The Baltimore sun is reporting circumstances that give rise to the inference that while Obama was in the Illinois legislature he was involved in what appears to be a quid pro quo with a chicago entrepreneur -- Robert Blackwell Jr.  

Link here,

The gist of the story is that Blackwell put Obama on retainer for one company "Electronic Knowedge Interchange" -- paying him $112,000.  And shiortly after Obama received the last payment, sent a request on State Senate letterhead urging Illinois officials to provide a $50,000 tourism promotion grant for another Blackwell Company, Killerspin,

According to the Sun, the day after Obama wrote the letter, his Senate campaign received a $1,000 donation from Blackwell.

The Sun story has a lot more detail, and information about the situation from Axelrod, Gibbs.  And it appears that the relationship between Obama and EKI was disclosed.

But this will certainly get some raised eyebrows.  And, for the record, I voted for and continue to support Obama for the nomination.

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Women and families are the big winners in the 2006 election.  Americans sent a clear signal yesterday in support of a woman's right to choose.  Anti-choice extremists lost by a landslide.  Voters rejected extreme policies and politicians.  By a wide margin, voters defeated attempts to criminalize abortion in South Dakota - where at least two state Senators who supported the abortion ban (Sen. Bill Earley and Sen. Dick Kelly) were voted out of office.  Voters rejected extremist attorney general Phill Kline in Kansas, who attempted to seize women's confidential medical records.  Dangerous abortion restrictions for teens were rejected in Oregon.  In Ohio, pro-choice, pro-family planning Governor Ted Strickland defeated extremist Ken Blackwell who supported legislation even more extreme than South Dakota's abortion ban.  In Wisconsin, women's health champion Jim Doyle defeated hardliner Mark Green, who co-authored legislation allowing health care providers to deny women access to birth control.  And with Representative Nancy Pelosi poised to serve as Speaker of the House, we are optimistic about a national shift toward support for women's healthcare.

But the action didn't stop on Election Day.

This morning we stand before the U.S. Supreme Court in Gonzales v. Planned Parenthood to present our challenge to the dangerous federal abortion ban. We will ask the court to strike down a law that would take personal, moral decision making away from women and families and put it in the hands of politicians. Perhaps even more than yesterday's elections, the court's decision in this case will help shape the future of reproductive freedom.

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I am on the ground here in Columbus with America Votes in OH and our poll watchers are reporting problems around the state. There was even a polling location broken into last night (although it appears to be unrelated to the election

An overnight break-in at Franklin Alternative Middle School, 1390 Bryden Road, caused a short delay in opening the polls there, he said. Police had to make sure that whoever broke into the school had left before allowing voters to enter.

http://www.dispatch.com/news-story.php?s tory=224999

I already lit-dropped a columbus precinct with door hangers along with a member of UFCW. Despite the rain here in Columbus it is looking like a good day (and the Franklin county polls appear to be ok).

I will update more here as info comes in...

update: 11.41am most of the problems appear to be resolved. well, at least no one is calling in reporting continuing issues... Our phone bank is rocking - especially since we have completed an initial pass on the list yesterday and scrubbed the bad numbers and folks who have already voted. More on the flip.

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The Findlay (Ohio) Courier has reversed their endorsement of GOP nominee Ken Blackwell for Governor of Ohio.

http://www.thecourier.com/opinion/editor al/ar_ED_101806.asp

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In the days and weeks leading up the elections, there's been a major shift toward pro-choice candidates. Voters in key heartland states are getting the message about where candidates stand on common-sense issues like support for women's health and safety - and it's clear they care.

In Ohio, anti-choice candidate Ken Blackwell (R), who said he would sign an abortion ban even more extreme than the one in South Dakota, trails pro-choice candidate Ted Strickland (D). In Wisconsin, pro-choice Gov. Jim Doyle (D) is running against Mark Green (R), who opposes providing emergency contraception to rape survivors. Doyle is the one thing standing between women's health and safety and a total abortion ban. This year Doyle vetoed seven anti-choice bills this legislative session, including a law that would have allowed concealed weapons into family planning clinics. Michigan's gubernatorial candidate, Dick DeVos (R), is trailing pro-choice Gov. Jennifer Granholm (D) and running scared from his extreme views: in a televised debate, he insisted he would do nothing to change the state's current abortion law -- and yet the very next day said on a Catholic radio show that he supports a South Dakota-style ban.

Our supporters have been out on the streets, raising money, collecting signatures, and getting people in these key states excited to vote on election day. We all feel the momentum building, and we want to be ready for this pivotal moment in our country's history. We CAN advance an agenda that ensures the health and safety of women and families. But we can't get there without a plan.

We have to make it clear what we are for, not just what we are against. We will play offense, not defense, in exposing anti-choice groups and their political sponsors and making them explain their indefensible anti-family planning positions. We have to communicate common-sense values to the entire nation. We're striking a new deal between the pro-choice movement and legislators and policymakers. We will use the courts to broadcast our message.

Read more about our strategy and let us know what you think.

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