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Home Front: Politix

B.O. woos working-class voters in Michigan

2008-05-15

Democrat Barack Obama, campaigning in a state that poses several challenges for him in the fall, appealed to working-class voters Wednesday with a pledge to pump billions of dollars into efforts to revitalize the nation's manufacturing sector.

One day after blue-collar workers overwhelmingly rejected him in West Virginia's presidential primary, Obama came to this auto-making suburb of Detroit to announce plans to create an "advanced manufacturing fund" to promote industries likely to keep jobs in the United States rather than see them move overseas.

Obama couched it as part of his previously announced plan to spend $150 billion over 10 years to develop and deploy what he calls "clean technologies."

In a new initiative, Obama proposed spending $90 million a year to double the Manufacturing Extension Partnership. The 20-year-old program has helped manufacturers improve efficiency and growth, he said, but has been underfunded.

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, his Democratic rival, made a similar proposal months ago.

Another $100 million annually would launch the advanced manufacturing fund, which would award grants to businesses working with researchers to develop and expand products and efficient practices.

Posted by:Fred

#8 He may get 90% of the Detroit black vote but the UAW is not nearly 90% black. Unfortunately for BHO 1 in 8 or so of his target audience 18-40 yr old black males from inner-city Detroit is probably sitting in Jackson, MI.

Posted by: Broadhead6 2008-05-15 16:22

#7 Besoeker, intersting comment but what doesn't make sense if he gets 90% of the black vote anyway so why waste time and money courting them further?

Posted by: rjschwarz 2008-05-15 15:53

#6 "Please forgive me for denying your primary franchise last winter. But hey, I could use your vote in November. If, you know, my attack dogs succeed in keeping your delegates from being seated at the convention."

Posted by: Mitch H. 2008-05-15 10:12

#5 In a new initiative, Obama proposed spending $90 million a year to double the Manufacturing Extension Partnership. The 20-year-old program has helped manufacturers improve efficiency and growth, he said, but has been underfunded.

The Donk approach - Tax and Spend - See how wonderful I am, but you have to come to me. More jobs for federal bureaucrats.

The Trunk approach - Tax write offs/deductions. Clean and simple, but you have to do your own work.

Posted by: Procopius2k 2008-05-15 08:58

#4 You still suck!

/union worker

Posted by: DarthVader 2008-05-15 08:42

#3 Was he wearing his flag lapel, the one with 57 states?

Posted by: Raj 2008-05-15 08:15

#2 He couldn't be bothered to campaign for the votes of unionized coal miners in West Virginia,

Coal is black. Coal miners on the other hand are predominately WHITE. Detroit is quite another story. Promising to "pump billions" into the Michigan industrial economy is just another way of saying.... when the peoples army prevails, the governors red Mercedes is yours comrade!!

Posted by: Besoeker 2008-05-15 07:51

#1 Were I a union worker, I'd feel insulted. He couldn't be bothered to campaign for the votes of unionized coal miners in West Virginia, but unionized car workers get his attention? What if manufacturers find a technique or technology to utilize coal cleanly -- will that get his attention and approval then?

Posted by: trailing wife 2008-05-15 07:17

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