Obama rallies support in Duke City
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6/23/2008 - 6/23/08
ALBUQUERQUE — If Sen. Barack Obama aimed to pick up key supporters of Sen. Hillary Clinton at his stop here this afternoon, he scored big.The woman introducing him was Lt. Gov. Diane Denish, previously the state's most high-profile Clinton supporter.
And, Obama seemed to wow other women here — all employees of the Flying Star — as he spoke for about an hour, surrounded by a seven-foot high coffee roaster and a just as big coffee grinder.
Denish said Obama hit the key topics in his brief introductory remarks — health care, wage inequities, access to education.
"I think his commitment to coming to New Mexico and talking about women's issue is a real key ingredient to pulling together the votes were going to need in November," she said after the speech.
Obama is on an economic town hall tour and heads to Las Vegas, Nev. next. He was said to be meeting privately with fundraisers before he leaves the Duke City.
Denish said she's not having a hard time convincing former Clinton supporters to go for Obama.
"I haven't met any of those women really," she said of the fabled female Clinton supporters said to be now going for Sen. John McCain.
"In the end I believe that 95 percent of women who supported Hillary Clinton will understand what is important is having someone who agrees with us on the issues in the White House," she said.
Gov. Bill Richardson, who endorsed Obama, wasn't at the event. His office didn't immediately return calls asking about his schedule today. First Lady Barbara Richardson was among the women at the event.
Not everyone at the invitation only event, however, became an immediate Obama supporter.
Undecided voter Eirinn Sanchez said she's going to think a little more about who she will be voting for in November.
The counter worker got a chance to ask Obama what he would do to follow though on his promises if elected. Although she liked what he had to say, she's not in his column yet.
"It takes a lot more than a small conversation or even several small conversations to make a decision like this," she said. "Action is more important than words on decisions like this."
Check back tonight for more on the Obama visit.
