by Christi Parsons
In the ongoing drive to present positive indicators for their campaign, aides to Barack Obama just came out with the latest: crowd size.
According to a new graphic just released by Team Obama, his crowds have been significantly outsizing those of rivals John Edwards and Hillary Clinton in the Iowa battleground.
In their analysis of post-Christmas crowd sizes, the Obama analysts say his events have drawn more than double the attendance of Edwards events in several Iowa cities.
In the match-ups with Clinton, they contend Obama draws at least 50 percent more people.
Of course, the numbers are miles away from being scientific. The figures come from news accounts and other reports. And the events they document are obviously those the Obama camp chooses to show.
But campaign manager David Plouffe contends the numbers are real and that they point to something good for Obama.
"That's a testament to the fact that undecided (voters) are still very interested in Sen. Obama," said Plouffe.
The effort to turn out big crowds isn't just "for the sake of optics," he said. Obama wants to meet them face-to-face to "close the sale," he said.
The crowd sizes are also a testament to organization, Plouffe said, a positive sign for Obama's caucus night showing.
Those are the crowds who really matter.
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
Comments
Big crowds are just for curiosity. Obama has the support of very young American, who won't come out to caucus or vote..
He will be lucky to finish second in the Iowa caucus
Posted by: Jay | December 31, 2007 12:10 PM
Edwards is a good candidate, but please, if he wins in Iowa, it is a win for Hillary. Hilary know's and is playing it for all it is worth. Please all you Edwards and Obama supporters, stop fighting with each other. Unite. Pick Obama and Edwards as your first and second choices in which ever order. Only by uniting against Clinton do either of them have a chance to win! She needs to come in third. We are looking to you all in Iowa and New Hampshire to save us.
Dying in DC from "politics as usual"
Posted by: Ann31 | December 31, 2007 12:47 PM
Iowans are looking for a candidate they can trust to lead this country without ego or baggage and once you meet Obama you can tell he is "The One". The word is spreading in Iowa and the people of are taking a look for themselves.. Please Iowa, show the rest of the country the way. Caucus for Obama on January 3rd.
Posted by: Ann31 | December 31, 2007 12:51 PM
All of you need to be informed that if Hillary/Bill, Giuliani, Huckabee, or Romney win the nomination, forces are at work to form a third party. This was hinted at by Sam Nunn and William Cohen. They did not name any names, but their implication was that voters will be so disenchanted with the nominees that a third party candidate selected by a coalition of Repubs and Dems would stand a good chance of winning.
It is easy to see that the most divisive and polarizing candidates are Hillary/Bill, Giuliani, Huckabee, and Romney. It is not beyond the realm of probability that this could happen. Throw in Mike Bloomberg as the candidate, and it is fathomable.
Meanwhile, size matters since in America we always play the numbers game for everything. One would think that for all of their 4 years of publicity and campaigning the Hillary/Bill and Edwards campaigns would be generating the crowds. But, maybe people have been there and done that with these two, and want to hear the message of difference that Obama brings.
Posted by: GW | December 31, 2007 2:10 PM
Jay,
You're wrong.
Would you give up hours of your time off to go to an event where you have to deal with the cold, parking, and crowds to see in person what you could see on TV - unless - you were really commited to a candidate?
Barack Obama is the real deal and so are his supporters.
!GOBAMA!
Posted by: Doug Zook | December 31, 2007 2:19 PM