Obama-Clinton Ticket

Now that the Presidential primary season is winding down after months and millions of votes cast, it’s now time to set our focus on November and winning back the Presidency.

Both Senator Clinton and Senator Obama have energized millions of new voters, and all of them are committed to seeing a Democrat in the White House in January.

Certainly, there has been a great deal of back-and-forth bickering between Sen. Obama and Sen. Clinton’s campaigns – and each candidate has millions of passionate supporters. But now it’s time for unity – and I believe the best way to unite the party is to unite the two strongest candidates our party has ever seen.

That’s why I support an Obama-Clinton ticket.

I hope you’ll join me by adding your voice to those calling for an Obama-Clinton ticket. You can add your signature at DraftObamaClinton.com.

The DraftObamaClinton.com web site gives regular citizens a way to weigh in on the VP selection process. Senator Obama has said he will have to make his vice presidential choice quickly after the primaries end this week.

Citizen involvement and grassroots organization is a cornerstone of Senator Obama’s campaign, and frankly, a foundation of our democracy. We’ve seen millions of new voters involved this campaign season. Their voices make a difference, and that’s what DraftObamaClinton.com is all about.

Our government works with the consent of the citizens, and the Presidential nominee chooses the vice president with the consent of the convention delegates. This site is a tool for letting party leaders, convention delegates and the candidates themselves know the extent of support for an Obama-Clinton ticket.

It’s about giving the citizens a voice in the vice presidential selection process, not just too party elites.

This is not some folly, such a petition has been successful before – in January 2004, “Citizens Consent” launched a draft Kerry-Edwards web site and collected over a hundred thousand signatures to an on-line petition. Months later, Senator John Kerry selected Edwards as his running mate.

With enough voices pushing for an Obama-Clinton ticket in November, we can make this happen. Take a page from history as a guide: Kennedy and Johnson, fierce rivals in the primary back in 1960.

DraftObamaClinton.com was launched by “Citizens Consent” - a grassroots organization dedicated to mobilizing citizens to participate more directly in our democracy - and not affiliated with any campaign.

I hope you will join me and sign the petition now at DraftObamaClinton.com – it only takes a few seconds to add your voice to the thousands that already have weighed in.

- Jim

Firstly, I want to again congratulate Senator Hagan on her nomination as the candidate to beat US Senator Dole in the 2008 senatorial race. I have told Kay that she has my full support and encourage you to work hard on her behalf.

To the staff, volunteers and bloggers who made our campaign so vibrant I thank you. We were a lean organization running a 21st century grass roots campaign. We took almost 20% (about 250,000) of the votes cast despite our lack of resources and the fact that nobody in NC had a clue who Jim Neal was 7 months ago. I am very proud of each and every person who volunteered their time and contributed to our campaign.

I've become a fan the blogosphere in general as a fantastic communications medium: the emergent Fifth Estate. Online activism is the future of politics and social change. I believe that the power of the blogosphere is only at the tip of the iceberg (and that iceberg is melting...) so keep your involvement and your voices in the debate.

Remember that the campaign was never about Jim Neal. It was about you. You are the voices of change. Change is only going to come from the bottom up.

Many of you have emailed me and asked "what's next?" Well, I've got a lot of people to thank and a campaign to wind down. Thereafter I'm taking some time, after 7 months and 35,000 miles on the road and not much sleep and too many pounds shed, to reflect. I don't know what the next chapter in my life will be. I do know, however, it will involve continuing to work for empowering the voiceless many most in need. I have heard them. They have made me a richer person. They still have my ear and I'm not about to walk away from them.

We all have a lot of work to do.

Thank you.

Jim

[cross posted at BlueNC]

Rougemont, Person County

Jim spent the afternoon speaking with supporters in Rougemont in Person County.

To volunteer in the final days before the primary, click here to get involved.

Cary Early Voting

Jim Neal talked to early voters before casting their ballots on Saturday afternoon at the Herbert C. Young Community Center in Cary.

You can vote early for Jim Neal too! Click here to find your polling place.

NC Black Summit

On Saturday afternoon, Jim participated in a Senatorial forum at the NC Black Summit in Raleigh.

Helios Cafe, Raleigh

Jim spoke to a group of supporters in Raleigh at Helios Cafe, gearing up for the May 6th primary!

If you're in the Wake County area and want to help Jim Neal on May 6th, contact Joe Gavrilovich to get involved!

NC State Early Voting

Jim talked with NC State University students before they cast their ballots at one of the early voting "One Stop" sites.

You can vote early for Jim Neal up to May 3rd too! Click here to find your polling place.

Jefferson-Jackson Breakfast, Raleigh

Saturday morning, Jim attended the 38th Annual Jefferson-Jackson Breakfast in downtown Raleigh.

Wilmington for Jim Neal, Fat Tony's

After the Senatorial forum (see post below), Jim had pizza with a dozen Wilmington supporters before hitting the road.

UNCW Senatorial Forum, Wilmington

On Friday night, Jim attended a US Senatorial forum hosted by the New Hanover County Democrats at UNCW.

"Neal said he once stood in an unemployment line and that more people than ever are in that same 'well of despair.' He was likely referring to Hagan's 10 years in the General Assembly and Dole's long-standing Washington ties when he told the audience that America is at a crossroads in 2008."

'Are we going to go down the path of politics as usual ... or are we going to go down a new path?' Neal asked."

[Read More at the Star News]

(Video to come...)