John Mellencamp Backs Obama in “Small Town,” Indiana
Jul 31, 202043K Shares1.7M Views
Sen. Barack Obama is in the bright red state of Indiana today for an “early vote rally,” and he’s getting a boost on the airwaves from a Hoosier favorite, singer John Mellencamp.
Today, Mellencamp cut a new radio ad for the Indiana market that lays out a detailed case against Sen. John McCain’s economic platform.
Image has not been found. URL: /wp-content/uploads/2008/10/picture-111-279x300.pngObama, shown at the Indiana State Fairgrounds in September, is pushing hard to win back a state that reelected President Bush by 21 points. (Photo: Obama Flickr.)
The ad opens and closes with a reference to Mellencamp’s hit song “Small Town” and criticizes McCain for supporting policies that shipped “thousands of Hoosier jobs overseas.”
Mellencamp has fused his music with politics before. During this year’s Democratic primary, he played at rallies for John Edwards, which were a hit. But when he invited Edwards to appear at a regular concert, some ticket holders were dismayed.
It is remarkable that Obama is competitive enough to visit Indiana in the homestretch of the campaign. The state re-elected President George W. Bush by a whopping 21 points, but it has swung toward Obamain recent polls. With small towns, hard times and John Mellencamp in tow, Obama’s message may be resonating.
Hajra Shannon
Reviewer
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