Congressman John Yarmuth
Barack Obama’s campaign in Kentucky kicked off in earnest Saturday morning, as approximately four hundred supporters of the Illinois Senator gathered in Louisville for a rally held in conjunction with the opening of the campaign’s state headquarters. Congressman John Yarmuth from the 3rd Congressional District and many of Obama’s other higher-profile Kentucky supporters were in attendance at the outdoor event, despite cold temperatures. Yarmuth spoke briefly and introduced former U.S Representative Romano Mazzoli to the crowd. Mazzoli previously held the 3rd District seat containing Louisville for 24 years. State Representative Reginald Meeks (D-Louisville) and State Senator Gerald Neal (D-Louisville) were also on stage during portions of the rally. Meeks was an early supporter of Obama, having endorsed the Senator months earlier as part of the “Draft Obama” campaign. Recent survey data indicates Obama may sit significantly behind New York Senator Hillary Clinton among Kentucky Democrats. Data from Survey USA finds Clinton polls better in Kentucky in a general election against John McCain than Obama even among registered Democrats. Survey USA data is collected via automated phone recordings. Emceeing the Saturday event, 4th District Metro Louisville Council member David Tandy acknowledged the disadvantage many feel Obama has in the state. During his opening speech, Tandy used an analogy comparing the state’s Democratic primary to a boxing match involving one of Louisville’s most celebrated natives – Muhammad Ali. “A few years ago you had Muhammad Ali ready to take on Sonny Liston. Everyone told Ali ‘You can’t win…. Sonny Liston is mean…He is known to pull no punches. He is known to do anything and everything to win,’” said Tandy. “But what did Ali do? He stood up boldly and bravely and said ‘I’m here to shake up the world.’ What did he do? He changed the world. That’s what we are going to do here in Kentucky for Barack Obama.” Campaign officials told supporters and volunteers the campaign needed to focus on voter registration in the state prior to the Commonwealth’s April 22 deadline. The actual Kentucky primary will be held May 20. Carolyn Tandy – Councilman Tandy’s wife and district director for Congressman Yarmuth – will transition to be Kentucky director of the Obama campaign. She told PolitickerKY.com more campaign staff were on the way to the state, including a Director of Communications. Other officials and prominent Democrats spotted in the crowd were state Democratic Party Chairwoman Jennifer Moore, Jefferson County Democratic Party Chairman Tim Longmeyer, and U.S. Senate candidate and Prospect physician Michael Cassaro. Cassaro, however, said he remained undecided in the presidential race.