From Barack Obama

I just finished my first debate with John McCain. Millions of Americans finally got a chance to see us take on the fundamental choice in this election -- the change we need or more of the same. I will provide tax cuts for the middle class, affordable health care, and a new energy economy that creates millions of jobs. John McCain wants to keep giving huge tax cuts to corporations, and he offered no solutions for the challenges Americans are facing in their daily lives. I will end the war in Iraq responsibly, focus on defeating al Qaeda and the Taliban, and restore America's standing in the world after eight years of disastrous policies. John McCain wants an unending commitment in Iraq and fails to recognize the resurgent threat in Afghanistan. Let's be clear: John McCain is offering nothing but more of the same failed Bush policies at home and abroad that he has supported more than 90% of the time in the Senate. Americans need change now, and I need your help to get the word out about this movement. In the coming days, it's going to be up to you to organize locally and reach the voters that are going to decide this election. Now's the time to make your voice heard. Please make a donation of $5 or more right now to support this campaign for change: https://donate.barackobama.com/thedebate Thank you for all that you're doing, Barack

Paid for by Obama for America

Debate Action Center

Barack Obama did a good job convincing undecided voters in tonight's debates. Polls by media organizations, Democratic pollsters, and even Republican pollsters said he beat McCain by double-digit margins.¹ ABC's George Stephanopoulos declared, "Overall, bottom line, the winner is Barack Obama."

Here's why: While John McCain doubled-down on George Bush's Iraq policy and economic policy, Obama presented a vision of change. He promised to end the Iraq war, restore America's leadership in the world, and put in place economic policies that put middle-class families ahead of Wall Street.

We know exactly what McCain's campaign will do now—"spin" Americans about what they just saw. It's the same trick Karl Rove and the Republicans used in 2000 when they insisted Al Gore lost the debate. Of course it wasn't the truth, but it quickly became conventional wisdom, and the rest is history. We can help Obama fight back.

Can you go to our Debate Action Center immediately? There, you can vote in online polls that reporters are watching to judge who won. Then, you can write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper about why Obama should be president.

Click here to take action:
http://pol.moveon.org/lte?campaign_id=97&id=14062-9709444-Ou9g0Yx&t=2

Already, the news reports are coming in. Obama's message that McCain's policies are the same as Bush's definitely sunk in.

The New York Times wrote, "Senator Barack Obama made a stinging attack on the Bush administration's economic management on Friday night—and, by extension, Senator John McCain's ties to Mr. Bush."² CNN's Bill Schneider said, "Obama scores a direct hit, saying that McCain wants tax cuts for the wealthy. He's associating McCain with the Bush record on tax cuts."³

Here are a few key things Obama said during the debate:

• Obama on foreign policy judgment: "John, you like to pretend like the war started in 2007...the war started in 2003. At the time, when the war started, you said it was going to be quick and easy. You said you knew where the weapons of mass destruction were—and you were wrong. You said we were going to be greeted as liberators—you were wrong. You said that there was no history of violence between Shi'a and Sunni, and you were wrong. ...if the question is, who is best equipped as the next president to make good decisions about how we use our military, how we make sure we are prepared and ready for the next conflict, then I think we can take a look at our judgment."⁴

• Obama on tax cuts: "Senator McCain is proposing...$300 billion in tax cuts to some of the wealthiest corporations and individuals in the country, $300 billion...And in his tax plan, you would have CEOs of Fortune 500 companies getting an average of $700,000 in reduced taxes, while leaving 100 million Americans out...What I've called for is a tax cut for 95 percent of working families, 95 percent."⁵
  
• Obama on Iraq's costs back home: "Let me tell you another place to look for some savings. We are currently spending $10 billion a month in Iraq when they have a $79 billion surplus. It seems to me that if we're going to be strong at home as well as strong abroad, that we have to look at bringing that war to a close."⁶

Can you help spread the word about Obama's strength tonight by going to our Debate Action Center? Here's the link:

http://pol.moveon.org/lte?campaign_id=97&id=14062-9709444-Ou9g0Yx&t=3

Thanks for all you do.

–Adam G., Nita, Andrea, Peter, and the rest of the team

Sources:

1. "CBS News / Knowledge Network Undecideds Give Debate To Obama," The Atlantic blog, September 26, 2008
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=30534&id=14062-9709444-Ou9g0Yx&t=4

"Debate Reviews Go To Obama," Huffington Post, September 26, 2008
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=30535&id=14062-9709444-Ou9g0Yx&t=5

MediaCurves poll
http://mediacurves.com/

2. "Candidates Clash on Economy and Iraq," New York Times, September 26, 2008
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=30531&id=14062-9709444-Ou9g0Yx&t=6

3. "Schneider: Obama hits familiar chord on Iran," CNN Political Ticker, September 26, 2008
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=30532&id=14062-9709444-Ou9g0Yx&t=7

4. "Transcript of presidential debate," September 26, 2008
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=30533&id=14062-9709444-Ou9g0Yx&t=8

5. Ibid.

6. Ibid.

Want to support our work? We're entirely funded by our 4.2 million members—no corporate contributions, no big checks from CEOs. And our tiny staff ensures that small contributions go a long way. Chip in here.

Help Obama win the spin war.
McCain's campaign will try to distract Americans from what they just saw—can you help Obama fight back at our Debate Action Center?

Go to the Debate Action Center

---

PAID FOR BY MOVEON.ORG POLITICAL ACTION, http://pol.moveon.org/. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.

OHIO'S LARGEST LAW ENFORCEMENT ORGANIZATION BACKS RICHARD CORDRAY FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL

OHIO'S LARGEST LAW ENFORCEMENT ORGANIZATION BACKS RICHARD CORDRAY FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL

(Columbus)--The Fraternal Order of Police of Ohio endorsed Richard Cordray for Attorney General.

With more than 25,000 professional law enforcement members in Ohio, the FOP is the largest law enforcement organization in the state. Their support is considered critical to the credibility of candidates for Attorney General, the state's chief law enforcement official.

"Richard Cordray was the clear choice" said Nick DiMarco, President of the Ohio FOP. "Given Cordray's track record of support for law enforcement, commitment to public employees and proven leadership in public office, Cordray will make an exceptional Attorney General," commented DiMarco.

"This vote of confidence by the men and women who protect our safety is exceptionally meaningful to me," Cordray said. "I will work hard to make sure they have the resources they need to keep our communities safe, solve crimes, and keep convicted criminals behind bars."

VoteForChange.org

Think of all the people you know -- your friends, family, colleagues, and neighbors. What if every one of them voted on Election Day?

That's a lot of votes.

But odds are, many of them aren't registered -- or aren't sure if they are.



Now there's an easy way to learn your status and get registered. Our new one-stop voter registration site, VoteForChange.com, lets you do it all: check your registration status, register to vote, request an absentee ballot, and find your early voting site or polling location.

Take a minute today to check out VoteForChange.com, and encourage your friends and family to do the same:

http://my.barackobama.com/vfc

In just the past few weeks, 200,000 people have used VoteForChange.com to register to vote. That's a remarkable accomplishment, and we're well on our way to our goal -- 1,000,000 people using VoteForChange.com to register to vote before the election.

We're counting on all of our supporters to help reach this goal by forwarding this email to friends and family.

This election is going to be incredibly close, and we need every single vote we can get to win. But almost everywhere in the country, there are only a couple of weeks left before your registration deadline.

VoteForChange.com makes it easier than ever to confirm your registration. Instead of tracking down the right forms, all you need to do is answer a few basic questions and you'll be ready to vote.

If you're not sure if you're registered or if you have any questions, take a minute to visit the site and make your voice heard on Election Day:

http://my.barackobama.com/vfc

Together, we can turn the tide of the past eight years and bring about the real change this country needs.

But we all need to vote -- and first, we all need to be registered.

Thanks for all that you do,

Jon

Jon Carson
National Field Director
Obama for America

P.S. -- There are lots of ways to get this important information out there. Help spread the word by adding www.VoteForChange.com to your email footer, or share it with friends on online social networks.

Getting as many people as possible registered to vote, and then making sure they go to the polls, is going to take all of us working together. Thanks.

A Message from Joe Albrechta

Dear Sandusky County Democrats,



Had a great house party for Obama this week at the Albrechtaʼs house on Christy Road in Sandusky Township. We had 22 people in attendance. Dallas and Mae Dell Leake did a great job leading the discussion and passing on information from the campaign. We need more house parties. We need more campaign workers. We need more votes.



Just ran into a fellow who asked me how he could be sure he could vote. We were talking about the economy that opened a great chance to ask how he was voting. He is voting Obama. I am giving him an absentee ballot request form on Monday. I will follow up with him in 2 weeks to be sure he got it, returned it and got his ballot. This is a great way to get out the vote early and get people to the polls that might have work conflicts and who otherwise may not vote.



Joe Albrechta, Sandusky Township

HOPE

Introducing VoteForChange.com

Friend --

Turning everyone's passion and enthusiasm into votes is the only way we'll bring about the change we all want. But knowing when, where, and how to vote hasn't always been easy -- until now.


We've created a new online tool -- VoteforChange -- that will give you customized answers to all of your voting questions, personalized just for you.
Try it now:

http://www. voteforchange. com

Need to find out how to register to vote? Not sure if you're already registered? Just enter some basic information and get instant answers.


Need to find out your Election Day polling location, absentee voting information, or other registration requirements? Or perhaps you want to find out if your state allows early voting or vote by mail. We've got it all covered.


Once you get the information you need, pass it on to all of your friends with our easy-to-use sharing feature. We all know people who’d like to vote but just don’t have the information.
With VoteforChange, they’ll have no excuses.


Making sure that everyone's voice is heard in the political process is what this movement for change is all about.
Make sure you and everyone you know isn't left out:

http://www. voteforchange. com

Thanks,

Martha @ Obama HQ