Obama imagined... and it paid off

By GottaLaff

All you need is....

Call them Kool-Aid drinkers. Political romantics. Starry-eyed dreamers.

Song Lyrics

[...]Barack Obama's staff is on the verge of vindicating its belief that the eloquent black freshman senator from Illinois was a unique candidate who could win the Democratic nomination in one of the biggest upsets in presidential politics. The band of Obama loyalists who imagined that could happen have stunned even themselves with their success against Hillary Rodham Clinton, who appeared to have wrapped up the nomination last year, before any votes were cast.

It takes a lot more than imagination and hope. It takes skill, experience, even serenity...

The team was led by calm and focused campaign manager David Plouffe; their strategy was inspired by the candidate's experience as a community organizer. They built a campaign designed to accomplish what other political sensations like Gary Hart and Howard Dean failed to do - turn the energy and excitement of the Obama phenomenon into long-term results.

... organization, (ahem) non-Clintonians...

Matching Obama's organizing background, the team has roots in conducting on-the-ground congressional campaigns across the country. Many top aides were groomed by former House Democratic leader Dick Gephardt and former Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle instead of by the Clinton wing of the party. Clinton's team was built with Washington and New York operatives.

...of course, change...

From its experience in congressional races, the Obama team understood firsthand the extent of Clinton fatigue in the heartland and the lesson of the 2006 midterm elections: America wants change.

... vision, an unassuming demeanor, focus, and a ban on dramatics...

Obama's chief directive for hiring the more than 700 staff members who eventually came to work for him was: No Drama Allowed. Obama's even demeanor is reflected in the advisers closest to him. [...] Plouffe embodies Obama's vision - a steady and unemotional number cruncher averse to the limelight, able to tune out noise and focus on the moves needed to reach the end game. [...] He dispatched staff to states that Clinton's campaign overlooked, particularly small caucus states where intensive organization produced wins that swelled Obama's delegate lead.

...and finally, wise money management:

Obama attracted a talented staff willing to work for much less than they could have made with Clinton. Plouffe carefully minded the bank account to preserve enough money to keep running after the wildly expensive Super Tuesday contests while Clinton's campaign went broke. She had to lend it $11.4 million to stay afloat.

You may say they were dreamers, but they weren't the only ones. They hope someday you will join them, and get this country to live as one.... (apologies to John Lennon, no apologies for the optimism)