Alan Solomont

This gentleman here in Massachusetts by the name of balance solid month. Anybody for media with Massachusetts politics. Knows respects and understood and it just in to Allen -- month is that is true across the board Republican as well as Democrat. Noel and solid month is a legendary democratic political activist and fund -- He's associated with the Barack Obama campaign here in Massachusetts in across the United States and with delighted to have -- join a -- deterrents for a may have succeeded WR KO demonic Allen.

The morning comets -- to -- review that was that -- introduction made me blush.

Ha ha well let's radio you can get away -- blushing I -- several times a day -- not everybody would be as familiar with your history as I absolutely kind of set the stage for a minute only because it is such an interesting political development. You have been. Very close to -- that every serious democratic candidate for governor -- president for many many years now. In in particular UN Julie Ian enjoyed present tense eight great relationship with bill and Hillary. Clinton -- past president and very serious presidential contender. And yet in this race you've chosen to support Barack Obama are -- putting -- legendary skills to work from Iraq as opposed to Hillary tell us about that decision.

presided over their legendary still summon whole community organizer Tom just as Barack Obama is. And that's really what this what what we've been doing here but. I think Atlanta has less to do with the candidates and more to do with where the American people are every election is about something. I believe that the 2008 election will be about change Americans have not yet finished the job that they began in 2006 they want to change in their government present. More importantly perhaps they want to change in the conduct of our politics I think people begun to connect the dots between the big problems that we basis and nations that remain under. Attended to in the smallness of our politics in Washington. And I think that they are open to a new face and employees and a new generation I think we saw something of this in Massachusetts in 2006 which was an election certainly about change. I think Barack Obama's the only candidate in this race that speaks to that longing on the part of the American people. For something fundamentally different in their government and the politics.

Allah from your perspective does that open up the tool to buy hot as -- approaches to these. Both national and international challenges we face or is this going to be again Democrat Hewitt the -- distilled the as opposed to a bipartisan ethnic.

No actually result in polling data that I've seen. Indicates when you ask Americans are when US democratic primary voters -- want someone who's going to bring us together forward they want somebody who's going to fight the Republicans they answer the former you know every presidential election is a reaction to the last president. And I think what Americans seeking a record is hey remedied not a replica of George W bush. And if you look at all the qualities that characterize George Bush's presidency including hyper partisanship and very bellicose and divisive approach to government it is exactly the antithesis of that but I think Americans are looking -- in in our next president something somebody who will reach across the -- as its senator Obama did when he with the state senator in Illinois someone who is going to bring this country together again.

You know the the mother's milk of politics -- knew when I've talked about it is always money one needs money in order to convey one's message. And first quarter reports indicated that Barack Obama had really the word -- the word I've used this stunning stunning. Success stride for stride and perhaps even he he may have even beaten Hillary when you get down into the fine details tell us about the effort in what again is driving such unanticipated success.

Well first of -- what's most running in the results for the work of the first quarter is that that 100000 Americans donated to the Barack Obama campaign. That is more then the next two leading candidates together senator Clinton had something over 50000 donors and senator Edwards 40000. But Europe but 100000 Americans donated to a Barack Obama campaign -- those 50000. Voted on contributed -- and to some extent voted with their pocketbook on line. Of those 50000 on line -- 90% of -- 90% contributed less than a hundred dollars and 50% contributed less than point five dollars we knew we were doing well. -- vote here in New England and across the country so that we are stunned. With the outpouring of enthusiasm an excitement. And support for Barack Obama it resulted in our campaign raising 25 point eight million dollars in the first quarter and of the 25 point eight not to get too esoteric 24 point eight is our -- that we continues in the primary. If you look at the next closest Democrats senator Clinton. She raised the total 46 million but only 19 point one million of that is money that's available for the primaries so we actually -- race senator Clinton. -- over five million dollars hundred dollar.

by about funny yet 125% of them do the math correctly in my head that's a huge. Victory.

And and and and believe me I know from one -- speak because that was part of it but that it's probably one of the strongest best fundraising machines that we've ever seen in the Democratic Party so. This is something that I don't think any of us anticipated it is a gusher enthusiasm for -- candidate and we saw that by the late. Here and Indian in New England as well.

And you gonna have a little event well not a little while fiction it's going to be huge event I think sometime this week you know.

I'm I'm glad you mentioned this Friday evening Barack Obama returns to Boston we're having a kick off -- At the maginnis arena at Boston University we focus mostly the first quarter on organizing ourselves creating an organization that this is a startup campaign -- this is our first big event and we decided to have it began -- Serena. Which has the capacity of -- hundreds. Because we want the campaigns in the fundraising part of it to reflect the change its general bombings talking about. So we will have that -- Serena. Several thousand students who are not coming -- who have sold tickets for 23 dollars. The students there have been organizing or -- and campuses. -- well over 60000 dollars we -- young professionals who have been organizing themselves they call themselves generation know and so people can comment and students can contribute 23 dollars young professionals are contributing 115 dollars to 230 dollars and then there will be. Folks who will grow you know will contribute the maximum allowable 2300. But we're going to have a very exciting. Evening it's going to the program is -- going to be full of surprises it's going to showcase senator Obama in a way that he can. Really delivered his message but but also we want to show people that this campaign is inclusive it is broad based. It values every donation and every donor equally. That's really change it would presidential politics is conducted.

You're gonna draft Hillary Clinton right over the edge but let me let me play had edged politician for a minute. And -- I would be sure how high and ask you this question. You've mentioned the dynamics of a presidential campaign off times being a reaction to the the incumbent president and how the people people people assess that incumbent's performance. It seems to me inevitable -- that at some point the press is going to become more rigorous bullet. Directed confrontation with Iraq in this on this dimension. The absence of national and international experience with just three years of about four years ago I guess maybe he was a member the Illinois State sent -- And now he's in the United States senate but a limited voting record limited experience and ease being asked to asking us to consider. Put me in the White House I EM the odd guy for that job I look and say I'm not going to have any brain surgery done by guy who just came out of medical school I want a guy who did 200 you know 200 operations before I go in there to become his 201 patient.

Well with the intent upon it depends on the kind of experience we want our president now. Bruck Obama has certainly had enough experience -- United States senator in Washington DC to know that something wrong and that needs to be fixed. He has rather unique like experience and I think as Americans get to know his biography he comes you know a mixed racial background he was the first black president of Harvard law review it was a instead of joining a big law firm he became the civil rights attorney and and a constitutional law professor. He spent three years as a community organizer in the city of Chicago working with low income folks and also conducting voter registration drives. He served in the Illinois State legislature and has spent Simon now in the United States senate his -- interest in I don't mean to make. The -- comparison that is experience very similar to that of another president. Who also announces candidates in sprinkled -- point I was Abraham Lincoln. So I think that Barack Obama comes to this you also lived overseas -- youngster by so he has I think an international perspective that is absolutely unique among anyone who has. Run for president I couldn't help hearing and I was striving in time your recounting the diversity of victims of the awful. Shooting in Virginia Tech. It is it really did speak about where -- who is who are Americans today and and that and the incredible tapestry of our nation. Barack Obama I think we'll speak to that tapestry reflects that in ways that we. That this really we've never seen and I think it is of function that your that we live in so I think as Americans get to know him better able see that he has the experience polite experience the leadership experience. To be our president and actually it's fundamentally transform our place in the world and the direction in which are countries had a.

As you know we're actually reaching out of Iraq and hoping hoping to get a -- even if it's a taped interview tomorrow -- Friday moaning and depends on his availability I spoke to his press people yesterday helped me understand this one. Alan I don't have the rating right here in front of me but I have read that Iraq's voting -- in the Senate. Is really the equivalent of Ted Kennedy's in terms of -- say -- an ATA -- Now eight EU and I have the same view -- Ted Kennedy I think he's been phenomenal the Massachusetts I think he's irreplaceable notwithstanding that he might be able a lot more liberal than me on certain issues in -- valued at Massachusetts. I think it's the you can't argue.

Then resign with the nation's.

And and but when you get out into a presidential election Ted Kennedy is seen as Ted Kennedy voting record Ted Kennedy voting equivalent. I think is seen as a negative how how will Iraq in the campaign. Address that because in the absence of tangible EU multi year experience in the United States senate it seems to -- your political reporters are going to go and say well he's just like Ted Kennedy that's how we votes.

Well or make comparisons with Senator Kennedy -- where agrees communism is its. Unique leader but I think as people find out more about terror bombing they will realize that he is very much centrist. He has a history in the Illinois State legislature of working with the Republicans are reaching across the aisle and getting legislation enacted he worked with senator Lugar in of the United States senate the ranking Republican on the foreign relations committee on issues of nuclear non proliferation. So he isn't classic he doesn't fit the classic ideological mold of liberal or. Or anything else I think we. I I don't think Americans are looking at those labels the waiting might have certainly what we have seen over the last six years seven years. Is a presidency that has been driven by ideology that is really not only turned to the right return to the hard right. It's one of the things that divides Republicans today I think. Americans are looking. For practical solutions for problems looking for solutions that engaged conservatives and progressives Democrats and Republicans I think frankly senator Obama is it's actually uniquely equipped two to do that I think that people will find that his record is consistent with that as they get to know him. Better this is just the beginning it's election about the conduct and so on November 2008. We're only 67 days into the Obama candidacy for those who -- counting. And I think that Americans are that are to know this this man and there are going to be impressed with what he will bring to national leadership.

Well the success that you've helped develop the -- meant to be of help develop balance really as -- severely is remarkable India legendary is just that it is here you legendary in terms of the heat inside -- success. With democratic fundraiser and so when Obama's site -- up I said I've got to patent idea of got to pay attention. -- that that trying to do it I appreciate very much that I be given us let me ask if I can then.

What is -- Lebanese in order I would encourage your listeners on to go to the web site to go to Barack Obama dot com to learn more about him also learn more about the event this Friday night against Serena we still have some tickets we'd love to engage more people and and be bursting at the -- I'm and the other thing I would recommend is that he's written two best sellers you know the first one was not a political book streams from my father. It he wrote it when he was just out of Harvard Law School it is the story of young -- searching for his identity. In the 21 century America it is -- brilliantly written written book it is it is it is a great tremor to demand that I believe will be -- next president.

And and that's Barack Obama dot com straight and again for those who are interested curious or committed they had to the cause and -- to the campaign they can go to the again -- arena that's this Friday night. Are correct. Al should should write it aha yes they should it will encourage them to do so because I suspect if it's a solid month event it's going to be sold out and I hope it's wall to wall -- pat let it go -- without asking the question that to cultural issues of of the week where I miss the Imus language in the Imus controversy as well as clearly the Virginia Tech shooting -- Obama's response and position on those issues what's. What does Barack Obama's a win confronted with again the reporters bring victory at that you're expected to give some type of response to the American people

1 of the things of that Barack Obama Brock has said is that he's he's he's certainly if he doesn't think it's. Helpful necessarily the comment on and he's running for president and he wants to focus on his message -- what you'll do as president having said that I think his response and the -- incident if you -- was one of real pain and hurt he has two young daughters they might have been. Players on that Rutgers team I think he understood -- hurt that was built around those remarks and he responded. To -- and obviously we're all shocked and saddened by what happens beyond words frankly. Any attempt to describe it I think almost trivializes -- he was. As others -- suspended two whose campaign activities I respect. Yesterday in and I don't know what what what can be said about that other than our nation needs a lot of healing and coming together -- community and I think frankly we should look for leaders who have the ability to do.

What you've certainly give us given us some great inside and we continue to hope to connect with the candidate himself before the event on Friday -- you've been fabulous with a time. Appreciated with covered with covered the spectrum here with we got to Barack Obama and it continues to be story. In the political world so. Appreciate all the time and insight you've given us Allen and we are going to be taking a break