March 29, 2008 05:52 pm

Cut and paste version of story Photos Sen. Barack Obama speaks during a campaign rally at Greater Johnstown High School in Johnstown, PA, on Saturday, March 29 John Tanish / Tribune-Democrat Sen. Barack Obama speaks during a campaign rally at Greater Johnstown High School in Johnstown, PA, on Saturday, March 29 John Tanish / Tribune-Democrat Sen. Barack Obama speaks during a campaign rally at Greater Johnstown High School in Johnstown, PA, on Saturday, March 29 John Tanish / Tribune-Democrat Sen. Barack Obama speaks during a campaign rally at Greater Johnstown High School in Johnstown, PA, on Saturday, March 29 John Tanish / Tribune-Democrat

Obama: 'Enough is enough'

“We’ve got to send a message to Washington ... "

By Mike Faher
CNHI News Service

JOHNSTOWN, Pa. — Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama brought his message of change to Johnstown on Saturday, telling an enthusiastic crowd of about 1,200 that he is the right person to transform Washington.
Obama, locked in a fierce political battle with fellow U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton, covered a wide range of topics at a “town hall meeting” at Greater Johnstown High School’s gymnasium.
But he repeatedly returned to what has been the central theme of his campaign: The federal government is broken, and he can fix it.
“We’ve got to send a message to Washington that says, ‘enough is enough,’” Obama said.
The Illinois senator received several standing ovations as he spoke about his plans for the war in Iraq, national security, education, health care, energy independence and the economy.
- On Iraq, Obama - like Clinton – is advocating a withdrawal of U.S. troops. In a press conference Saturday, Obama said a “clear time frame for withdrawal” actually would help resolve ongoing violence in Iraq.
- His health care plan would lower premiums for those who have insurance, Obama said. Those who are not covered would be offered a plan at low cost, he pledged.
“If you can’t afford it, then we will subsidize it so that you can afford it,” Obama said.
- The presidential hopeful said the “No Child Left Behind” educational law relies too heavily on standardized test results and “forces teachers to teach to the test.”
He advocated a more holistic approach and said schools should not be punished because of their test scores.
- Obama called for development of alternative energy sources and better fuel efficiency.
“We can’t keep on getting eight, nine, 10 miles a gallon,” he said.
Obama’s visit to Johnstown followed former President Bill Clinton’s stop here on March 12. Both campaigns are expected to canvass Pennsylvania until the state’s April 22 primary.
In interviews after Saturday’s event, Obama said he does not believe that the prolonged, often-bitter battle for the Democratic nomination will hurt his party.
He pointed to “huge jumps” in new voter registration and strong election-day turnout in many states.
No matter who wins the Democratic nod, Obama said he does not believe the party’s voters will defect in large numbers and vote for U.S. Sen. John McCain, the presumptive GOP nominee.
“I think that the (Democratic) party will be unified around a single nominee,” he said.
Obama leads Clinton in pledged delegates and in the popular vote, but he rejected the notion that his opponent should drop out of the race.
“My attitude is that Senator Clinton can run as long as she wants,” Obama said.
He was flanked throughout the day by U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, the Pennsylvania Democrat who made headlines this week by endorsing Obama.
“He’ll fight for your jobs and your family’s jobs,” Casey told the Johnstown crowd.

Mike Faher writes for The Tribune-Democrat in Johnstown, Pa.