Does Obama Have a NYC Grassroots Edge?

Photograph of the Puck Building, where at least one 7th floor business supports Obama, by Tien Mao

It's pretty safe to say many New Yorkers are aligned with the Democratic party, but it's unclear who NYC's registered Democrats will vote for on primary day - Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama. Though in the highly unscientific survey of sights around the city over the past week (and year), it seems the senator representing Illinois has an edge.

Photograph of a Fort Greene bake sale from not-quite-old-enough-to-vote Obama supporters by Lauren Kesner

Photograph of Bushwick stencil by Martha Burzynski on Flickr

New York magazine's cover feature about Clinton and Obama looks at the two candidates and their appeal and their different worldviews. And in Chicago, there's a lot of street art supporting Obama - there's even an art show (in Chicago) in support of Barack Obama planned for next week, Go Tell Your Mama.

Update: Vinny at Insignificant Thoughts thinks there is scientific information showing who people will vote for and links to some polling data indicating Clinton is a favorite. However, the polls still include Edwards as an option and do not slice the data to the NYC-level - we can see how Hillary is a popular choice for New York state, given her years of getting to know upstaters.

And, hey, if we see a Hillary Clinton - or Mitt Romney/John McCain/Mike Huckabee - bake sale, we'll let you know. Or you can let us know - tag your photo on Flickr with "gothamist" or send the photo to photos(at)gothamist(dot)com .

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in News on January 31, 2008 2:02 PM

Comments [rss]

nik13

Hillary's former speech writer is on NYT's editorial board, so their slant in her favor shouldn't be a real surprise.

Still they're almost the same: Clintama '08.

likesrudylikesbooty

"Fort Greene? Is that park safe?"

Pssst. America's Mayor singlehandedly cleaned up NYC. It is now safe to come out.

Can't tell if they are on the brownstones side, or the public housing side.

Spirit of 76

I happen to be of the school of thought that the 12th Amendment applies to the original qualifications for presidency (age, nation of birth, etc.), not to the later term limits applied by the 22nd Amendment, which they obviously could not have foreseen. I've never heard of any limitation of a former president as a possible cabinet appointee, although he wouldn't be anywhere in the official line of succession in that case. Just ask Al Haig.

matthew gannon

Unfortunately, Bill isn't allowed to be VP. As far as I know, Bill isn't allowed to be a cabinet sec'y, either.

I think he could be on the Supreme Court, tho. That would be a great way to annoy the GOP.

If we didn't have term limits, we'd be about to elect Bill for a 5th term.

babyhitler

all the blacks will vote for Obama. Nuff said.

dooWOP

Fort Greene? Is that park safe?

likesrudylikesbooty

"Change" is becoming his 9/11.

Noun, verb, change.

ed_Extinct

pro israel? hardly.

Spirit of 76

Hillary should announce her running mate now. It will be ... (drum roll, please) Bill! A Clinton-Clinton ticket. Who could you trust one heartbeat from the presidency if not someone who once was the president and had great approval ratings doing the job?

Of course, this would make for a ready-made derogatory nickname from Rush and his ilk. They'd call it the "Hill-Billy" campaign/administration.

JacqueMehoff

the obama bake sale is too cute.

matthew gannon

This election is pretty easy to figure out. McCain will give us more Bush and the Dems nominee won't. If the Dems don't nominate your favorite candidate and you stay home and pout, then you're basically voting for McCain/Bush.

cucarachita

I'm an Obama-Mama! Yeah!

megs

Hillary and Obama are hardly "the same". Hillary sat out the vote regarding the bankruptcy reform bill (s. 256), that gave consumers virtually no way out from under bankruptcy. The bill, backed by the banking industry, falsely claimed the majority of debt-ridden bankruptcy claimants were scoundrels. Over 50% were filing because of medical debts.

Obama voted against it. Hillary was the only senator who did not vote at all.

Hillary voted for the war. Hillary backed NAFTA. Hillary: bad. Obama: not so.

megs

Hillary and Obama are hardly "the same". Hillary sat out the vote regarding the bankruptcy reform bill (s. 256), that gave consumers virtually no way out from under bankruptcy. The bill, backed by the banking industry, falsely claimed the majority of debt-ridden bankruptcy claimants were scoundrels. Over 50% were filing because of medical debts.

Obama voted against it. Hillary was the only senator who did not vote at all.

Hillary voted for the war. Hillary backed NAFTA. Hillary: bad. Obama: not so.

str1cken

Wow, Vincent Ferrari is a fat, aggressive jackass.

Did anyone follow that link to his site?

He needs to jog more, post less.

Toby von Meistersinger

Hillary and Obama are basically the same with slightly different packaging. It is like one is a Buick and one is a Pontiac, slightly different sheet metal, but the same rubbish inside. In this case politicians who come off as giant phonies.

The best option for those of either party is to cast a blank ballot, since there are no good options.

TimSPC

I hope he gets the nomination so we can celebrate Baraktoberfest.

HughGass

"The sherrif is a ni...(bong.....)"

"What did he say?"

"The sherrif is near!"

"No, gon-dangit .. I said ... the sheriff is a ni...(bong.....)"

bklyngrrl

Obama all the way baby. Hillary is a scary hog faced ice-queen.

Regardless, Hillary, Obama, or McCain are ALL so much better than George W. I'm so happy it's 2008! yipee!

captainblackout

edEx, that's funny, since the NYTimes is often accused of having a pro-Israel bias. Guess they just can't win. Of course, no one on either side of that quagmire seems to be happy with anything.

captainblackout

Hillary might just have what it takes... but she is far too conservative. Also, it's time to break out of the '80 Bush VP, '84 Bush VP, '88 Bush P, '92 Clinton P, '96 Clinton P, '00 Bush P, '04 Bush P domination. I'll be voting for Obama on Tuesday.

ed_Extinct

MATTY:

no kidding! they do the same thing with anything they support. have you ever read anything abouit the israeli/palestinian conflict? the nyt's refers to all palestinians (incl. terrorists, as civilians) and all israeli's as military... if that's not skewed, i don't know what is.

i avoid the nyt for international news.

ed_Extinct

Hillary just doesn't have what it takes... and she is far too liberal.

EastRiver

You wouldn't know it by how the New York Times is buffering any and all positive endorsements from him. There's no good articles about him, they use his name as little as possible and when they do tal about Obama it's in the light of Clinton.

I said this last year and got nothing but grief on these boards.

SP

I will be voting for Obama in the primaries.

Guest

All media outlets skew the news in their own favor. It's partially what's wrong with this country. The Democrats and Republicans are so wound up in proving their side as right that they refuse to work together and actually accomplish something. It's sickening.

matty

You wouldn't know it by how the New York Times is buffering any and all positive endorsements from him. There's no good articles about him, they use his name as little as possible and when they do tal about Obama it's in the light of Clinton.

I know they have to support their editorial board decision but I think they are skewing the news in her favor.

bxbrian

Gotta go with Obie if Edwards is out...

dbc

"...it seems the senator from Illinois has an edge."

Technically, they're both senators from Illinois, as Senator Clinton was born in Chicago and raised in Park Ridge, Ill.