? It'll still draw crowds of ex-Hillary women.

http://www.political-buzz.com/

Posted by matt | December 7, 2007 1:58 PM

This post is accurate. Edwards and Clinton have monopolized labor in NH, so Obama has little to lose. His campaign is reaching out to NH labor, however, as it should and labor won't want to alienate the man who very well may emerge as the party's nominee.

Even if Clinton and Edwards criticize him, I'm sure the Obama rejoinder will be "okay, let's see you pack 11,000 people into a NH venue in the middle of winter and see what luck you have. Oh that's right, you can't." The last thing Hillary should do is attack Oprah - NH women registered as independents sure won't like that and are already wary of the Clinton machine.

Posted by Manchester United | December 7, 2007 3:18 PM

Forget that Edwards has spent the last four years joining union members working for better wages, higher minimum wages, and better working conditions. Almighty God(dess) herself, Oprah, is in town and crossing a picket line be damned. I hope Oprah will organize door-to-door efforts as well at a later date, because people will notice where Obama puts his priorities. It looks very much like he, too, is 'in it to win it' no matter what the compromises he has to make.

Posted by a more perfect union | December 7, 2007 3:58 PM

Apparently the Obama campaign is working with labor to come to an agreement on this, and they have acknowledged there is no where else the event can be held.

http://www.unionleader.com/article.aspx?headline=Site+of+Barack-Oprah+event+isn%27t+unionized&articleId=810c56f6-6bd1-4dd0-a7a3-010c7a2ca1b7

Posted by Rachel | December 7, 2007 4:55 PM

Sorry, but the arena at the Univeristy of New Hampshire holds 8,000 people. Obama could have done the Oprah event there. Shame on the New Hampshire AFL-CIO for giving Obama a pass on this.

Posted by Bob Hughes | December 7, 2007 5:19 PM

Interesting. I always thought of the beauty of New Hampshire and other New England states were their great town hall settings where average people could be directly involved in politics. Now I see Hollywood has come to town and it's about mass rallies. It's about stars. But the people should be the stars. And working folks should hang together. Strikes and protests are about solidarity with brothers and sisters. Rallies are about something not quite so democratic.

Posted by feral cat | December 7, 2007 5:38 PM

feral cat - apparently your imagery of New England politics (a view, by the way, which I do like) didn't figure on a candidate who could put together events that draw so much interest.

Posted by Paul | December 8, 2007 1:36 PM

LOOKS LIKE OPRAH AND OBAMA SWITCHED PLACES, OPRAHS NOW RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT? AND OBAMA IS HER CAMPAIGNE FLUNKIE?
Go Oprah! We ALL know if anyone can’t take the attention off of obama’s no experience lack of leadership, refusing to show up and vote in the senate on Iran, Abortion measures etc... Seeking a trillion-dollar tax hike and raising the retirement age for Social Security!!!! Is not in favor of a health care plan to cover all children rich or poor and that he cannot make a decision on his own.

You can….YOU have disgraced American woman, YOU ARE A DISGRACE TO THE FEMALE GENDER OPRAH! SHAME ON YOU, now as a last ditch effort you throw Dr Kings name at the black voters, now American knows where you stand on race…

SHAMEFUL ACT...I SUGGEST WE ALL TUNE OUT BOTH!!!

WAKE UP AMERICA! Its time we stop playing with Oprah and elect a QUALIFIED PRESIDENT!!! not just a man because he’s black and oprah says so, she may know soap and books, but why in he world would anyone jeopardize your future because a TV talk show host said so?... This weekends Oprah circus, will not help obama, its make us all realize Oprahs running the show not obama...Our great country needs a qualified leader, maybe if oprah was legally running, but obama is….

Glad the dog and pony show is over
Oprah is a shame to her gender, yes the same gender that made her who she is today and she turns her back on them in a second when race is involved...

I think its time WE ALL tune out the oprahbama show, and let’s elect a REAL Presidential candidate like CLINTON!

Posted by Sick of oprahbama | December 10, 2007 9:24 AM

A MUST READ FOR ANY OPRAHBAMA groupie
http://www.obamatruth.org/
FIVE REASON NOT TO SUPPORT OPRAHBAMA
1. OPRAH AND OBAMA SWITCHED PLACES. (Surly not the leader)
2. Obama has ZERO foreign policy experience, infact no leadership experience
3. Refusing to show up and vote in the senate on Iran, Abortion measures
4. Seeking a trillion-dollar tax hike and raising the retirement age for Social Security!!!!
5. Not in favor of a health care plan to cover all children rich or poor.

Posted by www.obamatruth.org | December 10, 2007 9:25 AM

You can rant and rave all you want. The Obama tsunami is here and is about to sweep you guys and dump you in the deep sea. You can then drink the sea and cough all you want but descent folks have already decided that he is the chosen one. Sorry for you. The guy who wrote "posted by Oprahbama" is such a coward, he would not even write down his name.

Posted by Siam Erzuah | December 10, 2007 1:08 PM